App connecting later lifers with young mentors wins RESI Hackathon 2019

Muna Aghamelu, a 19-year-old computer science undergraduate studying at University College London, teamed up with Adam Robinson, assisting with his marketing expertise, and Andrea De Montis, a UX/UI designer, to create the winning formula. With both later lifers and young people suffering from isolation, the app brings the two generations together as well as helping students with mentorship at a pivotal time in their life. Focusing on three main areas of Creativity, Wellbeing and Career, it allowed both the young mentor and later lifer to tend to their own virtual garden, with each mentor/mentee relationship represented by a tree which grows the more you interact – enabling mentor and mentee to grow joint passions and interests.

Muna said: “Since starting university in London, I have struggled to find a mentor. Knowing how much later lifers have to give in terms of their collective wisdom, I started thinking about a platform which could enrich the lives of both later lifers and students, who often feel isolated and lonely themselves. I am so happy the judges recognised the potential in Growth and the Hackathon event exceeded my expectations”

Second place was awarded to Grandeur, a web app which syncs a later lifer’s calendar, wearable and health data whilst also providing bespoke suggestions for improving your wellbeing.

Auriens founder Johnny Sandelson commented: “Auriens is passionate about innovation in the later life sector, which is why we are, and always will be, strong supporters of events like the RESI Hackathon. Growth stood out due to the clever way the team managed to connect isolated students and later lifers with an easy-to-use platform. Loneliness is a key issue that spans multiple generations, which we must take steps to address”.

In addition to Growth’s winning proposition, there was an abundance of innovation capable of winning the competition. From an online platform which allows later lifers to conference with their local GP, to educational aids which optimise digital products, the RESI Hackathon was awash with innovation that cleverly addressed the brief.

The winning team took home £1,750 with the second placed team being given £750.

For more information on the RESI Hackathon please contact Tin Man Communications via auriens@tinmancomms.com.