Taboo health issues innovation

Client: Zinc VC

Year: 2021

Project Background: Zinc VC run a project supporting 7 of its health startups focused on taboo health issues with funding for dedicated research projects. Each startup researched and tested a specific aspect of their business with users, using interviews, focus groups, questionnaires and co-development sessions.

Challenge: Zinc VC needed to consolidate findings of the startups, in particular regarding the best ways to tackle taboo health issues with innovative solutions, both for the project funder, as well as other interested public.

Approach:

• Literature review into stigma and health taboos.

• Thematic analysis of research performed by the startups.

What we found:

• Taboo and stigma associated with certain health issues can have very detrimental impact on the health and wellbeing of its sufferers.

• The people suffering from the taboo health issues need non-judgmental spaces to be heard and understood. Compassion and empathy should permeat every aspect of the health offering for taboo health issues.

• User and community research about the taboo health issues and ways to tackle them is crucial for creating the most relevant solutions. While it is a challenge for startups, it's important.

Results:

• A public-facing report with key findings.

• Multiple blogs, including one on keys to success in running a taboo health startup research.