A financial wellbeing tech start-up based in Bude has been crowned the winner of the 2022 Health Equity Innovation Challenge held by South West Academic Health Science Network.

Good With is a financial wellbeing AI which hopes to support young people in managing their money. Described as ‘the app where money meets mental health”, Good With provides financial wellbeing to 18 to 24-year-olds, guiding its users to avoid harmful debts and build a “readiness score”.

Users are created a robust risk profile providing financial services with a better understanding of the credit risk and vulnerability that its users represent, matching young adults with financial services catering to their specific needs. This means fairer prices and fewer resources, helping banks and users save money.

This year’s Equity Innovation Challenge focusses on identifying and spreading innovative practice to help close health equity gaps for children and young people’s mental health in the South West, with a specific focus on supporting those experiencing, or at risk of, anxiety.

Good With’s success in this challenge demonstrates the case for investing in evidence-based financial wellbeing services, especially those matching young people’s needs at a crucial and often precarious time in their lives.

Rosie Graham, Programme Manager and organiser of the Challenge Fund at South West Academic Health Science Network said: “We are delighted to be supporting Good With to provide innovative, evidence-based financial wellbeing support to young people in the South West experiencing anxiety.

“The panel were blown away by the strength of the applications submitted to this year’s 2022 Health Equity Innovation Challenge and were particularly excited by Good With’s consideration of the wider determinants of health, and the connection between finances and health in the South West, where children and young people’s mental health needs are higher than in any other region in England.”

Gabriela Isas, CEO and founder of the Bude based start-up said: “Although our ambitions are global and our team expands throughout the UK, we’re a Cornwall-based company. Our home is here; our community starts here. We’re grateful for the opportunity to work with our local people and communities to validate our science-based approach to improve financial health outcomes”