Health Launchpad

Health Launchpad develops ideas into new social ventures aimed at meeting the challenges of an ageing population and increasing long term health conditions, by providing early stage funding, social capital and entrepreneurial expertise.

User-led innovation in health services

Our staged venture development approach enables us to scope, pilot and launch new ventures to achieve maximum social impact. We often work with individual clinicians or entrepreneurs, or with NHS or third sector organisations.

Innovative

Our aim is to identify innovative ways to address issues related to long term medical conditions which include asthma, diabetes, obesity, mental illness, chronic back pain and heart disease. We anticipate that solutions will emphasize patient-centred approaches, with a greater focus on prevention, continuity of care and non-medical support.

Entrepreneurial

We seek out ventures that are entrepreneurial; have an element of risk and that are ground breaking. However, we are also rigorous: viability matters. The Health Launchpad team comprises an unusual mix of people from the diverse worlds of business start up, NHS, social entrepreneurship, consulting, investments, social research, investigative journalism and social policy.

The model works by embedding Social Entrepreneurs in Residence (SEiRs) in host NHS organisations and supporting them with a central specialist team. SEiRs act as catalysts, identifying entrepreneurial talent, scouting for good ideas and developing social enterprises within the health system. Primary Care Trusts contribute funding for the SEiRs, and investment capital for new ventures. There are already two SEiRs in place, with an aim to embed 12 by the end of year five. A national Health Launchpad team provides idea development and start-up support to them and to the ventures they promote, including initial capital investment.

For further information on the projects we supported, visit the Health Launchpad website.