Blog
Isabelle’s Journey with Elithiya on IGNITE
We spoke with Isabelle about joining the IGNITE programme and her mission to improve the IUD experience through her start-up, Elithiya.
You’ve just joined IGNITE – what attracted you to the programme at this stage in your journey?
I joined IGNITE because I felt ready to take Elithiya from an academic concept to a real-world solution. After the recognition from the HSE Spark Design on the Frontline, I knew there was momentum behind the idea, but I also knew I needed structure, mentorship, and support to guide the transition from design to business.
You’ve already had great success with Elithiya – including DOTFL 2025 and the Logitech recognition. What motivated you to keep developing it further post-graduation?
The deeper I got into research for Elithiya, the clearer it became just how overlooked the IUD experience is, both medically and emotionally. Every interview and story I heard reinforced that this isn’t a niche issue, it affects millions of people globally which motivated me to create a change.
What’s the core problem you’re solving with Elithiya, and what’s the change you want to see as a result of your work?
Elithiya is about rethinking the IUD insertion experience. Right now, it can be really painful, confusing, and unsupported, and I just don’t think it needs to be that way. The change I want to see is a process that’s less painful, more informed, and more emotionally and physically supported.
What does success look like for Elithiya in the next 6–12 months? What would make you feel proud of your time on the programme?
I’d love to walk away from the programme with a refined prototype and a better understanding of how to actually bring it into the world, whether that’s through partnerships, manufacturing, or clinical support. Building the right connections will be a huge part of that.
What kind of community or connections are you hoping to build while you're here at IGNITE?
I’d love to connect with others building in the health, Femtech and medtech space, people who understand the complexity of designing for the body.
If you could go back and give yourself one piece of advice when you were first starting Elithiya, what would it be?
Ask for help earlier and learn from the people who’ve already been there. Once I started reaching out to experts, from healthcare professionals to people who have gone through IUD insertion, everything started moving forward with more clarity.