It began as the epicenter of innovation in health technology, but now the United States and its model of incubation and open investment is catalyzing the emergence of tech hubs globally, some of the largest are now in the European Union.
The United Kingdom is just starting to capture its share of the limelight on digital health tech and is now the fourth most entrepreneurial country in the world according to the 2015 Global Entrepreneurship Index.
The U.K., in particular England, has surfaced as a hotspot for entrepreneurial ventures. It stands out when compared to the European Union, a region ripe with “low hanging fruit” due to its market fragmentation. Factors like language, the role of private/public entities, and payer structure make it extremely difficult for small companies to scale up and expand beyond national borders.
PPPs: One of the U.K.’s Greatest Assets
Now faced with collapse by 2020 due to inadequate funds, the National Health Service has embraced its greatest resource – the public-private partnership. Recognizing that technology boosts preventive measures, empowers patients, and facilitates the delivery of care, the NHS is following in the footsteps of the Affordable Care Act in terms of a supportive regulatory approach.
From the NHS Innovation Accelerator aiming to speed up the development and integration of technologies into healthcare settings to the testing of apps and digital tools by mHealth Habitat, along with the establishment of the Innovative Medicines and MedTech Review to increase available capital and bring drugs to consumers faster, the government is not only spurring innovation forward, but it is implementing established solutions into its system.
The U.S. Health Secretary Sylvia Burwell explains that the Affordable Care Act has “provided funding for us to make more investments in data and make that data available to the private sector to help find solutions to some of our biggest challenges through innovation.” This trust placed in the private sector to solve public inefficiencies is mirrored in Public Health England and the NHS’s recent initiatives.
Challenges
Despite the regulatory support, digital health startups face several challenges to growth and implementation in the U.K. Disregarding a culture that doesn’t like paying for healthcare and ‘one main customer’, entrepreneurs familiar with raising rounds in the two environments report that there is a dearth lack of capital when compared to the United States. Additionally, the attitude towards investment in the U.K and E.U. is more results-driven than idea-based and the average timeframe between meeting investors to closing rounds has been set between three to six months compared to just three weeks in the U.S.
Though there are some significant hurdles, the barriers to entry are low and the saturation of the markets – consumers and providers – also remains low, giving startups ample opportunity to flourish. Keeping in mind the very unique U.K. atmosphere, we’ve highlighted the twenty top digital health startups to watch below—
1. Andiamo
This 3D scanning and printing technology has the capacity to produce customized orthotics for children in under 48 hours as compared to the average of 13 weeks. While the cost of producing orthotics is still a bit steep, the end-product allows for the reduction of wait times, repeat appointments due to quality issues, and number of required surgeries. It also reduces opportunity cost for parents and caregivers.
Founded: Unknown
Founders: Samiya & Naveed Parvez
Category: Care Delivery & Medical Devices
Funding: Undisclosed
Why you should pay attention – Starting out as an Indiegogo project, the company has received several awards and grants to bring their technology to over 20 families across the U.K. in under eighteen months. The potential for this technology can revolutionize the treatment of pediatric disability and enhance the quality of life for affected families worldwide, particularly in under-developed and developing countries.
2. babylon
Marketed as everyone’s own personal health service, bablyon is a subscription-based service which lets patients book virtual GP consultations, which reduces the wait time for in-person appointments, monitors their symptoms, and disperses prescriptions for less than £7.99 per month.
Founded: 2013
Founder: Ali Parsa
Category: App, Care Delivery, Diagnostics & Patient Communication
Funding: Undisclosed
Why you should pay attention – In the works is Monitor, a function that tracks data and relevant metrics related to bones, kidney and liver function, and hormones allowing for clinical intervention when necessary. Physicians can send diagnostic tests to a home address if needed or prescribe medicine based on collected data.
3. Big Health
This company aims to bring highly personalized behavioral medicine programs to the masses. Their first product, Sleepio, is an app that uses tracked data to create customized programs to help users sleep better without the use of medications.
