CHI-Zone Fellowship Session 4: From Idea to Impact, Taking Solutions to Market
Session four of the CHI-Zone Fellowship switched us from opportunity exploration and market scoping to building business and delivering solutions to market. The focus was on what it really takes to grow a digital health business, work effectively with the NHS, and stay grounded in purpose and people along the way.
Navigating the NHS
We started online with a webinar from Ross O’Brien, co-founder of the XR Health Alliance, who shared a practical view of scaling a startup in digital health and getting technologies adopted in the NHS. Ross drew on his experience across NHS leadership and startup growth to walk the cohort through the realities of building strong foundations early. From understanding regulation and evidence generation to avoiding common pitfalls like poor market validation or ignoring user experience. A key takeaway was that relationships, timing and credibility matter just as much as the product itself.
The in-person session picked up this theme and went deeper into partnerships. Sam Prendergast (Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust) delivered an insightful talk on partnering with the NHS, helping founders understand routes to market, technology readiness levels, and how to match funding and support to where they are in their journey. Sam broke down what the NHS is really looking for, and why clarity of value proposition is essential when trying to navigate such a complex system.
Building an Authentic Business
The afternoon moved into two interactive workshops that shifted the focus from systems to people. Kat Jackson (founder of All is Well) led a session on building a credible, human-centred brand. She encouraged the cohort to step into their users’ shoes using empathy mapping, exploring what users think, say, do and feel. By understanding emotional drivers and trust builders, founders were challenged to think about how their brand presents in a way that feels honest, human and responsible.
The final workshop was led by Ruth Wildhart, who introduced the idea of purpose-driven and good growth businesses. Through a series of practical exercises, the cohort mapped their values, non-negotiables and priorities, and explored how these can guide decisions about partnerships and growth. Ruth encouraged founders to use purpose not as a buzzword, but as a practical tool for finding partners who share their goals and mission, and for building businesses that align profit with positive impact.
What This Means for the Fellowship
Session four was a reminder that scaling is not just about moving faster or getting bigger. It is about building trust, choosing the right partners, and staying clear on why you exist in the first place.
If you’d like to know more about the Fellowship, or are interested in getting involved with future cohorts, drop us an email.
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