Photo: Min Magi
Danish company Min Magi has developed a treatment program for schoolchildren and is now looking to expand its target group and reach a wider market.
As part of this effort, the company is working closely with Vejle Municipality to further develop a digital solution aimed at improving the well-being among teenagers. According to physician and entrepreneur Anna Knakkergaard, support from the Business Lighthouse Life Science initiative has been instrumental in moving the project forward.
Around one in ten schoolchildren experience recurring abdominal pain – known as functional abdominal pain – which can significantly affect their well-being and quality of life. To support parents who often struggle to find effective help because of limited knowledge and treatment options, a new online program based on psychoeducation and hypnotherapy is now available for children and their families.
Serious consequences for children and adolescents
Functional abdominal pain refers to recurring stomach aches in children that are not caused by illness or injury in the digestive system. Instead, the issue stems from a disrupted connection between the brain and the gut, causing the nervous system to overreact to signals from the intestines.
Many children with functional abdominal pain experience other symptoms such as nausea, constipation, or fatigue. In addition to physical symptoms, many also suffer from anxiety, depression, and sleep disturbances. In the short term, this can lead to school absences and withdrawal from activities; in the long term, it can increase the risk of chronic pain and hinder social and professional development.
“Everyone can have a stomach ache, but functional abdominal pain can cause serious distress for children and adolescents. There is strong evidence that hypnotherapy is one of the most effective methods to help them regain well-being,” says Anna Knakkergaard, a physician specialising in hypnotherapy.
Photo: Min Magi
Focus on cognitive behavioural therapy and hypnotherapy
After years of working in paediatric departments and child and adolescent psychiatry, Anna Knakkergaard founded Min Magi – a company that developed Min Magiske Mave (“My Magical Tummy”), a six-week digital treatment program for children aged 6 to 12. The program includes educational content for the whole family and practical tools to help children and parents change behaviours and unhelpful habits.
The program consists of weekly modules with tasks for children and parents to complete together. Children also receive audio files with guided visualisations and hypnosis exercises to reduce pain and improve well-being.
The program has been available to private users and municipalities via minmagi.dk since January 2024, with positive results, as most children who complete the program report significant improvement. Since its launch, 12 municipalities have chosen to offer the program free of charge to their residents.
Major progress through Business Lighthouse Life Science
Business Lighthouse Life Science is a partnership that develops better health solutions and promotes health equity through collaboration between private companies and the public healthcare sector. Currently, 31 projects are working on mental health solutions, and 44 previous projects have focused on healthy weight initiatives.
Through the initiative, Min Magi gained access to public partners, as well as valuable feedback and visibility. The company considers its involvement in the program to be a major boost.
“The collaboration with Business Lighthouse Life Science has been an invaluable gift. It has propelled us forward – years ahead of where we would otherwise have been,”
says Anna Knakkergaard, founder of Min Magi
Originally developed for children, the company has always aimed to reach teenagers as well. That goal is now within reach thanks to the partnership with Business Lighthouse Life Science.
“Together with Vejle Municipality and a youth panel, we are developing and pilot testing a program for 13–17-year-olds. The teenagers give us feedback, while professionals from the municipality help ensure the solution meets the standards for the municipal early access treatment programs,” explains Knakkergaard.
“Business Lighthouse Life Science gave us a nudge and opened doors. The funding allowed us to hire designers and developers, bring in extra help, and speed up development. The funding has been crucial, but equally valuable has been the guidance and network. We have entered an ecosystem of relevant contacts in municipalities and regions, where one connection led to the next.”
Most importantly, the company has been able to grow without compromising its professional standards or vision.
“Min Magi and the Lighthouse share the same goal: reducing health inequality and protect children from distress.”
Photo: Min Magi
Business Lighthouse Life Science is operated by the Danish Life Science Cluster and co-financed by the European Union.