Founded: Unknown
Founders: Colin Espie & Peter Hames
Category: App & Behavioral medicine
Funding: $3.3 million
Why you should pay attention – Sleepio has been validated in the world’s first placebo-controlled RCT for a digital sleep intervention. On average, Sleepio helped users fall asleep 54% faster, reduced night time awakenings by 62%, and boosted their daytime energy and concentration levels by 58%. The focus on behavioral therapies using personal data lends itself to a vast number of possibilities, particularly in the mental health and rehabilitation fields.
4. Blackford Analysis
Blackford Analysis studies comparison processes and develops cutting edge algorithmic solutions using real-time analysis of datasets. Their products work by linking a point of interest in one scan to any other MR, CT, or PET scan which allows viewers to compare multiple images, simultaneously with one click. Clinicians can integrate the technology into current systems and customize it to best serve their practice through various functionalities.
Founded: 2010
Founders: Ben Panter (CEO)
Category: Medical Devices & Technology
Funding: $1.3 million
Why you should pay attention – This interface increases the quality of care offered as well as patient satisfaction as it makes the conversation between provider and patient more meaningful. Patients who can be a part of their care conversations become empowered and are more likely to adhere to treatment, thereby improving results and lowering overall costs.
5. Capture Proof
This HIPAA-compliant platform allows patients to securely share their medical photos and videos with their doctor. Additionally, it allows MDs an opportunity to easily receive and store this data, which is compliant with HIPAA and medical record standards.
Founded: 2012
Founders: Meghan Conroy
Category: App, Care Delivery, Diagnostics & Patient Empowerment
Funding: $1.2 million
Why you should pay attention – This technology allows doctors to stay engaged in a patient’s healing process over time without having to schedule office-visits. Images and videos can be compared side-by-side to show progression without requiring multiple in-office visits that is cost-effective for all parties involved.
6. CareZapp
More than just an app, this holistic platform enhances in-home caregiving, allowing patients to communicate with, not only their doctors, but their families and other similar patients to provide social support. It also has a resource listing of local service providers, and can alert a patients’ contacts when the system recognizes they may need assistance or reminders.
Founded: 2014
Founders: Ron Finegan, Carl Flynn, Ed Lenox & Andrew Macfarlane
Category: App, Care Delivery, Patient Communication & Telehealth
Funding: Undisclosed
Why you should pay attention – This platform integrates with already existing smart home technologies. Using sensors like motion alerts, the platform can develop the capability to track movements and potentially alert family members or care providers in case of an emergency.
7. Cupris Health
Turning smartphones into medical devices with patent-pending technology, Cupris Health has developed several devices that connect to a web service allowing doctors to diagnose, monitor, and prescribe treatments for ear, eye, nose, and throat issues. The widespread usage of this technology has the capacity to save the NHS £250 million a year on unnecessary ENT referrals.
Founded: Unknown
Founders: Mike Pallett (CEO)
Category: Care Delivery, Diagnostics & Patient Communication
Funding: Undisclosed
Why you should pay attention – AXA PPP Health Tech & You Category Winner, Cupris’s proprietary otoscope and ophthalmoscope devices have various capabilities that include capturing images, recording videos from the ear drum, conducting basic hearing tests, as well as collecting and transmitting patient data. Technology such as this has the power to drive down end-costs for patients and make providers more efficient.
8. Doctor Care Anywhere
While the average reported wait time to get an appointment with an NHS doctor is two weeks, this app allows patients to access GMC registered doctors at almost any time of the day, any day of the week. The company guarantees a virtual consultation within two hours of request and same-day delivery of prescribed medicines, generally under four hours.
Founded: 2013
Founders: Unknown
Category: App, Care Delivery, Diagnostics & Patient Communication
Funding: Undisclosed
Why you should pay attention – Patients can use this app even when abroad, allowing them to contact specialists covered under their insurance and have access to their private medical records in case they need immediate care.
9. Geneix
Recognizing that genetic variation in humans determines reactions to prescribed drugs, Geneix analyzes the raw data from personal genetic tests (like 23andMe) and creates a DrugGene&Me profile for each individual which can then be sent and stored with the patient’s care provider or facility. This reduces the need for further care as a result of adverse reactions, wasting medication, lowering payer and provider costs, etc.
