Innovation Interview: BeneTalk CEO on the journey and impact of newly funded NHS speech therapy app

In the rapidly evolving field of digital health, innovation is transforming traditional care pathways. As an example of this, Jordi Fernandez, CEO of BeneTalk, is leading the charge with SuperPenguin—a groundbreaking app designed to enhance speech therapy services for children who stammer. Recently, SuperPenguin secured significant funding through the NIHR i4i Product Development Awards, marking a pivotal moment in the journey of this NHS-supported initiative.

In this exclusive interview, Jordi Fernandez shares the inspiration behind SuperPenguin, the challenges faced along the way, and how the collaboration with Evolution Europe played a crucial role in securing the funding. Jordi also gives us a glimpse into what’s next for SuperPenguin.

1.How did you get the idea for the SuperPenguin app?

As someone who did not receive much support in understanding and managing the challenges related to my stammering, I envisioned bringing the knowledge I wished I had to millions of people. However, I was naive to think that the journey from A to B would be a straight line!

In 2021, I left my full-time job and launched an app called BeneTalk, focusing on adults who stammer. That app continues to help many people around the world find joy in speaking, but it was difficult to monetise.

In March 2023, we expanded our mission with Penguin: Stammering Support for Parents. Penguin has proven to be an invaluable asset to NHS services as the only app available for stammering support. We have seen incredible growth in adoption, achieving integration in 16 NHS trusts within a year. Leveraging this momentum, we decided to build SuperPenguin and apply for NIHR funding to develop a digital therapeutic solution for new levels of care within the NHS.

2. The team behind SuperPenguin is stellar. How did you pull together the right partners for the i4i project?

The success of Penguin brought all our partners together. The truth is, we did not have to do much since everyone we talked to liked the idea behind Penguin.

It also helped that one of our key team members, Dr Ronan Miller (Director of Real Word Evidence), is a very influential person in the stammering community in the UK and had many connections.

3. What excites you most about the i4i win?

Penguin was a successful experiment, but nevertheless, it was an experiment. Given the success we had with just an experiment, SuperPenguin should turn into a real success in term adoption accross the UK. Our aim is to transition those NHS trusts using Penguin to SuperPenguin and to empower them to become “Digital Exemplars” showcasing how SuperPenguin transformed their stammering treatment services.

4. How did Benetalk´s collaboration with Evolution help to prepare you to secure the i4i funding?

Evolution’s role during the grant application was pivotal. I have worked with several grant writers (we secured £1.5M in non-dilutive funding from 13 grant applications before winning this last NIHR grant), and I can confirm that the work and support from Evolution Europe (and Leonor) was the best I have received so far. It was a very long application process, and we received support at every stage of the process, including preparation for the pitch presentation we had to deliver at the end of the application process.

5. Will you be able to go to other markets? What ‘s next on the horizon?

My vision has not changed but has grown. Rather than solely providing knowledge about stammering worldwide, my vision now encompasses all speech and language needs. The vehicle to achieve this vision and move us towards Point B is SuperPenguin.

Yet, before we serve everyone, we need to serve someone. Thus, we are focusing now on the UK, and once we become the digital partner for speech therapy in most NHS trusts, we will explore other markets.

6. What’s the best advice you’ve recently received?

Share all relevant information with your team, both positive and negative.

Read more about SuperPenguin in a recent article by BBC.