VR TierOne is a Polish technological company that enables the treatment of depression and anxiety using virtual reality. They’ve been listed among the most interesting HealthTech startups and projects due to their utilization of tools commonly associated with entertainment (VR glasses) to support doctors in improving patients’ mental health. Their activities are described in the following passage.

New technologies offer us various forms of „escape” from everyday problems into what’s termed virtual reality. While playing video games is a beloved entertainment activity for many, it’s still stereotypically seen as a waste of time and something that can harm our health in the long run. Is that perception justified?

Specialists at VR TierOne demonstrate that solutions commonly used only for entertainment can effectively expedite the treatment of patients suffering from depression or anxiety. The creation of this solution involved two seemingly unrelated industries. Paweł Pasternak, the CEO of VR TierOne, has been involved in virtual reality for years, seeing it as an opportunity for an innovative approach to many contemporary world problems. However, it was only after meeting with his high school colleague, Professor Joanna Szczepańska-Gieracha, a psychologist and therapist working in neurological departments and conducting scientific research on the impact of mental health on patients, that he fully realized how VR could support the healing process.

Supporting patients in hospitals

During conventional therapy, patients not only grapple with their conditions but also contend with the unpleasant environment of certain hospital wards. The cold colors of the rooms, equipment worn by time, and the necessity of sharing unfamiliar space with other patients constitute the reality of Polish hospitals. Patients undergoing necessary treatment experience additional stressors that do not contribute to their recovery. Hence, the idea of using a „virtual escape” tool and creating a calming reality within the unfriendly walls of medical facilities.

Expanding conventional treatment

The VR program designed in collaboration with doctors, based on Ericksonian psychotherapy principles, serves as an additional „antidepressant” that doesn’t disrupt conventional therapy. It’s a toolset support for psychologists, therapists, and rehabilitators who often face the challenge of patients’ poor mental state, resulting in a lack of motivation for exercises. The goal of VR TierOne is to quickly mentally prepare the patient for therapeutic or rehabilitation sessions within their treatment cycle.

HealthTech of the Week

One of the reasons VR TierOne is a noteworthy HealthTech company worth observing is their prioritization of patients’ mental health. Instead of solely focusing on physical symptoms and restoring „body” functionality, the startup emphasizes the role of well-being in the healing process. Medical personnel can also benefit from this solution, as they, too, require appropriate relaxation during or after work due to their significant responsibilities. Currently, users of this solution include public hospitals, private clinics, rehabilitation centers, therapy practices, as well as foundations and higher education institutions where the need for mental relaxation and mental health care is also appreciated. The company has also created a mobile relaxation device called VR TierOne GO and is working on developing a therapeutic game. They plan to leverage the knowledge gained in the Polish market in international markets and are currently in the phase of seeking international distributors.

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Stay tuned for more in the “Health Tech of the Week” series, where we’ll continue to uncover fascinating stories from the world of medical technologies that are changing the face of healthcare. If you’re working on an innovative project in the field of new technologies and medicine or want to recommend an interesting solution, contact us at: [email protected].

Recently, I put a lot of effort into creating the Strong Women in IT 2023 – global edition report, which premiered in September. Today I would like to share with you some insights related to this year’s recruitment and the creation of this unique study.

The 2023 edition is the 3rd report in the „Strong Women in IT” series (5 counting all reports thematically within the initiative). Its aim is to present enterprising women leaders who inspire other women to achieve their professional goals. We are committed to developing a community of inspiring women from the IT world and initiating global communication that supports women in their further development.

This year, our report focuses on several key areas:

• Professional and personal experiences of female leaders
• Challenges faced by female leaders in the current market situation
• Technology overload – do women in IT experience 'technology fatigue’?
• Top trends in the IT industry

What are the stages of creating a report?

1. Substantive preparation, development of questions and concepts
2. Development of a recruitment communication strategy
3. Establishing the terms of partnerships
4. Technical issues – survey design and system implementation
5. Report recruitment and promotion
6. Constant contact with candidates
7. Collecting materials and confirming the candidates’ answers
8. Preparation of statistical data for the report
9. Designing the report
10. Preparing communication for the launch of the report
11. Organization of the premiere event and the start of recruitment
12. PR activities

The results of the Strong Women in IT 2023 report

Work on the report lasted 7 months! The result of these activities was the creation of the Strong Women in IT 2023 – global edition report. The study comprises a statistical section developed based on over 12,750 responses submitted by women in their surveys, expert comments from the report’s jury members, and 251 pages dedicated to distinguished female leaders, where you will find answers to 4 selected questions.

