SiBot.
The GLA-funded chatbot that became StartNewLife.
SiBot was a multilingual chatbot answering refugees' questions about healthcare, asylum, housing, and life in the UK — built by Mendee.Digital Ltd with a Greater London Authority Challenge LDN 2023 (Poverty Prevention) grant. One of seven winners from across London. Its knowledge base, community, and language infrastructure are now the foundation of StartNewLife — the live platform today.
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2023
GLA Challenge LDN · Winner
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100%
of milestones met
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7
languages served
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2,000+
community members today
What the GLA funded
In July 2023, the Mayor of London ran the Challenge LDN Poverty Prevention competition, inviting technology organisations to propose solutions to poverty in London. Mendee.Digital Ltd was one of seven selected — and the only entrant specifically targeting refugee multilingual support.
Note on entity: the winner was Mendee.Digital Ltd (Co. 14071822). Mendee CIC did not exist until 2024. The grant went to the Ltd company; programmes subsequently transferred to the CIC.
What SiBot was
SiBot delivered four components with GLA funding between August 2023 and January 2024, all milestones met:
- Multilingual chatbot — conversational tool covering asylum, healthcare, and integration in 7 languages
- Information hub — 119 pages of verified guides at startnewlife.uk
- Community network — 2,000+ refugees on Telegram and WhatsApp; 253,000+ messages exchanged
- Video content — YouTube walkthroughs in Russian and other community languages
What SiBot became
After the GLA project closed in January 2024, the community, content, and infrastructure continued growing organically. StartNewLife is now the platform name for all of it. The chatbot capability remains part of the platform; it is no longer the primary product — the information and community are.
GLA link
The official record of the seven winners is on the Greater London Authority's Challenge LDN page.
Information only — not regulated immigration advice. For regulated advice, see an IAA-regulated adviser.
"We are absolutely thrilled to be recognised as winners of the Poverty Prevention Challenge. This signifies an endorsement of our dedication towards social change."
Press coverage
Live today
StartNewLife is the platform SiBot became.
Free multilingual information for refugees in the UK — 7 languages, 119 pages, 2,000+ community. No signup required.