Samantha Jackman
Revolutionising post-mastectomy breast form.
Project
Boost Innovations Ltd
URL
Location
South West England
Theme
Health
Revolutionising post-mastectomy breast form
Samantha Jackman, founder of Boost Innovations Ltd, is revolutionising the design of external breast forms for women post-after mastectomy. Her journey began with her mother’s experience of wearing a prosthesis after cancer treatment.
The traditional silicone gel prosthesis design has remained largely unchanged since the 1960s, despite evolving lifestyles and needs. Research shows that 69% of the 55,000 women diagnosed with breast cancer annually may require a breast form, yet current options are often hot, heavy, and uncomfortable. The inequality is particularly stark for women of colour, with 74% of Black Women Rising survey respondents not offered a prosthesis suitable for their skin tone.
“Boost is dedicated to giving a voice to women who’ve had a mastectomy. Our innovative approach co-designs services and products with and for breast form wearers based on grassroots experiences,” says Sam.
Her achievements include being named one of twelve NHS Innovation Fellows in March 2024 and receiving recognition in the NatWest/Telegraph 100 Female Entrepreneurs to Watch List. The company’s inclusive innovation has earned an Innovate UK Inclusive Innovation Award, enabling them to expand their work with the trans community.
“Being a Women in Innovation Award winner is a wonderful feeling!” says Sam. “Through this programme, I hope to develop products that support breast form wearers with a larger cup size, offer guidance to others, and learn from the Women in Innovation network.”
“One of the most difficult things was raising early stage investment,” Sam reflects. “With our design being so radically different, we struggled to communicate the potential to predominantly male decision makers. Selling directly to early adopter customers in the early days helped us secure funding support.”
Her advice to innovators? “Never give up. When you know your product meets a pressing need, you need to hang on to that.”
For more information on Women in Innovation
Find out more about the Women in Innovation Award and other support available across the Innovate UK ecosystem on the Women in Innovation programme page.