Tag: #belfast

Expleo announces role in cross-border StopCovid NI app. #Expleo #StopCovidNI

Expleo, the technology partner for innovative companies, today announces details of its role in the launch of the StopCOVID NI contact tracing app, built to have interoperability with the COVID Tracker app deployed in the Republic of Ireland. Expleo carried out extensive quality testing on the app, the world’s first cross-border tracker device aimed at stopping the spread of COVID-19.

The StopCOVID NI app was built using the same technology and design as the Republic of Ireland’s COVID Tracker app, which Expleo’s quality assurance team was also heavily involved in. For the Northern Ireland app, Expleo’s team carried out more than 1,000 hours of testing and was responsible for ensuring that it was user-friendly, reliable and capable of sending and receiving anonymised data to and from both the Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland versions of the app. As a result, users will be notified if they have had close sustained contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19, regardless of which application they are using.

Expleo’s expert team carried out multiple processes and strategies to ensure that a user’s surroundings did not negatively impact the performance of the app. Testing was also carried out on public transport to ensure that users only received notifications when appropriate.

Quality tests included:

  • Performance testing – Expleo’s quality assurance and quality engineering teams carried out load testing on the app to ensure that large volumes of people could download it at the same time without causing it to crash.
  • Exposure Notification Distance Testing – As devices have varying Bluetooth signal strengths, Expleo tested varying attenuation values to maximise compliance with requirements.
  • Database Validation – Testers ensured that users’ anonymised data, gathered from downloads and registrations, was populated in the database without interfering with the anonymised data of other users.
  • Graphical user interface (GUI) testing – Expleo tested the look and feel of the app, ensuring user-friendly navigation; the correct and reliable function of buttons; and that all content and text matched requirements.

Dan West, Chief Digital Information Officer for the Department of Health, Northern Ireland said: “The StopCOVID NI app is an essential next step to successfully reopening Northern Ireland. The fact that this application can operate in conjunction with the COVID Tracker app in the Republic of Ireland offers even more protection – particularly for those living in the border regions.

“With consideration for GDPR and privacy concerns, there was obviously a stringent set of requirements for both these apps. Expleo’s knowledge and expertise ensured that both applications were completed in compliance with all regulations.”

Scott Armstrong, Director, Expleo, said: “COVID-19 has caused havoc for people and communities across the island of Ireland. After our involvement in the successful launch of the Republic of Ireland app, we are honoured to have the opportunity to use our extensive experience in software testing and quality assurance to also support Northern Ireland’s fight against coronavirus.”

“We have been very pleased to see such high volumes of people downloading the Republic of Ireland’s version and we hope that the app will be similarly embraced in Northern Ireland so that we can all work together to stem the spread of COVID-19.”

To find out more about the StopCOVID NI app check out www.health-ni.gov.uk/news/new-mobile-app-stopcovid-ni.

Health tech company Neurovalens raises more than £5 million for R&D and growth. #HealthTech #Belfast #Neurovalens

Neurovalens, a global healthtech company headquartered in Belfast and San Diego, has raised £5.1 million in funding, which will be used to expand on the success of its initial clinical trials and develop its technology’s application for other medical conditions.

The funding round was led by IQ Capital and also included investment from Wharton Asset Management Company, The Angel CoFund (ACF), Techstart Ventures, Co-Fund II managed by Clarendon Fund Managers and the UK Government’s Future Fund.

Neurovalens’ technology was created in collaboration with world renowned research facilities at the University of California San Diego. The vision of the company is to use technology that can influence the brainstem and hypothalamus in a non-invasive way to cure or treat neurological diseases, without the need for implanted electrodes.

 

CEO and co-founder of Neurovalens, Dr Jason McKeown said: “We are delighted to receive this investment and support at such a critical time for our business. Our work in the US and the success of the trials we have run to date have demonstrated the potential of our technology and encouraged us to pursue other applications. With this financing and the backing of our investors we can accelerate our mission of delivering effective and non-invasive solutions for some of the most common and debilitating medical conditions.”

The funding will be used for clinical trial research and development in the UK and abroad, as well as hiring additional staff. This will facilitate the development of Neurovalens’ technology – which is going through FDA and EU regulatory approvals – towards use as an approved medical treatment around the world. Neurovalens is already in the final phase of trials for obesity and aims to have approval for insomnia and anxiety devices in the next 12 months, with diabetes trials slated for 2021.

Kerry Baldwin, Managing Partner of IQ Capital commented: “IQ Capital is delighted to further support Neurovalens on their mission to deliver medical technology that can transform the lives of those who suffer from metabolic or neurological diseases. This funding will allow Neurovalens to accelerate their entry into the US healthcare system and to establish the technology as doctor-prescribed treatments for four of the biggest global health epidemics.”

