Launchpad equips 19 companies to introduce new products to the NHS and social care markets

Karla Richards, Digital Health Guide for DigitalHealth.London Launchpad, introduces the cohort, looks back at the programme and celebrates its impact on early-stage innovation for health and care markets.

Navigating NHS and social care markets can be a huge barrier for innovation – especially if founders are entering the system for the first time. Before companies even bring their product or service to the market, there are some foundational questions that need to be carefully considered: what is the problem you are aiming to address? Where does your product fit in a pathway? What is your value proposition?

Strengthening early-stage innovation through a connected cohort

DigitalHealth.London Launchpad is designed to equip early-stage companies in London to take this first step. It helps participants with the knowledge and confidence they need to refine and launch their solution to their chosen healthcare market.

For the eighth cohort, companies benefited from a hybrid curriculum that combined virtual learning with in-person engagement. This approach built upon the digital-only format of previous cohorts, fostering a community of early-stage founders to help grow networks, share experiences and unlock new perspectives on mutual challenges. The ability to connect with cohort members was highlighted as one of the most valuable parts of the programme, with one company stating: “meeting other health tech companies with similar challenges was hugely beneficial.”

Supporting market readiness with practical sessions

The quality of content throughout the programme was also a standout feature for participants. 11 sessions provided actionable insights from subject matter experts on topics including legal, information governance, regulation, communications and more. One participant noted: “The [talks] were helpful for ensuring we were tracking the correct path and not wasting time on unnecessary steps at this stage in our business. The informal comments offered here and in the discussions each week were very helpful.”

The final pitching masterclass was recognised as particularly beneficial, as the cohort came together to present their pitches and exchange constructive feedback. By the end, participants had refined their presentations and gained valuable public speaking insights, leaving with compelling pitches to use well beyond the programme.

Introducing 19 new innovations to the NHS and social care markets

Whilst Launchpad does not offer any formal networking with stakeholders in the system, virtual one-to-one sessions with Digital Health Guides and communication experts encouraged companies to focus on planning their launch activity to optimise engagement. This included designing strategic social media campaigns and developing case studies that emphasised credibility.

As a result, 19 new digital health solutions have now been launched. Pathways span mental health, obstructive sleep apnoea, women’s health, Cardiovascular Disease (CVD), Musculoskeletal health (MSK) and rare diseases.

These innovations not only have the potential to tackle critical priorities across health and social care, but they are also underpinned by strong foundations for sustainable development from the programme. We look forward to following their innovation journeys as they enter their chosen markets.

DigitalHealth.London Launchpad cohort

Click the company logos below to learn more about the innovations:

The DigitalHealth.London Launchpad programme is part-funded by the UK Government via the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF). It is delivered by the Health Innovation Network (HIN) South London in partnership with the Office of Life Sciences, CW+, NHS England and the Mayor of London.

For more information, please visit https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-
shared-prosperity-fund-prospectus.