hey freya x Northeastern Vancouver: A partnership fueling innovation and creating a community for local tech startups
If you had asked Thara Vayali five years ago what she thought she would be doing today, leading a technology startup would not have been on her list.
An experienced naturopathic physician (among other qualifications including nutritionist, herbalist, health informatics specialist, behaviour change coach, and movement instructor to name a few), Thara has dedicated her life and studies to improving the health of women through her practice and education. Her passion for women’s health and commitment to broadening access to empathetic care and evidence-based solutions has led her to where she stands today – co-founder and chief medical officer of hey freya, a tech startup providing health support for women experiencing stress and burnout. hey freya is powered by a team of women who aim to provide personalized and accessible care for women. Afterall, who knows women’s health better than women themselves?
Thara and her co-founders are no strangers to the global Northeastern University network. She met her co-founders Helkin Berg and Cecilia Tse at a fem-tech event and after getting to know one another, aligning on a shared vision and seeing the opportunity to build a company together, they found themselves participating in Northeastern’s Roux Institute Founder Residency and Techstars Accelerator programs. The Roux Institute is designed to spur innovation, build talent, and drive economic growth in Portland, Maine, and in the Northeast. Its unique model and deep partnerships with industry, academia, and government are what set its education and research model apart.
“Our time at the Roux Institute helped propel our business to the next level. Despite the three of us being tenured professionals in our own respective fields, the amount of support and resources we have access to at Northeastern has been nothing short of invaluable!” says Thara.
“We have been able to work closely with world-class mentors and learn from other businesses which has taught us the tech industry can truly be for everyone, and as an underrepresented women-led and women-owned tech-startup, this is music to our ears. We can’t wait to see where the next five years take us as we focus on scaling hey freya with the ongoing support and resources available at Northeastern Vancouver.”
Breaking barriers to accessible women’s healthcare
At hey freya, lifestyle meets science. Data-based research backs their initial product offering focused on stress and burnout, which through a unique combination of clinical-grade lab tests and a lifestyle assessment provide women with the validation they’re seeking and tailored recommendations for how to reduce their stress and burnout levels easily and effectively. By putting power and information into women’s hands, they can take control of their health and feel more like themselves again from the comfort of their own homes.
“We aim to empower women to understand all they can about their health and wellness. hey freya is the result of women with decades of experience coming together to combine their resources to create sustainable wellness solutions for all women. We’re filling a gap for accessible healthcare for women, while simultaneously giving women the tools to advocate for their own wellness,” adds Thara.
The Northeastern difference
Inspired by the university’s commitment to providing experiential learning for all its students, Northeastern Vancouver’s Regional Dean, Steve Eccles, set out to create a purpose-built space to invite collaboration between students and industry partners.
“What we’re doing here is creating a space for an industry community on campus, and one that mirrors the unique ecosystem that makes Vancouver so special. Our city’s tech sector is dominated by creative startups, with fast-scaling and mid-sized companies in the mix too. These businesses are inspired by innovative leaders – so it makes a lot of sense to establish a space where that creative leadership pool can organically mentor, support, influence and inspire the next generation.
And, it’s worth bearing in mind that our students aren’t shy when it comes to challenging the process, crafting new directions and bringing their own innovative ideas to the table too,” says Steve.
This new hub will span the entirety of the second floor of the Vancouver campus, providing space for students to collaborate with local industry partners in a way that no other university is doing, and creating a community that supports innovation, creativity, and collaboration. The space will also help to fulfill the urgent need for tech talent by giving companies taking up residency in the space direct access to graduates of programs tailored for industry, matching its students with valuable hands-on experiences.
For hey freya, the chance to get in on the ground floor with other like-minded business leaders, is an invaluable next step. To support the student community, hey freya will offer students co-op placements and experiential network programs outside of regular coursework. The team also hopes to support other tech startups and provide mentorship to those starting out. It’s a unique opportunity for hey freya and other teams to learn from values-aligned businesses without the pressures of fundraising and networking, while giving back to the larger tech ecosystem in Vancouver.
“As a small business, Northeastern is a wonderful community to be a part of”, says Thara. “There is a deep desire for all business owners to get to know each other and knowing you’re a part of something at the ground level is really exciting. What we at hey freya appreciate is the campus exudes the sentiment that they are here for you. It’s not just a space to do your work, it’s a fully formed community.”
Learn more about how to connect with the community at Northeastern University Vancouver. Learn more about how hey freya can support the women in your life.