A Start-up Founder's Story: Sundial

What’s the inspiration behind Sundial and what problem are you seeking to solve?

I’ve always loved the sun, which is partly cultural (my mum is Middle Eastern and grew up in Lebanon) and partly personal. Living in a dense, built-up city like London, makes it hard to know where the sun will be at any given time.

Sunboozy started as a fun side project, born out of a desire to track the sun and pair it with my other great love, a beer in the sunshine! We built a tool that combines terrain and the built environment to predict down to the hour, which beer gardens are in sunshine and when. We’ve layered real-time weather data in too.

Sundial grew from that foundation, but it’s a broader vision: helping people understand exactly where the sun will be, anywhere, anytime. The sun impacts more than just our social habits; it affects how warm your home is, how much you pay for heating, and how you design a space. No one is using data in this way to inform those decisions. So that’s our motivation.

You were a finalist in Idea Factory before applying to the King’s Start-up Accelerator. How did this experience shape you and your venture?

Idea Factory was an intense, fast-paced crash course in what it means to build something from scratch. It gave us the confidence to apply to the King’s Start-up Accelerator and the timing was perfect. It helped me translate years of thinking into action.

You have a background in research and academia. How have you found the transition to founder?

The move from research into entrepreneurship was a little intimidating at first! I thought I needed to shift my whole identity, but I just needed to see myself through a slightly different lens. I’ve taken plenty of entrepreneurship courses over the last 10-15 years, but nothing really prepares you like actually doing it!

There are lots of overlaps between research and entrepreneurship. In research, you’re regularly applying for funding, presenting to different audiences or thinking creatively within constraints. You often have to think lean - building something great, using a small budget, and you bring a deep, nuanced understanding in your field.

The pace is the biggest difference. As a founder you have to move fast, learn when to pivot and be comfortable with letting ideas go. I’ve definitely learnt to get better at that and relied on my instincts from working in cutting-edge science.

Why did you decide to apply to the King’s Start-up Accelerator?

Our experience with Idea Factory was so positive that applying to the accelerator felt like the natural next step. We knew it would be more immersive and give us the space and support to grow the venture meaningfully.

Since joining the accelerator, your co-founder has worked full-time, whilst you went from full-time employment, to full-time on the venture – how did you navigate this co-founder relationship?

Argy, my co-founder, is a wonderful human! We have known each other a long time and have strong friendship as a foundation, with mutual respect and patience. We both have different rhythms and responsibilities, and we’re conscious of that. We also have complementary skills, knowledge and experience, which helps us divide and conquer naturally.

Looking back at where you started, and where you are now, what has been your biggest achievement on the accelerator?

Honestly, the biggest achievement over the last 12 months has been personal. I feel much more empowered and confident as a founder. That internal shift, realising I can do this and lead a venture, has been huge. And it’s had a ripple effect and really motivated me even more.

During your time on the accelerator, you have also launched a Biotech start-up and are going full-time on that venture. What’s behind this decision?

I’ve always wanted to start something in Biotech. I’ve just been waiting for the right idea. It needed to be something big enough, something that would inspire me and others - our Stealth Biotech company is doing just that! We’re rethinking therapeutics and we’re extremely excited about what we’re building.

I'll take so much from building Sunboozy and Sundial into my new venture. The biggest thing is how important it is for you to deeply mutually respect the people you work with - that you enjoy working with them, have complementary ideas/skills and make space for fun, even while working hard - its a marathon not a sprint!

What’s next for you?

Keep building our Stealth Biotech – we’re moving into our labs soon. We want to make an important impact for people and planet, and an easy way to do this is to always give back to the ecosystem. We only get to do this because others supported us, and we plan to do the same. 

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Learn more about Sundial on their website.

The Entrepreneurship Institute supports students, staff and alumni, to start and scale their ideas and ventures through the King's Start-up Accelerator. If you would like to know more, check out our website.