Physical inactivity is a leading cause of obesity. In 2019, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) reported[1] that 64% of adults in the UK were either overweight or obese, which comes at a huge cost to the NHS. Through promoting and incentivising physical activity, Sweatcoin has the potential to have a big impact on public health. Over 7 trillion steps have been converted so far, and the app reached No. 1 in the UK App Store.

Sweatcoin is part of the DigitalHealth.London Accelerator programme for 19/20, supported by the London-based AHSNs. This gives them a dedicated NHS Navigator, opportunities to network with senior decision-makers and participation in developmental workshops and ’Meet the Expert’ events. The programme provides in-depth knowledge of the wider UK health and care sector, alongside helping the companies to refine, develop and scale their innovations. This support resulted in a pitching opportunity for Sweatcoin at Health Innovation Network’s Innovation Grants launch, where they were introduced to the Diabetes Prevention Decathlon team. They went on to partner with the project (funded by HIN’s Innovation Grant) to create a digital reward solution for people at risk of developing diabetes.