Our Founding Story
Syndi was founded in London, UK, within the 15th Cohort of Entrepreneur First.
Syndi’s founders united over their shared experience of going through a broken and fragmented mental healthcare pathway, where millions of people battling mental illnesses feel unsupported and overwhelmed outside of clinical settings.
We’re on a mission to make sure that everyone has access to the right digital health support, right when they need it. Starting with mental health.
Co-Founder and CEO
Ben holds a Masters of Research Degree in Medical Device Design and Entrepreneurship from Imperial College. Last year he was awarded the Royal Academy of Engineering 1851 Enterprise Fellowship.
Ben’s previous start-up provided long-overdue innovation to an outdated healthcare process by launching the world’s first medically approved direct-to-consumer prosthetic limbs.
Co-Founder and CTO
Jorge is a Physics graduate from Imperial College and holds a Masters in AI from the University of Barcelona. Having previously founded and directed an award-winning AI consultancy, he has designed and built chat and voice assistants for advance care planning.
Jorge has also implemented successful machine-learning algorithms for GPS-tracked on-demand delivery systems.
Meet the team
Clinical Product Lead
Physician leader in digital health & clinical product with over 15 yrs experience including as VP for Virtual Primary Care at Teladoc Health, Director of Primary Care at Boston Medical Center and founding partner of Harness Health Global. Doctorate in medicine (MD) Yale Medical School, MSc UX Engineering Univ London. Has held professor roles at Boston University and Harvard Medical Schools.
Business Development Lead
Serban is a healthcare and insurance industry expert, with over 18 yrs of experience helping starts-ups scale and driving growth at Bupa UK & Global, Unum UK and Monitor Group. Serban holds an MBA from The Wharton School, an MA from the Joseph Lauder Institute and a BA (Hons) from the University of Pennsylvania.
Clinical Services Lead
BSc MH Nursing from King's College London, MA in Human Rights from Birkbeck College (UoL), Ass. Member IGA. Rich has over 12 years experience within the NHS, with a particular focus on complex cases and MH crisis.
Founded a CIC providing support to neurodiverse adolescents and young adults.
Business Development
Isabella is a Business Management graduate from the University of York. She built and developed businesses within the startup ecosystem whilst working within GoogleForStartups and the H51 accelerator. Most recently she built a brand partnerships tech startup in Founders Factory and founded a hygiene business, elxr.
Senior Software Engineer
Brian has produced and delivered a variety of complex and innovative solutions within the financial, public and edtech sectors before joining the healthtech space. His deep subject matter expertise in technical product design and development has allowed him to create value and bring disruptive technology to the forefront of industry, from proof-of-concept all the way through to high volume production.
Software Engineer
Antony has a background working as a nurse in a range of specialties such as neurosurgery, intensive care, research, and A&E. He recently graduated from a software engineering bootcamp, and is eager to combine his knowledge and experience in healthcare with his new skills as a developer to help build products to help better peoples' lives.
Software Engineer
Robert is a software engineer with a focus on front-end technologies with over 6 years of experience across payment systems, logistics and hospitality, helping startups in Nigeria and the US. He holds a BSc in Electrical & Telecommunications Engineering and has gained several professional certificates relating to InfoSec and cybersecurity over the years.
Partnerships Lead
Sam has recently graduated from Newcastle University with a BSc Joint honours in Psychology and Exercise Science. Having seen first hand effects of mental health he is passionate about bettering the lives of whoever needs it.
Digital Marketing and Comms
Paula has a background in film and TV production but outside of that she also thrives building creative content and marketing strategies for brands. Having worked for another mental health company she's excited to bring her knowledge and experience to Syndi.
Our advisors
Psychiatry Advisor
Chair, Royal College of Psychiatrists SW Deputy. Director of Research & Innovation at Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust. Neuropsychiatrist and Clinical director for the Adult Intellectual Disability Neuropsychiatry services.
Professor of Computing, University of Cambridge.
Co-founder of the Raspberry Pi foundation.
Co-author of Modern Java in Action.
Director of Digital Health Equity and Access Lab and Latinx Center of Excellence in Behavioral Health, UC Berkeley & UCSF. Developed and deployed HealthySMS and MoodText through US clinical research trials. Licensed, practising clinical psychologist at San Francisco General Hospital.
AI & Ethics Advisor
AI4Health Clinical Advisor, World Health Organization. Primary Care Physician. Edmund Hilary Fellowship for High-Impact Entrepreneurs. Member of UK Government’s Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport - AI Council Working Group.
Strategic Advisor
Director of Strategy at Talkspace: the largest tele-behavioural health platform in the USA. Leads their B2B strategy team, evaluating M&A projects, building partnerships and developed go-to-market strategy. Ex-Google Product Marketing Manager; Harvard Business School MBA.
