A young Basque turns his illness into an innovation to fight chronic pain
Based in the Basque Country Technology Park, Samira DTx startup strengthens the regional innovation ecosystem by developing digital therapies to treat chronic pain and long COVID
A young man from the Basque Country has transformed a personal experience marked by long COVID into an innovative project that could improve the lives of thousands of patients. His name is Ismael Maceira, a young entrepreneur who, after living with the condition for years, has launched a startup focused on developing digital therapies.
Ismael’s life changed drastically when he was just 12 years old. After contracting COVID-19, he began to suffer from persistent symptoms such as extreme fatigue, memory problems, and difficulty concentrating, which severely affected his daily life and academic performance.
For months, he even needed help to get out of bed, going from being an active child to feeling limited by a body that no longer responded as it used to. This situation, combined with the lack of effective treatments, led him to search for solutions on his own.
From that search, Samira DTx was born—a startup specializing in digital therapies that uses technology to help people with chronic conditions, especially those related to long COVID.
The company’s goal is to develop tools that act as complementary treatments, enabling patients to take an active role in their recovery and improve their quality of life.
The project combines technological innovation with the firsthand experience of someone who has lived with the disease, bringing a unique perspective to the development of medical solutions. Moreover, initiatives like this aim to address a condition that is still not fully understood, affecting millions of people worldwide and for which there are still no definitive treatments.
In this way, Ismael Maceira’s story not only reflects the impact of long COVID on young people, but also shows how adversity can become a driving force for innovation and change in the field of healthcare.
