Ben O’Shea brings a strong background in information systems and process design, with experience spanning ICT, infrastructure, and SaaS environments. Across his career, he has been consistently drawn to opportunities where systems, workflows, and user experiences can be optimised to work better for people.
Hi business concept is Better Markers (Technology Readiness Level: 3). Better Markers is a digital health concept built around a simple but powerful insight:
Our daily lifestyle choices compound over time and have a profound impact on long-term health.
The idea was born from Ben’s own experience. After being diagnosed with multiple autoimmune diseases within a short period, he began manually tracking his lifestyle in an effort to understand patterns, triggers, and improvements. While effective, this approach proved time-consuming and reactive, highlighting a clear gap in existing solutions.
Better Markers aims to close that gap by connecting datasets users are already generating from smart trackers, diet logs, schedules, and daily routines into a single, cohesive health journal. Through daily entries, the platform builds a personalised lifestyle profile and visualises changes and trends over time.
Unlike proprietary systems such as Whoop, Better Markers:
- Does not require dedicated hardware
- Allows users to add qualitative lifestyle context
- Returns a simple, intuitive dashboard that helps users understand the relationship between lifestyle, schedule, and performance
In short, it brings the “Whoop experience” to everyone, without the hardware lock-in.
Why DT Launchpad?
Ben joined the DT Launchpad Programme to learn directly from people who have already built, invested in, or are actively scaling deep-tech ventures. For him, the programme’s strength lies in its ability to connect like-minded founders, mentors, and experts in a way that genuinely supports participant success.
The international dimension of DT Launchpad was another key draw, offering perspectives and learning opportunities that would be difficult to access outside a structured European programme. From the outset, it was clear that DT Launchpad provides a practical framework for building deep-tech ventures, combining expert insight with peer learning and a strong pan-European network.
Ben describes his experience in the programme as extremely valuable. Participants hear directly from investors about what they look for, and from founders who openly share how they navigated their own journeys. The semi-structured format encourages meaningful connections, while the DT Launchpad platform itself opens further opportunities for networking and collaboration.
Weekly mentor sessions with experts from around the world have helped Ben build a well-rounded view of the deep-tech landscape, while peer-learning sessions, particularly with other digital health founders, have been a standout highlight. The opportunity to ask investors detailed questions about processes, preferences, and expectations has been especially impactful.
“It doesn’t take a lot of time each week, yet it gives so much in terms of unique perspectives and feedback.”
Ben strongly recommends DT Launchpad to anyone building in deep tech who is looking to expand their network, sharpen their thinking, and gain honest insight from across Europe’s innovation ecosystem.