A former care worker from Manchester, who developed a groundbreaking digital platform for small and medium-sized care providers, has been selected for a high-profile trade mission to Ireland following significant growth support.
From Care Experience to Tech Innovation
Tsitsi Mtasa, drawing directly from her frontline care experience, founded Manchester-based Wisterias to create an AI-powered care management platform specifically designed for smaller operators in the sector.
Her innovative product consolidates scheduling, compliance, invoicing, and care planning into a single, streamlined system. This integration is designed to drastically improve operational workflows and reduce the immense administrative burden of paperwork.
A key feature of the platform is its ability to provide care workers with real-time updates on their tasks, a functionality that remains robust even in low-connectivity environments, ensuring continuity of service.
Rapid Growth and Strategic Support
In just two years, Tsitsi has successfully navigated the journey from a initial concept to a market-ready product. During this period, she has already created two jobs and has set an ambitious target to grow the company's turnover from £58,000 to £1 million over the next three years.
This growth trajectory has been fuelled by securing £87,000 in funding and receiving crucial backing from business support organisations across Greater Manchester.
This month, Wisterias earned a spot on a life sciences-focused trade mission to Ireland. The delegation is led by Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham and Liverpool City Region Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram.
A Mission Driven by Practical Needs
Tsitsi Mtasa, CEO of Wisterias, explained the core mission behind her company: "We've focused on what actually helps. These are practical tools that are typically out of reach for smaller organisations, and that give carers time back to focus on people, because that's what care is really about."
She added, "We've lived these challenges and have seen first-hand how much time and effort is spent on administrative tasks in care settings. That’s why we built this the way we did."
To bring her vision to life, Tsitsi worked extensively with the GM Business Growth Hub's Innovation Service, which provided innovation grant funding and expert guidance for platform development. She also engaged with the EnterprisingYou programme to refine her leadership capabilities and business model.
Reflecting on this support, Tsitsi said, "The Hub helped us close the gap between what we had and what we needed to go to market. They brought everything together: funding, advice, connections and kept us moving forward."
Yvonne Grady, Head of Innovation at GM Business Growth Hub, praised the venture: "Tsitsi's journey with Wisterias is a brilliant example of innovation driven by purpose. Her frontline experience, combined with the right support at the right time, has produced a solution that tackles genuine challenges facing care providers today."
