The Reality of Building in Health: Founder Stories

Professor Ipsita Roy FIMMM, FRSB, is Deputy Research Director at the School of Chemical, Materials and Biological Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, at the University of Sheffield. Her group is an international leader in the field of bacteria-derived polymers, focusing on environmentally friendly and medical applications. Alongside her academic responsibilities, Ipsita's most recent venture is her spin-out company PHAsT - offering a revolutionary solution to the long-term impact of non- biodegradable polymers and their widespread use in industry, with a special focus on medical grade polymers. Ipsita is co-Investigator on the Yorkshire MedTech Place-Based Impact Acceleration Account and will share her experience at the cutting edge of scientific research and real-world impact.

Michael Crinnion is a mission-led founder and design engineer dedicated to "Wellness by Design." His company, Mind Body Goals, focuses on creating accessible, evidence-based tools that teach nervous-system regulation to people in all walks and stages of life. He is the creator of Luma³, an award-winning assistive technology for breathwork which is now deployed across multiple NHS trusts to help patients manage acute anxiety. From oncology suites to domestic living rooms, Michael’s mission is to make mental fitness as intuitive and accessible as physical fitness. Recognised as the winner of the West Yorkshire Mayor’s Big Ideas Challenge, Michael is a vocal advocate for mission-driven entrepreneurship. A returning speaker at Climb, he is passionate about bridging the gap between innovative technology and compassionate care, ensuring that evidence-based wellbeing tools are accessible to all at the point of need.

Tim Craggs, CEO of Exciting Instruments, is a leader in the field of single-molecule fluorescence. With extensive multidisciplinary experience spanning chemistry, physics and biology he has held research positions at Cambridge, St Andrews, Yale, Oxford, Bristol, and Sheffield. Craggs founded Exciting Instruments to democratize advanced single-molecule detection methods for applications in biophysics, drug discovery and diagnostics.​