One of the greatest things about working in a startup is getting to meet amazing people who are incredibly supportive. When we first started LYEONS, technically even before we started, we received incredible support from Cambridge Innovation Capital. They generously offered us office space where we could hold team meetings and start building our vision. That early support meant a lot to us. Instead of working out of a garage (as many startup stories begin), we were fortunate to have a great collaborative space with a whiteboard where we could sketch our ideas and lay the groundwork for creating a safe zone for people with anxiety disorders.
Innovation Hubs
We also joined the Cambridge Judge Business School Accelerator program. Interestingly, the CJBS building was once part of Addenbrooke’s Hospital, but when you enter the place you would have never guessed, as it has an incredibly energetic and creative interior filled with bright colours. This vibrant atmosphere fuels innovation and keeps us inspired.
Then Innovate Cambridge Glasshouse opened its doors—a space where creators and innovators come together to support each other. When we go there, it feels like home, as we see lots of familiar faces who are making a difference in the world.
When we have meetings and workshops, we visit the Deloitte Life Sciences Catalyst business lounge. As an early health startup, we were able to become their biotech life science member. We had some incredible workshops there, discussing user journeys, pain points, and how we might improve their experiences. We thank Cambridge Network for providing such an opportunity to connect with Deloitte team.
As alumni of Imperial College London, we were also welcomed to use their Enterprise Lab space. If you haven’t visited yet, we highly recommend it! The biggest challenge is actually finding it—there’s a saying that those who manage to locate the Enterprise Lab are the ones destined to succeed, as navigating the space is the first test of resilience. 🙂 But we also work a lot at Imperial College London Library. Sometimes we feel as if we never graduated, we are there to meet with professors, researchers, and founders, supporting each other along the way. Neurotechnology requires a lot of reading and studying, so we sit there, read research papers, share insights, and discuss new ideas.
LYEONS Den
When it comes to where do we work the most, it probably is fair for us to say that we work from home the most, probably because work does not end at 5pm in start up world, at least at LYEONS. Also, balancing work with childcare responsibilities has been a very important learning curve. When the school day ends, the home office comes to life.
We engage the kids, ask for their thoughts on our research, show them how we prototype, and even sit down to sketch and build together. It’s not always easy—with two kids running around, distractions are inevitable—but over the past six years, we’ve found a balance. This is why we’re passionate about supporting a lifestyle that allows parents to care for their children while pursuing their careers. (Parenting while running a startup is a whole topic in itself!)
The World Is Our Studio
The truth is, we work everywhere—on trains, in cars, cafés, and even in children’s libraries. Sometimes, dropping the kids off and then finding another workspace isn’t time-efficient, so we make the most of every moment.
Yes, ofcourse we would love to have our studio where we can have great discussions, brainstorming rooms and all but it is not about having a fancy office. For us it is about who we work with and what we are doing to achieve our vision. 🙂
Early-stage startups come with challenges and risks, but as one of our team members says, every morning they wake up feeling grateful. The ability to work hard, but for the right reasons and on something we love, is what motivates us. That’s what keeps us going.
In addition to the places mentioned above, everyone has been incredibly generous, inviting LYEONS, sharing their spaces to support the LYEONS team to focus on research and development.
Thank you for greeting us with a big smile whenever we visit each sites which always makes our day special.
Every day we are grateful for the support and as you supported us, we will ensure to focus on our studies to create a safe zone for people with anxiety and bring more smiles into the world. 🙂
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