Gaby Salem, Managing Director of Wharton Asset Management Company said: “This is a very exciting time for Neurovalens as they approach their first medical device approvals. This round of funding will enable Neurovalens to primarily focus on gaining traction within the US reimbursement sector while also continuing to develop the technology for further US FDA approvals.”

Tim Mills, Managing Partner of the Angel CoFund said: “The Neurovalens team have developed a truly innovative technique to help people combat an array of health challenges. As such, they are a rare example of a startup that really has the potential to fundamentally affect the sector they are in, changing how clinicians treat certain conditions. It is exciting to see the team at Neurovalens continue to grow and the success of their clinical trials, and we look forward to seeing the team continue to push boundaries in health tech.”

Techstart NI and Co-Fund II are part of Invest Northern Ireland’s Access to Finance portfolio and part funded by European Regional Development Fund under the EU Investment for Growth and Jobs Programme 2014-2020.

Brian Cummings from Clarendon Fund Managers, which manages Co-Fund II, added: “Neurovalens is a highly innovative company and it is testament to the interest the company’s technology has generated that they have been able to close this significant funding round. The business has scaled rapidly since launching in 2017 and we are excited that this investment will help Jason and his team to apply their technology to the treatment of additional health conditions and make a real difference.”

Jamie Andrews, Investor at Techstart Ventures said: “At Techstart Ventures we want to back really exciting early stage technology companies with expert founding teams. Over time some of these companies and teams can prove themselves to have true world class potential and persuade other more specialist funders to come alongside us. This financing round, led by IQ Capital, demonstrates Neurovalens are doing just that. We are again delighted to support the Neurovalens team as they enter an exciting new growth phase.”

Belfast based Thrive launches rapid deployment internal comms app to fast track employee communication with frontline teams. #Thrive

Belfast based Thrive, a leading provider of employee communication and engagement software, announced today the launch of its newest self-service, rapid deployment Thrive.App. This brings together the key features needed for businesses to power up their internal communications for their frontline employees, and can be set up and launched within hours. Thrive’s platform and apps are already used by over 250,000 employees, across the public sector, healthcare, manufacturing, food production, transport and retail, Thrive’s clients include SGN, Fairchild Medical Centre, An Post, Children’s Health Ireland, Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council and Air France KLM.

James Scott, CEO of Thrive comments,

“Our newest Thrive.App will help many companies manage the complex work required to move comms from noticeboards to mobile phones. It’s engineered to make the setup, sign off and success of introducing a digital communication channel easier than ever before, taking the risk and worry away from launching a new solution. 

Using Thrive.App, organisations can now set up an employee comms app within hours, with predefined content templates, drag and drop functionality, customised themes to suit their brands and best practice guidance from our team.

One of the key benefits is that companies can see their employee app come to life immediately, with their own content in the app. They can also get crucial feedback from key stakeholders, business leaders and most importantly their employees with no upfront commitment.”

In this new world, in the wake of Covid-19, business transformation is happening everywhere and each organisation is relying on technology more than ever before. With over 80% of the world’s workforce being deskless, employee communication apps are playing key roles in keeping front line teams informed, engaged, supported and recognised.

James Scott, CEO of Thrive adds,

“We take pride in the guidance we give to people who are thinking about deploying an app. The rapid deployment of Thrive.App will help businesses even further in making their decisions quicker as well as fast tracking their way to better communications.

We are extremely excited about the launch, especially during this time of uncertainty, when effective communication is vital. We hope this launch will enable more people and organisations to see the benefits of moving to a digital communications channel during this challenging time.”

Thrive’s technology has been used actively throughout the Coronavirus period across its client base, with Thrive reporting an all-time usage peak – some as high as 200%. One of Thrive’s client’s is Children’s Health Ireland and Trevor Murphy, Director of Human Resources comments: “With our programme for change in preparation for our move to the new children’s hospital and the current health crisis we are facing, there has never been a more important time for us to ensure our colleagues are connected, sharing and receiving important information and feel fully supported and recognised.

A massive and sincere thanks to all the Thrive team for ‘the can do’ attitude in assisting us in launching our employee app. It is hugely welcomed by all as a great support for communicating key and important updates, information and support for our staff at this very difficult time.”

The initial feedback from staff has been overwhelmingly positive and we are excited to roll it out to our staff across all our sites, in particularly those who are working remotely due to the current guidelines on physical and social distancing.”

Using the Thrive.App clients can quickly remove the reliance on notice boards and allow front line teams easy access to critical information, gather feedback, encourage two-way communication and social communities via user generated content, celebrate success through recognition, build stronger teams and build stronger businesses.