Anna Muñoz Farré
Founder of Punto Health
Biography:
I am an engineer originally from Barcelona. After joining the biomechanics lab at my university, I discovered my true passion – using technology to improve medical care— so I ended up specialising in Biomedical Engineering. I have been working at the intersection of technology and medicine ever since, and it is the best decision I ever made.
When my grandfather was diagnosed with Parkinson’s and later Lewy body dementia, I witnessed the toll it took on him and my grandmother as his main carer. This sparked my mission to transform care for neurodegenerative conditions and cognitive decline.
While dementia care has improved, clinical teams often lack capacity for comprehensive support. Patients need more personalised help to stay independent at home, and families struggle to coordinate fragmented systems.
The opportunity for technology to revolutionise cognitive care models is enormous, with my parents’ generation as the new cohort of patients. With my background in AI and clinical data, I started Punto Health to connect patients, carers and healthcare professionals through a personalised platform – providing a trusted companion from early detection to advanced Alzheimer’s and other dementias.
As a female founder in a male-dominated sector, I actively seek to improve gender representation and inclusion. I co-founded and led an internal Gender Network at my previous company (BenevolentAI), and aim to continue this effort with Punto. Raising visibility is key, so initiatives like Leap make a huge difference. I was honoured to be awarded Upcoming Woman in STEM 2022 by the Catalan Government. I hope my journey inspires younger generations of women to pursue careers in STEM fields, and motivate girls to envision themselves in leadership roles.
Finally, launching a startup in the UK’s relationship-driven health sector has been a learning curve, but it motivates me to bring an outsider’s perspective. The Leap Programme will be invaluable through mentoring and connecting with founders in the space.
I want to advance Punto’s mission while fostering an inclusive environment for diverse innovators. Join me in the dementia care revolution!
Spotlight:
What inspires you as a founder, particularly as a diverse founder, of a digital health company?
As a founder in digital health, I am deeply inspired by the direct opportunity to make a lasting, positive impact on people’s lives. My grandfather’s battle with Parkinson’s and Lewy body dementia exposed me to the immense challenges faced by patients, carers, and healthcare professionals in managing cognitive decline. As an Engineer and AI Scientist passionate about combining technology with medicine, I am driven to develop innovative solutions that address these challenges head-on. The support and empowerment I feel from connecting with other founders in the space has been invaluable, reinforcing my commitment to this cause. I hope we inspire the next generation of women to pursue STEM careers and empower girls to envision themselves as future leaders.
What attracted you to apply for the DigitalHealth.London Leap Programme?
The DigitalHealth.London Leap programme’s stellar reputation for nurturing and supporting promising digital health startups and their founders is what drew me to apply.
As a technical founder in the predominantly male tech/AI sector, I am no stranger to the unique challenges that come with being a minority in my field. Regrettably, the founder world is not exempt from these disparities, making it incredibly difficult to find relatable female technical founders to look up to as role models. The programme’s emphasis on mentorship, networking, and access to key stakeholders in the UK health sector perfectly complements Punto’s objectives. As a foreign founder navigating the intricacies of the NHS, I am confident that the Leap Programme will provide crucial guidance and connections to help us successfully make a meaningful impact on dementia care while offering me invaluable support as a female founder.