So what happened then?
A heady mix of genetics, poor lifestyle choices and injury, stress and a shrugging off of symptoms had me diagnosed as diabetic — blood sugars at 14.9, so pretty far gone.
My life had to change, in all areas, from fitness to diet, exercise and stress management. For the first time, I started using long-term medication: a twice-daily dose of Metformin, plus supplements to improve my sugar levels and boost my concentration.
So, what was the frustration?
There are several: a perfect storm of long-standing burning ambition — my degree is in product design and my career in digital apps and services — and a realisation that my old career was not an ideal full-time option. The static desk job locked in Zoom calls literally doesn't sit well with diabetes.
The main driver is the pill-taking experience. I can't do much about the taste (they are meant to taste like crap, so you don't take too many). But I can do something about pill organisers and storage…
Fiddly to use and fill, and made very, very cheaply. The case continuously served as a reminder that I was ill. Zero positive vibes. For something that I handle twice a day, every day, these organisers served only as a reminder of illness, not as something that is improving my health and setting me up to have a better day.
My first pharmacy-bought pill case. It didn't fit everything I needed inside, and worst of all, after a few days, the catch on the Saturday section broke (hence why it's open in this photo).
How did you start?
It all started casually with a blank sketchbook a few days after the cheap case failed me. At some point I picked it up every time I had a quiet moment and just exhaled ideas; my repressed creative side was released. It was fun. After a few months, I decided to delve into casual research — Googling common prescriptions and their frequencies, trying to find suitable existing products and understand the marketplace.
When did it get serious?
After being let go from a part-time product manager role in 2023, I decided to take developing my product seriously. It also coincided with getting my blood sugar into the normal range through diet and exercise, which had a profound impact on my ability to concentrate; the headaches were gone, and I could focus for hours rather than minutes.
After some market research, Kapshul was born to elevate the pill-taking experience from a dirty secret to something more enjoyable that supports your wellness journey.
56
prototypes and counting
I had developed a clear hypothesis, so set about proving it. I invested in a 3D printer, a laser cutter, and a milling machine to prototype ideas. I set about learning CAD again after a couple of decades' hiatus. Started testing prototypes on myself and anyone willing to try that fit my potential audience — current count at 56 prototypes (all will be revealed in good time!).
During exploration and identifying challenges people faced while taking medication, it became evident that for many, keeping track of what had and hadn't been taken was a real issue. So I decided to develop a companion app to the organiser.