With a Masters in Machine Learning and a ardour for human well being, the Glasgow-born entrepreneur started her profession as an information scientist in Singapore the place she labored for a well being know-how firm, engaged on the most important nameless database of psychological well being data on the earth and utilizing machine studying to foretell affected person outcomes and suggest the optimum drugs.
She then continued her curiosity in information led well being options whereas working as a analysis scientist for Babylon Health in London.
“It appeared so thrilling to assume what we might do with information,” Douglas tells NutraIngredients, “seeing the quantity of knowledge that was being collected, whether or not it’s from photographs or medical units, I might see this data might result in real-world adjustments.”
But it was solely after investing in a steady glucose monitor (CGM), worn on the again of the arm, that her curiosity in creating her personal firm was aroused.
“Myself and my household had been all the time yoyo weight-reduction plan rising up and seeing the harm that excessive diets can do to your well being.
“But after I lastly invested in a steady glucose monitor I used to be lastly capable of see why I had struggled prior to now. There had been issues that I’d have eaten frequently and all the time considered being ‘wholesome’ that will trigger enormous glucose spikes, similar to fruit and potatoes.
“It’s so vital to keep away from these meals as a result of any glucose spike will inevitably result in a dip which causes cravings for prime calorie, typically sugary, meals.”
At that point, Douglas says she was unaware of every other personalised diet service providing a CGM as a part of its service and so she noticed an enormous alternative to assist others with the identical struggles she had skilled.
She joined the Entrepreneur First programme, in London, the place she was supported to develop her new enterprise thought, MyLevels, and gained funding of £80,000 to get her enterprise up and operating.
Since then, Douglas has taken the service via six rounds of beta trials, with every together with 50 paying members.
Unique to the enterprise is its MyLevels rating system which intelligently ranks meals decisions in accordance with the influence they’ve on blood glucose ranges. Foods that rating lower than one are thought-about ‘spike free’ and the thought is to stay to solely these.
“This scoring system helps to actually simplify meals decisions. I do know {that a} breakfast of bacon and eggs offers me a rating of 0.4 however a bowl of cereal offers me a spike of 5.1.”
With solely her sister as a second full-time workers member (working because the Community Manager, in control of speaking with purchasers) Douglas is on monitor to take the service to full business launch earlier than the top of this yr, after only one extra beta trial.
“All curiosity within the service thus far has been natural. We’ve had a few options in Runner’s World and in Men’s Health so we’ve had some skilled athletes uncover us too.
“This kind of service is basically useful if you’re a protracted distance runner as a result of it’s so vital to keep away from these peaks and crashes in power throughout a race.”
But the younger enterprise lady says probably the most spectacular outcomes come from these utilizing the service with the goal of shedding weight.
“This service appeals to an enormous vary of consumers however it’s people who need to get management of their weight that give us one of the best suggestions. People will inform us they’ve struggled with their weight for years after which misplaced over a stone in a number of months of utilizing MyLevels. That’s unbelievable to listen to.”
Douglas realises that the competitors on this area has grow to be fierce since she first had her imaginative and prescient in 2018 however she’s assured that her service’s ease of use and rating system will give her firm the aggressive edge.
