Recognising innovative ideas that address a significant societal challenge, and part of a wider effort to build a broad and inclusive market for social ventures in Scotland, the £10,000 inaugural prize went to Professor Sebastin Chastin from Glasgow Caledonian University for his groundbreaking project, Health Cascade (formerly known as MosaIQ).
12 months after winning The Ventures Lab Award, Health Cascade has used the prize package to transition from a conceptual framework into a sustainable social enterprise. Now a multidisciplinary, global network powered by young researchers, Health Cascade’s unique methodology is harnessing collective intelligence to co-create solutions to complex challenges across sectors like health, education and social care.
The challenge: when silver bullets fail
Across the globe, we are confronting a rising tide of persistent problems from entrenched inequality and climate change to widespread health crises like obesity.
The core problem, according to Professor Chastin, is that these interconnected challenges cannot be solved by a single, linear “silver bullet” solution. They require collective intelligence, bringing together multiple perspectives, lived experiences, skills and knowledge. However, no robust, evidence-based methodology exists to make this difficult process of cross-sector, multidisciplinary co-creation truly effective.
Health Cascade fills this critical gap by developing and sharing the science of co-creation. Combining scientific rigour, technology and empathy within a proven ethical governance structure, their solution harnesses human capacity for cooperation and creativity, making collective intelligence not a luxury but a necessity.
Already delivering impact by focusing on the next generation of leaders, Professor Chastin is most proud of having built a 15-strong cohort of young future leaders who are now trained and equipped to use this collective intelligence methodology to create real-world change.
Keen to scale the impact of his idea, and with the support of The Ventures Lab team, Health Cascade has transitioned into a social enterprise – a move that will ensure the project builds global capacity for collective intelligence, firmly establishing the rigorous science of co-creation worldwide.
And Professor Chastin’s final word of advice to any aspiring, purpose-driven founder looking to take the leap? Particularly anyone thinking about applying for the Impact Challenge.
“Just do it.”
“You probably don’t see the full extent of the value of what you have. Taking part in the Impact Challenge will challenge you to do things differently and to deliver the full impact of your research”.
