🍋 WK06 - Show must go on
Siena is officially Lemons. This week, we didn’t just pitch. We delivered.
Welcome back to Lemons in the Room.
Week 6 tasted like validation. Not because someone said “bravi,” but because another major hospital made it official.
AOU Le Scotte in Siena, one Tuscany’s key public hospital, has officially adopted Lemons. It’s not the first. It’s big. And it means that what we’re doing is not just promising. It’s working.
Siena highlights
Siena is now Lemons – Full adoption of our service in both Oncology and Pediatric Surgery. Two very different contexts, one shared goal: improving patient experience.
Closed a €30K deal – This isn’t just a symbolic win. It’s a financial commitment, and a sign that the value we bring is recognized at scale.
New departments, new challenges – Pediatric surgery brings a whole new environment, different needs, and new types of patients. We’re stepping in ready to learn, adapt, and grow.
Co-creation in action – We’ll be working side-by-side with doctors, nurses, and hospital staff. Their feedback will be crucial to understand what works, what needs refining, and how to make Lemons even more impactful.
Florence highlights voices from the field
Alessandro here, writing from Florence.
I came back to test the homeland.
A small stage, yes but one that meant a lot.
On Friday, I joined the first internal conference at AOU Careggi, where we reviewed the first 3 months of Lemons in Oncology.
We heard what worked, what surprised, and what still needs to evolve. The vibe? Electric. The energy around VR is tangible doctors, nurses, and coordinators are not just using the tool, they’re curious, engaged, and eager to expand it.
Several department heads attended and asked: “Can we bring Lemons to our unit too?”
Upcoming events – Lemons on the road
So much happening in the next few days.
Monday – Human Care Meeting, AOU Le Scotte (Siena)
We’ll be back in Siena to present Lemons at the hospital’s internal Human Care session, focused on improving patient wellbeing through innovation.
Saturday – International Pain Conference (Rome)
We clicked with one of Italy’s leading pain specialists. After hearing our story, he immediately invited at his next event: Roma Pain Days.
We didn’t just attend. We connected.
April 15 – Ikigai Cyberdays (Siena)
Ikigai invited us to speak as a success story one of their startups now active in multiple hospitals. Feels good. Feels full circle.
April 16 – Pitch session @ MIP Firenze
One year later, we’re back this time not as applicants, but as the case study.
Real-world validation meets new generation energy.
KPIs: progress & reset
Last week we played hard. And it showed.
Here’s the scoreboard for our April 3 targets:
✅ 5/4 new pilots in public hospitals
✅ 5/5 appointments with foundations/associations
➖ 2/10 interviews with patients or caregivers
🔥 9/10 interviews with ICP-aligned private clinics
We hit most of our numbers. But what stuck with us the most weren’t the meetings or the metrics.
It was what patients told us. The emotional side. The confusion. The loneliness. What happens between one hospital visit and the next? What happens when the VR comes off?
What’s next: a bigger picture emerges
So, we start asking bigger questions.
What if Lemons wasn’t just a tool used in hospitals, but something more? What if it could follow patients everywhere, into their routines, their phones, even their fears?
That’s where the Lemo Chatbot comes in.
A simple, empathetic WhatsApp-based assistant designed to support oncology patients. It’s early. Nothing is clear yet. But the process has begun. And we’re excited to explore what it really means to extend care beyond hospital walls.
Lead mentors: locked & loading
We’ve officially confirmed our Lead Mentors and this week, we’ll host our first Mentor Kick-Off.
If you’re a mentor reading this:
Thank you for jumping on this journey with us. We’re not here to impress you we’re here to build with you. Let’s make this real. We also want to talk, challenge and shape this next big thing. It’s early, it’s raw and that’s why your input is gold.
Write down every idea you’ve got. Let’s bring them to the table and build this together.
🍋 That’s a wrap for WK6
Thanks for making it all the way down here. If you loved this weekly (or thought it was mid), drop a comment we actually read them.
Got ideas, intros, or feedback? Slide into our DMs or come say hi at OGR.
Love you all, have a great week.
Team Lemons 🍋