Discover Isaac's story from graduating in Human Geography at QMUL, to founding Huddle ADHD.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and describe your current business.
In 2023 I graduated from QMUL with a 1:1 in BA Human Geography. During this period, I worked as: Course Representative, Peer Assisted Study Skills Mentor, Psychology Department Research Assistant and in NGO roles for organisations such as SkatePal and Business Education Events.
I went on to employment with The British Governments Department for Business and Trade, working on improving trade relations between the UK and the Association for Southeast Asian Nations as well as spearheading strategic development of Process Production Measures policy.
Huddle ADHD
A UK start-up innovating the delivery of accredited neurodivergent coaching, staff training and consultancy. Facilitated by our flagship post diagnostic support management platform.
Our platform fuses a support provider web application, and a patient focused mobile application to digitally centralise support provider to receiver relations.
The platform: streamlines administrative tasks to optimise operational efficiency, provide mechanisms to enable more holistic support practices. In addition to communication channels that enhance support provider to receiver continuity outside sessions.
The vision is revolutionise neurodivergent support throughout education, employment HR and healthcare globally.
In the UK we are working with Schools, Universities, Alternative Education Providers, NHS services and corporate employers. We've recieved pre seed funding from Queen Mary University of London, Tech Onshore MEP Prefabricators (Singapore) and AWS. Huddle has won and received runners up in coveted awards such as QMUL Launch It Award, London Mayor's Enterprise Award and The Conduit Young Innovators Award.
How did you come up with the idea, and what problem does it address?
It was not straightforward for me to reach this point managing my severe ADHD and Tourettes diagnoses from age 11. Misconduct problems at school, bouncing on and off powerful psychiatric medications, neglected by support services and being mistreated by employers were all part of his journey.
I was curious and began speaking to people and families with ADHD and listening to ADHD podcasts. It became abundantly clear my experiences where not unique and I decided to leave my job to found a holistic ADHD coaching startup.
What inspired you to pursue entrepreneurship while or after your education at Queen Mary?
During my second year I saw a poster for QIncubator and it looked awesome. I spoke to the head of Enterprise at the time, and she was really encouraging and introduced me to a student from LSE who founded a similar business - she inspired the business model for my in person services.
After I graduated, I decided to enrol on QIncubator to build my aspirations to start a socially trading organisation that provides neurodivergent support services. During this programme my business idea was picked up by a company called Experience Haus and together we designed a digital support landscape that could supplement my in-person services but also enhance existing ways of facilitating post diagnostic support for people with neurodivergent conditions.
After this collaboration, Barclays and Capital Enterprise supported me apply for 3 grants one through QMUL which I won, another through the Conduit where I received 2nd place and another where I reached the finals through the London Mayoral Office.
Since I have received private investment from a Singaporean Engineering firm, and we are developing our concept designs into a working prototype (MVP) whilst continuing to establish validation partnerships with educators, corporate employers and healthcare services.
What were your goals at the beginning of your journey and how did they change/evolve throughout time?
Start a business that I could channel my passions into make social impact and comfortably live off!
Originally, I was keen to stick to in person services and let my business organically develop but after overwhelming pressure I pivoted to also establish a tech dimension to our company's catalogue of services.
How do you deal with fear, doubts?
Resilience, flexibility, staying true to my cause, passion, growth mindset
How have you used entrepreneurship for positive social change, and what impact have you seen in your community or industry, if any?
I am working to empower neurodivergent communities live in harmony with their biological differences and force a wider paradigm shift away from disability to difference.
What advice would you give to current students or recent graduates who are interested in pursuing entrepreneurship?
Follow your dreams and make a difference but make sure you can financially support yourself at the same time!