Founded: 2011
Founders: Morgaine Matthews, Adam Harman-Clarke & Mark Bartlett
Category: Diagnostics & Technology
Funding: $28.4k
Why you should pay attention – Whether the company decides to release the data in consumable reports to patients (allowing them to have a better understanding of what drugs they may prefer over others) or sell data to pharmaceutical companies, the potential is endless.
10. Health Unlocked
Similar to social patient communication platforms like Patients Like Me, HealthUnlocked calls itself the largest global healthcare network around, connecting 2.5 million people and offering peer-to-peer support for over 600 patient communities. It provides the tools to make the most of the knowledge embedded in social interactions online, empowering patients and redefining the recovery processes.
Founded: 2010
Founders: Matt Jameson Evans & Jorge Armanet
Category: Patient Empowerment
Funding: $2 million
Why you should pay attention – Studies show that 90% of HealthUnlocked users have found the moderated online support “life changing”, and 57% say they now visit the doctor less as a result. Not only does the platform offer social capital, but it can also reduce unnecessary visits and tests that result in higher costs for payers and providers.
11. Hometouch
This software-as-a-service provider for the telehealth industry helps coordinate in-home caregiving by aggregating and verifying potential in-home caregivers. Think of it as a matchmaking service that allows the elderly to be cared for by people they have similar interests with. The tablet application also allows families to keep track of relatives and monitor their care.
Founded: 2012
Founder: Jamie Wilson
Category: App & Telehealth
Funding: $121.7k
Why you should pay attention – While the U.K. faces an aging population and an already over-burdened healthcare system, in-home caregiving has the greatest chance at reducing costs. The platform’s career marketplace not only boosts the economy by providing local jobs, but also improves patients’ quality of life allowing them choice in their limited circumstances.
12. Medopad
This mobile health platform automatically gathers data and securely delivers patient information – including medical records, lab results or images – directly to healthcare providers’ fingertips. The platform also allows doctors to collaborate with each other as well as communicate with patients using any mobile device.
Founded: 2011
Founders: Dan Vàhdat & Rich Khatib
Category: App, Diagnostics & Patient Communication
Funding: $2.8 million
Why you should pay attention – Seamless integration with Apple HealthKit and Google Glass is just the cherry on top of this proprietary technology. Medopad was voted the Best Healthcare App 2014 by MEDICA.
13. MIRA
MIRA Rehab makes physiotherapy fun through gamification and uses Microsoft Kinect to track and monitor patients’ progress. Programs are customizable by providers to target areas of focus and the data collected over time allows them to follow a patients’ progression and provide valuable, timely feedback. Not only does gamification increase patient motivation, it encourages treatment compliance, one of the biggest challenges in the recovery process.
Founded: 2012
Founders: Alina Călin, Andrei Cantea, Liviu-Andrei Dascălu & Cosmin Mihaiu
Category: App, Diagnostics & Patient Empowerment
Funding: Undisclosed
Why you should pay attention – “Exergames’ reduce the chances of re-injury, decrease recovery time, and can inform treatment processes overall. Currently targeting neurological and orthopedic issues, the technology has the potential to quickly address rehabilitation in other faculties due to its behavior-based therapy.
14. OJ Bio
A joint venture between Orla Protein Technologies and Japan Radio Company, OJ-Bio designs and produces diagnostic devices that can be used at home or at the point of care by patients or providers. Already used for identifying the influenza A & B viruses as well as the Respiratory Syncytial Virus, the company is developing tests for a number of other issues such as HIV and periodontal gum disease as it can analyze almost any bodily fluid.
Founded: 2009
Founders: Unknown
Category: Diagnostics, Patient Empowerment & Technology
Funding: Undisclosed
Why you should pay attention – The public health ramifications for such a technology are immense as this technology can more accurately track and potentially slow the spread of disease. If the technology is sold at pharmacies or to smaller clinics with limited equipment, not only will the system’s burdens decrease in terms of time, resources, and human personnel, but smaller practices may also become more profitable.
