Shift.ms
Shift.ms is a UK-registered charity operating a free global digital community platform for people with multiple sclerosis, serving approximately 60,000 MSers through a mobile app, web forum, 1:1 peer support, and educational video content, funded by donations and grants.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2009
- HeadquartersLeeds, United Kingdom
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Shift.ms does
Shift.ms is a UK-registered charity (Charity Number 1117194) operating a free global digital community platform for people with multiple sclerosis (MS), founded in 2009 and headquartered in Leeds with a secondary office in London. The platform serves a community of approximately 60,000 MSers ("MSers") — particularly those recently diagnosed — through a mobile app (iOS and Android), a web-based forum, and a video content library. Core products include the Buddy Network, which provides free 1:1 peer support matching newly diagnosed patients with experienced MSers, a real-time community feed for discussion, an animated symptoms video series, and the PPE for the Mind mental resilience course developed in collaboration with a neuropsychologist. The technical stack centers on a Firebase-backed mobile app with features including 1:1 messaging, live community discussion, and on-demand video content.
The organization operates a non-commercial, donation- and grant-funded business model with no investors, advertising partners, or user fees. Revenue is derived from individual donations (facilitated through Donorbox) and programmatic grants from institutional funders including the National Lottery Community Fund (which specifically funds the Buddy Network) and Wellcome. Go-to-market is community-led and referral-driven: healthcare professionals — including MS specialist nurses and neurologists — signpost newly diagnosed patients to the platform via flyers, posters, and clinical recommendations, complemented by app store presence and word-of-mouth within the MS community. Strategic partnerships with the NHS, ECTRIMS, MS Brain Health, and Neurology Academy provide clinical credibility and integration with the UK MS care ecosystem.
Shift.ms firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Shift.ms
- Legal name
- Shift.ms
- Website
- https://shift.ms
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2009
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Shift.ms is a UK-registered charity operating a free global digital community platform for people with multiple sclerosis, serving approximately 60,000 MSers through a mobile app, web forum, 1:1 peer support, and educational video content, funded by donations and grants.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Shift.ms industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Patient Community Support (Multiple Sclerosis)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Patient Community, Peer Support & Social Engagement (HLACAEAK)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Patient Engagement, Education & Messaging Platforms (portal/CRM integrated) (HLALABAJ)
Keywords
Where Shift.ms is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Leeds
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Shift.ms business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Donations: Shift.ms operates as a charity and relies on donations from individuals, supporters, and the public to fund operations and platform maintenance.
- Grants and Funding: The Buddy Network is funded through a grant by the National Lottery Community Fund. Additional partnerships with organizations like Wellcome provide programmatic funding.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Free | Free Community Access |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
Shift.ms product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Shift.ms provides a free online community platform and mobile application for people diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. The platform connects approximately 60,000 MS community members through peer-support features (the Buddy Network), original informational films and video series, and discussion forums, all delivered at no cost to users.
Product overview
Shift.ms is a global charity providing a digital community platform for people with multiple sclerosis, consisting of a mobile app (iOS/Android) and website with forum functionality. The core offering combines peer-to-peer community support through the Buddy Network (1:1 connections between newly diagnosed and experienced MSers), educational content covering MS symptoms, diagnosis, treatment and living with MS, video resources through the Films series, and a live community feed for discussions. The service is free and independent with no investors or advertising partners.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- The Buddy Network: A free 1:1 support service connecting newly diagnosed MSers with experienced MSers for emotional support, tailored advice, and coaching.
- Animated Symptoms
- PPE for the Mind
Products and services
- Shift.ms Community Platform
- Buddy Network
Quantifiable outcome
- 81% of MSers report improved connection with peers who understand their MS experience
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Shift.ms
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Shift.ms technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Shift.ms partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- MS Transforming MS for AllcorePartner organization working on transforming MS care and support for all people with MS. Listed as a partner organization on Shift.ms website.
- MS Brain HealthcorePartner focused on brain health awareness and education in the MS community. Collaboration for educational content and MS awareness.
- NHScoreNational Health Service partnership providing credibility and healthcare system integration for Shift.ms as a patient support resource.
