Family business,
but then with an app
We are Elly and Freek, mother and son. I (Elly) have been a pediatric physiotherapist for over 30 years and saw the same thing every day: measuring a flattened head is difficult, and far from every parent can easily access it. Meanwhile, Freek, a mechanical engineer, had a list full of ideas. He really wanted to invent something. Well, then suddenly the answer was right there on the kitchen table. Together, we built a tool that does exactly that. That is how Skully Care came into existence. Press play, and we’ll tell you the rest:
"Couldn't measuring a flattened baby's head be much faster?" That question kept haunting me a few years ago.
As a pediatric physiotherapist, I missed an extra pair of eyes when assessing skull shape. Because measuring is important: it motivates parents and guides the treatment.
So I went to Freek. He came up with a clever idea: just use your smartphone camera. Focus, click, and an algorithm calculates the rest.
In March 2019, we launched Hoofdmaatje, which is now called Skully Care. In my own practice, we now measure every baby with a flat head using Skully Care. I am so happy with our extra pair of eyes!
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A few years ago, my mother came to me with a question: "Can you think of something to capture the shape of a baby's head quickly and easily?"
As a mechanical engineer, I suddenly found myself in a completely different world. Examining babies, properly informing parents, practicing with those little human beings. That was quite a change from machines! And I had no idea that so many babies have a flattened head. In the Netherlands alone, it concerns about 25,000 children per year.
I think it's really cool that I can help detect flattened heads earlier and better. And we are far from done. Skully Care continues to evolve, and that is precisely what makes it such a wonderful challenge.
Supported by experts
Clinical and scientific advisor
Dr. Léon van Adrichem has been a plastic surgeon since 1997, specializing in congenital skull and facial deformities and aesthetic surgery. He works at the University Medical Center Utrecht and the Velthuiskliniek Rotterdam. In over 20 years of clinical experience, he has published 65 scientific articles and authored various books. Research into skull shape deformities is a key area of his research.
Tjerk Geersing
Technical and strategic advisor
Tjerk Geersing is the owner of Redfountain and Yukon Software. He applies his knowledge and experience to startups and companies, enabling them to take a step forward. Since March 2019, Tjerk has been advising us on developing our idea, the steps to product, and in the field of software development. Thanks to his input and creative thinking, Skully Care has reached its current level.