More Connection Co - Bringing natural, face-to-face eye contact to video calls

The More Connection Cam, allows people to clearly see the person on their screen while also simultaneously looking through the lens of the webcam

Today we're excited to meet Sean Hayes of More Connection

So Sean, tell us more about More Connection

More Connection Co. is a London-based health tech company creating hardware that brings natural, face-to-face eye contact to video calls for the first time.

Our product, the More Connection Cam, allows people to clearly see the person on their screen while also simultaneously looking through the lens of the webcam.

Users have described the experience as feeling “as if you are in the same room” and like making “real eye contact” during a video call. We work closely with therapists, as well as our academic and healthcare partners, to create a product that enables an online therapy space, similar to real life that supports deeper interpersonal connection.

Although designed with online therapy in mind, the technology applies to a wide range of use cases. Customers of our flagship product include online therapists, online coaches, long-distance couples, sales people, and remote workers.

The More Connection Cam is for anyone who wants digital communication to feel more human. More Connection Co. sits at the intersection of psychology, neuroscience, and engineering, with a mission to rebuild human connection in a world that increasingly communicates through screens.

How did you come up with the business idea and what problem are you looking to solve?

While writing my master’s dissertation on brainwave synchronization and the experience of disconnection in long-distance relationships, one thing became very clear to me: There is currently no natural way to look each other in the eyes on video calls, the way we do face to face, and this makes people feel more disconnected.

When people look at their computer or phone screen, they are not looking into the camera. When they look into the camera, they are no longer looking at the person. This breaks presence, weakens connection, and significantly affects the quality of online therapy.

I built the More Connection Cam, and founded More Connection Co., to make eye-contact-enabled video calling available to everyone. The More Connection Cam is the first way for people to look each other in the eyes on video calls in a way that feels like real life.

Our early research has shown that this type of eye contact can activate the brain in a similar way to real in-person interaction. Online therapy, long-distance relationships, and remote work are now part of everyday life, yet video call technology has not been designed for human connection.

My goal is to create tools that help people feel seen, understood, and fully present with each other, even when separated by screens. This idea grew into the More Connection Cam and into a mission to make digital communication feel more like real life.

What made you want to start your own business?

I wanted to start my own business because I felt a strong pull to solve a problem that mattered to me both personally and scientifically.

During my academic work in psychology, I saw how essential video calls had become for therapy, relationships, and work, yet the technology was not designed for real human connection.

I realised that building my own company would allow me to create a solution that did not exist anywhere else.

A major part of my motivation is the potential impact on mental health. Eye-contact-enabled therapy has the potential to improve the quality of talk therapy delivered online by strengthening the therapeutic alliance and helping clients and therapists feel more emotionally connected.

The therapeutic alliance is one of the strongest predictors of positive outcomes in therapy, and I want to contribute to tools that help people feel more present, attuned, and understood during online sessions.

My background in engineering and psychology made this path feel possible. I had already worked independently as a consultant, and I knew I could design, test, and deliver projects on my own.

More Connection Co. is my first full venture as a founder, and it brings together everything I have learned. It gives me the chance to maximise the positive impact I can make by helping people connect more deeply in digital spaces.

What stage is your business currently at?

More Connection Co. is currently in the early production and validation stage. We recently completed a successful Kickstarter campaign for our first product and have moved into manufacturing with our partners in China.

At the same time, we are developing our second product and running research pilots with therapists, healthcare organizations, and academic partners to continue validating the impact of natural eye contact in online therapy.

My priorities right now are to deliver high-quality units to our Kickstarter backers, support and expand our research collaborations, and prepare for a wider launch once production is complete.

This stage of the business is about getting the product into people’s hands, building partnerships, gaining insights from real mental health contexts, and laying the foundations for sustainable growth.

What do you love most about being an entrepreneur?

What I love most about being an entrepreneur is the freedom to build something that has a real positive impact. I enjoy being able to take an idea from research, bring it into the real world, and shape it into something that helps people connect more deeply.

The work is challenging, but it gives me the chance to use both my engineering and psychology backgrounds in a meaningful way. I also value the ability to work on a mission that feels important.

Eye-contact-enabled therapy has the potential to improve the quality of online mental health care by strengthening the therapeutic alliance and helping clients and therapists feel more present with each other. Being an entrepreneur allows me to focus my time and energy on creating tools that support that goal.

What is the number one business tip you've learned that you'd like to share with fellow budding entrepreneurs?

I would say that the number one business tip that I have for anyone looking to start their own business is — listen to yourself.

There will be many people, with many opinions about all of the ways in which you run your business, but at the end of the day you're the one who has to run it. You have to make it happen. Whatever that means to you and to the problem that you are trying to solve.

This does not mean to not listen to feedback. In fact, you should get as much feedback as possible on your product. However, your opinion is what makes feedback either useful or not useful. Whether you decide to integrate someone's feedback is ultimately up to you.

Who are your Startup Heroes?

I really look up to Steven Bartlett. He has masterfully built his personal brand alongside his businesses, using both social media and traditional media in a way that feels authentic and influential.

He continues to adapt to and shape industry trends, and he is not afraid to take big swings. For example, he recently launched Flightcast, which he describes as the first video-first podcast platform.

What I admire most is his ability to communicate openly, stay consistent with his podcast, and genuinely connect with his audience and customers. His approach to storytelling and brand building is something I find both inspiring and instructive.

A Favourite Book or Podcast?

Favorite Podcasts:

Diary of a CEO

The Rich Roll Podcast

The Tim Ferris Show

The Huberman Lab Podcast

Favourite Books:

"Atomic Habits" by James Nestor

"The Creative Act: A Way of Being" by Rick Rubin

"Mastery" by Robert Greene "The Power of Now" by Eckhart Tolle

Anything else you'd like to share with the world?

"You're successful as soon as you send your work out into the world." - Rick Rubin

Where can people find you online?

Give me a shout on LinkedIn - I look forward to connecting soon

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