How do you help people regain control over their lives when they suffer from one of the most painful conditions in the world? For Darshan Ramanagoudra, founder of MyClusters, this is the central question. With his platform, he aims not only to support patients with cluster headaches but also to help researchers better understand this little-known condition.
from personal struggle to startup
The idea for MyClusters didn’t come from a lab or university. It came from Darshan’s personal life. For nearly ten years, he has suffered from cluster headaches, a neurological condition marked by extremely painful, recurring attacks. In 2023, things took a turn for the worse: up to six attacks a day, making it impossible for him to keep working.
“At one point I kept track of everything in an Excel file. Then I tried apps, but they weren’t satisfactory. So I decided: I’ll build one myself.”
MyClusters started as a tool for patients to log attacks, triggers, and medications. But it quickly evolved into a broader platform: a direct-to-consumer app for patients, combined with a data dashboard for medical researchers.
More insight, more grip
Cluster headaches are rare and poorly researched. Darshan realized that many patients wait years for a diagnosis and that available medications are often ineffective or come with serious side effects.
With MyClusters, patients can generate personalized reports to support diagnosis, guide treatment decisions, and help communicate more effectively with doctors. For healthcare professionals, this leads to more focused consultations. And for researchers, the platform offers a valuable new source of real-world data, currently used by people in over 35 countries, including many women, who are often underrepresented in clinical research.
a growth journey through PLNT, Venture Academy, Sprout, and unlock_
Darshan began his entrepreneurial journey at PLNT, the Leiden-based innovation center. There, he joined the Venture Academy program, where he developed his first pitch deck and business plan. He then progressed to Sprout, where he began building the first prototype of the app. By the time he had a working MVP, unlock_ became the natural next step. Each program built on the last, with unlock_ helping him scale and professionalize.
“For me, it was essential to better understand the healthcare system. unlock_ put me in touch with experts from biotech, health law and medical technology.”
learning within unlock_
Darshan’s background is not in the medical field. unlock_ gave him the knowledge and structure to take his startup forward. “For me, it was essential to better understand the healthcare system. unlock_ put me in touch with experts from biotech, health law and medical technology.”
Through sessions on regulation, funding, and go-to-market strategies, he learned how software can be classified as a medical device and what that means for product development and compliance.
One of the highlights was the “Show Me the Hard Money” event, where founders can pitch their story to investors. “They really prepare you well for that. Not just the story, but the strategy behind it. That made a big difference.”
a fast start
During unlock_, Darshan officially launched his app, in May 2025. “I am proud that within a short time we already have a thousand users. Every week I get messages from people saying the app helps them. That means everything to me.” Still, he remains grounded.
“I am impatient by nature, but I have learned that in the healthcare industry you have to be patient. It’s a marathon, not a sprint.”
the power of the community
unlock_ is not only about knowledge and tools, but also about people. “It helps to be surrounded by other entrepreneurs with smart ideas and a positive impact. You get motivated by their progress. And the regular sessions and catch-ups give structure to stay on track.”
a mission for the future
Darshan looks beyond cluster headaches. He envisions MyClusters supporting other “silent” conditions as well, such as endometriosis, PCOS, migraine, or neurological disorders.
“My dream is that in five years we’ll help tens of thousands of people worldwide gain more insight and control over their health.”
advice for other founders
His message to other startups unsure about unlock_ is clear: just do it. “Even if you don’t make it through the selection process, you already learn a lot from the interviews and feedback. And if you do get in, you get a complete picture of what you need as a founder to succeed.”