Co-Founder Harry Glover Wins Vodafone Business Gain Line Award for Work with CONKA

We’re proud to share that CONKA co-founder and GB7s rugby player Harry Glover has been awarded this season’s Vodafone Business Gain Line Award, recognising his outstanding entrepreneurial work in the field of brain health and performance.

The award, developed by the Rugby Players Association (RPA) in partnership with Vodafone Business, supports current and former rugby players who are building successful businesses beyond their playing careers.

Turning a Passion for Brain Health Into a Growing Business

Alongside his business partner Humphrey Bodington, Harry co-founded CONKA, a company dedicated to advancing brain health and resilience through cutting-edge science and technology.

CONKA’s mission is to help athletes, high performers, and anyone exposed to traumatic brain injury or cognitive stress optimise their brain performance and long-term wellbeing.

CONKA works in collaboration with researchers at Durham and Cambridge Universities to better understand how the brain responds to injury, fatigue, and training and to develop tools that monitor and improve brain function in real time. For Harry, the drive to found CONKA was deeply personal. As a professional rugby sevens player for Great Britain, he has witnessed first-hand the rising concerns around traumatic head injuries in contact sports, and saw an opportunity to make a difference.

Harry Glover, CONKA Co-Founder.

“It is a huge honour to receive the RPA Gain Line Award,” said Harry. “Throughout my time as a professional rugby player, I’ve been supported by the RPA on and off the field, and I’m very grateful for their work. Founding CONKA has been an incredibly fulfilling journey. We started by focusing on the biggest issue in contact sports today: traumatic head injuries. Through our research, we’re now pushing even further — improving brain health, reducing the risk of cognitive decline, and helping to enhance brain performance for everyone.”

Building a Brain Health Company While Competing at the Highest Level

As Harry continues to compete on the international rugby stage with GB7s, he also plays a hands-on role in developing and growing CONKA.

His RPA Player Development Manager, Richard Easton, commented:

“Harry is doing exceptional entrepreneurial work with CONKA — co-founding and operating a fast-growing neuroscience company focused on brain health and performance. The effort he puts into research, business development, and operations, alongside a full-time rugby career, is hugely impressive. His personal drive and standards really stand out.”

A New Generation of Entrepreneurial Athletes

Maria Koutsoudakis, Chief Brand Officer at Vodafone, added:

“Congratulations to Harry on receiving the Vodafone Business Gain Line Award. His entrepreneurial spirit and commitment to brain health through CONKA are a fantastic example of how athletes can turn their skills and passions into ventures that create positive impact off the field. We’re proud to support Harry’s journey and look forward to seeing CONKA’s continued growth.”

Supporting Brain Health in Rugby and Beyond

At CONKA, we believe brain health is a lifelong priority, not just for rugby players or athletes, but for anyone looking to perform at their best and protect their brain long-term. We’re honoured that Harry’s leadership and vision have been recognised by the RPA and Vodafone, and we look forward to continuing our work to help more people advance their brain resilience, cognitive performance, and recovery.

About the Vodafone Business Gain Line Award

The Vodafone Business Gain Line Award, created by the RPA, highlights players who are building successful businesses alongside or after their playing careers. It supports their personal development, entrepreneurship, and leadership off the field.

Learn more about the Gain Line programme on the RPA website.