- Neurology AcademycoreProfessional healthcare education organization partnership for MS specialist training and resources. Collaborates on HCP education and patient care.
- ECTRIMScoreEuropean Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis - professional MS research and treatment organization partnership.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Shift.ms competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- MyHealthTeams: MyHealthTeams operates condition-specific social networks (including MyMSTeam for multiple sclerosis), directly competing with Shift.ms for newly diagnosed MSers seeking peer connection. Both companies run mobile-first community platforms with condition-focused content libraries and member support tools.
- PatientsLikeMe: PatientsLikeMe is a peer-support and data-sharing community for people with chronic conditions, closely matching Shift.ms's model of connecting patients around lived experience of a specific disease. Both platforms monetize (or aim to monetize) the value of aggregated patient community and insights rather than clinical services.
- HealthUnlocked: HealthUnlocked is a UK-based health community network hosting hundreds of condition-specific support communities. It overlaps directly with Shift.ms's mission of providing peer-to-peer support for people with chronic conditions and serves a similar audience of newly diagnosed patients seeking lived-experience advice.
Emerging players
- Belong.Life: Belong.Life builds condition-specific patient community and engagement apps (notably in oncology) and partners with pharma. Its model of structured patient communities with clinical-trial features parallels Shift.ms's community-plus-content approach, though it focuses on cancer rather than MS.
- Bezzy (Healthline Media): Bezzy is Healthline Media's portfolio of condition-specific community apps including Bezzy MS, offering peer support and live discussions. It is a direct competitor for MS community mindshare but operates within Healthline's broader media ecosystem, giving it significantly more resourcing than Shift.ms.
Regional players
- MS Trust: The MS Trust is a UK charity providing MS information, resources for healthcare professionals, and support services. It complements and partially overlaps with Shift.ms's educational content mission but focuses more on HCP resources and information than peer community.
- MS Society (UK): The MS Society is the UK's largest MS charity, providing information, local support networks, and grants. It overlaps with Shift.ms on educational content and community support for UK MSers, though its primary channel is offline/branch-based rather than a digital community app.
Broad incumbents
- Inspire: Inspire runs one of the largest online patient community platforms, partnering with patient advocacy organizations to host condition-specific communities. While broader in scope than Shift.ms, it competes for the same peer-support and patient-engagement value proposition across many conditions including MS.
- Healthline Media: Healthline Media operates a large consumer health content platform and condition-specific communities (including the Bezzy app portfolio). It competes with Shift.ms for newly diagnosed MSers seeking trustworthy condition information and peer connection, with substantially more resources and brand reach.
- WebMD: WebMD is a broad consumer health information and engagement platform with condition centers, communities, and educational content. It overlaps with Shift.ms's educational and patient-engagement functions but covers all conditions rather than specializing in MS.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Shift.ms social profiles
Digital presenceShift.ms financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Shift.ms leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Shift.ms funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Shift.ms M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Shift.ms
What does Shift.ms do?
Shift.ms provides a free online community platform and mobile application for people diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. The platform connects approximately 60,000 MS community members through peer-support features (the Buddy Network), original informational films and video series, and discussion forums, all delivered at no cost to users.
Is Shift.ms a public or private company?
Shift.ms is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Shift.ms founded?
Shift.ms was founded in 2009. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Shift.ms based?
Shift.ms is headquartered in Leeds, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Shift.ms make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Donations are the primary driver. The others are grants and Funding.
Who are Shift.ms's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are MyHealthTeams, PatientsLikeMe and HealthUnlocked. Emerging players are Belong.Life and Bezzy (Healthline Media). Regional players are MS Trust and MS Society (UK). Broad incumbents are Inspire, Healthline Media and WebMD.
Does Shift.ms have an API?
No public API is recorded for Shift.ms.
What industry is Shift.ms in?
Shift.ms's product category is Patient Community Support (Multiple Sclerosis). Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLACAEAK, Patient Community, Peer Support & Social Engagement, with a secondary code of HLALABAJ, Patient Engagement, Education & Messaging Platforms (portal/CRM integrated). Its SIC code is 8300.