15. Skin Analytics
Skin Analytics has developed a proprietary smartphone camera attachment and application that can analyze and track the growth of moles and other signs of skin disease. With a focus on prevention, the app can send targeted alerts to users if their mole seems abnormal, creating an effective early warning and diagnosis system. It also helps users get an appointment with a doctor as well as schedule screenings.
Founded: 2012
Founders: Neil Daly
Category: App, Diagnostics & Technology
Funding: $772.9k
Why you should pay attention – If and when the detection technology is applied to other healthcare diagnostic processes, Skin Analytics can play an integral role in reducing costs by promoting earlier intervention – think upon the diagnoses of Sexually Transmitted Infections, for example. Additionally, this technology can be used in underdeveloped settings bringing care to rural areas when Wi-Fi is enabled.
16. SOMA Analytics
This software company is developing a system for corporations to quantify, manage and predict employee wellbeing by measuring daily stress and its impact using metrics like sleeping patterns, frequency bands in the user’s voice, as well as emotions displayed through speech and phone usage. Using psychological intervention methods and gamification, behavior change is reinforced which has a potentially significant effect on mental health and drug dependency.
Founded: 2011
Founders: Peter Schneider, Johann Huber, Christopher Lorenz & Fabian Alt
Category: App & Diagnostics
Funding: Undisclosed
Why you should pay attention – After two weeks of usage, their study reported on average that the app reduced stress levels in the study group by 9% and increased overall ‘resilience’ by 7%. If these results can be replicated consistently, it can provide great benefits to employers and payers. Not only will the workforce be more productive, but health costs may decline as well.
17. Teddy
Teddy introduces the cuddly new baby monitor, a stuffed bear whose paws can measure a baby’s heart rate, oxygen levels and body temperature in under four seconds and transfer the data wirelessly to its mobile app. Data collected in stress-free environments are arguably more relevant to the child’s overall condition.
Founded: 2013
Founders: Josipa Majic & Ana Burica
Category: App & Monitoring
Funding: $400k
Why you should pay attention – The stuffed toy’s technology isn’t so different from other monitors, but the market for children’s diagnostic equipment that is non-threatening and easily integrated is ripe for the taking.
18. Toothpick
Toothpick is a dental appointment booking platform that allows users to compare guaranteed prices, view providers relevant to their own insurance plan, and verify the qualifications of listed providers.
Founded: 2012
Founder: Jozef Wallis
Category: App & Care Delivery
Funding: Undisclosed
Why you should pay attention – In its first year, the platform facilitated over 100,000 appointments worth £17 million. Depending on its growth trajectory, the company is well poised to take over various sub-specialties within the U.K. and doesn’t face as many significant barriers to entry if the goal is to expand into the E.U.
19. TrialReach
TrialReach is a search engine for clinical trials that allows patients to search for clinical trials taking place around the world. Users can submit their information to research centers looking to conduct clinical trials.
Founded: 2009
Founders: Eithan Ephrati, Jessica Mann & Pablo Graiver
Category: Diagnostics & Patient Empowerment
Funding: $17.9 million
Why you should pay attention – As a global crowdsourcing platform, TrialReach can reduce the cost of recruiting patients for both large pharmaceuticals and small companies that are conducting clinical trials. It simultaneously expands the pool of patients which may result in a better matched study group and a shorter timeframe to get approval and into the right to market.
20. Zesty
Describable as the U.K.’s version of ZocDoc, Zesty allows patients to find a healthcare provider in Greater London, rate them based on their experience, compare them by reading real user reviews, and make a confirmed appointment in under sixty seconds.
Founded: 2013
Founders: James Balmain & Lloyd Price
Category: App & Care Delivery
Funding: $9.2 million
Why you should pay attention – The company has been nominated for a dozen of awards and its founder has been invited to several parliamentary planning meetings to help guide the NHS in adapting technologies and transforming patients into consumers. The platform transforms patients into consumers, a force that is largely cited as a method to reducing healthcare costs and improving overall quality.
Komal Garewal is a consultant for health tech looking to raise rounds via crowdfunding or sites like Healthfundr, where she is a Marketing and Growth Strategist. Get in touch with her on LinkedIn or follow her on Twitter.