What distinguishes this report from other studies is an individual approach and a thorough analysis of answers to closed and open questions, as well as in-depth interviews with respondents, which allow not only to obtain quantitative data but also to take a closer look at the women and learn about their professional path.

What we are very pleased with is the large increase in interest among women leaders and their willingness to join our community.

Let’s summarize this year’s recruitment:

• 372 nominations – over 70% growth of nominations edition to edition.
• 251 qualified candidates – over 25% growth of distinguished women edition to edition.
• 568 female leaders in the global SW in IT community.

Partners

This year, for the first time, the creation of the report was supported by involved strategic partners: Billennium, BNP Paribas and UiPath.

The report was also supported by many organizations with a mission close to ours: CIC Warsaw, Dare IT, Digital University, European Network for Women in Leadership (WIL Europe), Geeks Like Us+ Foundation, No Fluff Jobs, Fundacja Mamo Pracuj, OMGKRK, Talenti.pl – bank women’s talents, WomenTech Network, Venture Café Warsaw Foundation.

The support of partners is important because you can use their substantive experience, their recommendation strengthens the communication message and allows you to reach members of their community.

You already know the background of the uprising, so I encourage you to download the Strong Women in IT 2023 – global edition report.You will find it on our website.

Webinars have a relatively short history, having emerged with the development of Internet technology and video conferencing tools. The first video conferencing appeared as early as the 1960s, but its costliness and difficulty of use meant that it was mainly used for business and academic purposes. It was not until the development of the Internet and the popularity of online platforms that webinars could be conducted easily and seamlessly.

Webinars gained popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic when many companies and organizations began using webinars as an alternative to traditional meetings and conferences. Today, it’s still a great way to gain new customers and increase awareness of our brand. However, to be successful you need to know how to prepare for such an event. What to keep in mind when planning a webinar, how to increase sign-ups, and how to communicate the event? In this article, I will also tell you how to prepare an attractive landing page, use email marketing, content marketing, and get traffic from your own website.

Prepare an attractive landing page for your webinar

A Landing Page is a webinar registration page. It has one purpose – to convince visitors to sign up for the training. The key to success is proper content optimization. Remember to include details about the conference and presenters, the date and time of the event, and the registration form in the text. If you’re not hosting a free webinar, include a ticket payment gateway on your site as well.

Send an email to potential customers

According to statistics, the best time to promote your registration page is 8 days before the webinar – this is when up to 54% of attendees sign up for the event. You can use email marketing for web advertising. It is no coincidence that this very marketing channel is mentioned as one of the first. This is because it represents the best way to promote an online training course.

If you already have a contact base, then you can send information about the webinar you are organizing to your subscribers. Include attractive calls to action in the email in addition to information about the webinar. You can also share a video with a personal invitation, ask them to recommend the training, or offer an additional incentive such as a product discount for each referral.

To make your promotions more effective, you can automate your emails. This will ensure that messages and reminders about webinars will reach interested people at the right time already without your participation. It’s also an interesting idea to add email signatures with a call to sign up for the next online training.

Take advantage of content marketing

Want to generate interest in the webinar? Create content about it – well in advance, of course. In your texts, give your audience a preview of the event. However, focus primarily on presenting the benefits that the participant of the online training will receive. While doing so, remember that your posts should not be saturated with promotional formulas.

Take advantage of social media

There is no doubt that social media is one of the most effective promotional tools. Take advantage of the opportunities offered by platforms such as LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Choose the platform that is most popular with your target audience. Post information about the webinar there, as well as interesting content related to it, such as infographics or promotional videos. Remember to target appropriately to reach people interested in your offer.

Prepare an interesting presentation

Preparing an interesting presentation is the key to a successful webinar. Make sure it is clear, aesthetically pleasing, and contains valuable content. Also, make sure that the presenter speaks in understandable language, avoids convoluted terms, and properly highlights the most important information.

Prepare for Q&A

Often during webinars, there are question-and-answer sessions. Prepare for them accordingly, think about the most frequently asked questions, and prepare answers to them. Also, don’t forget the opportunity to ask questions during the webinar, managing them properly is crucial to the success of the training.

Deliver value

Remember that a webinar is not only a tool to promote your company, but more importantly, an opportunity to deliver value to participants. Focus on making the training truly valuable, giving a lot of information and ideas, rather than just advertising your product or service. This will make participants more likely to attend future webinars and recommend your company to others.

Summary

Preparing an effective webinar is quite a challenge, but with the right preparation, a well-optimized registration page, email marketing, use of content marketing, social media, an engaging presentation, preparation for a Q&A session, and providing value to participants, you can achieve success. Remember, a webinar is a chance to reach more customers, increase your brand’s reach and build loyalty among attendees.

Image source: Canva.com