Dr Chen Mao Davies
Founder & CEO, Anya
Dr Chen Mao Davies is the founder & CEO of Anya.
Anya is a multi-award winning femtech start-up using cutting-edge 3D technology and AI for breastfeeding and early parenthood support. Before Anya, Chen had a dream career working on visual effects of blockbuster movies including Gravity and Blade Runner 2049, winning Oscar & BAFTA awards in best visual effects.
Her life course has changed completed after she become a mother and experience tremendous challenges in breastfeeding. Her experience motivated her to found Anya to revolutionise breastfeeding and motherhood support using innovation and empathy.
The Anya app is proudly supporting parents from 100 countries. Their 6-months NHS pilot with 4 integrated care systems shows a doubling of exclusive breastfeeding rate at 6 weeks compared with the national average. Since 2020, they won 4 Innovate UK funding competitions including the prestigious Women in Innovation award and recently the SBRI grant to tackle health inequalities in maternity care. Their impacts have been featured on +80 press articles, BBC News, and Sky News.