In October 2021, PUBLIC worked with Amazon Web Services (AWS) to launch the UK Healthcare Accelerator Programme. This intensive five-week accelerator programme aimed to provide technical, business, and mentorship support to startups, helping them accelerate their growth in the cloud, achieve commercial success in the UK public sector, and expand internationally. The programme focused on products that aligned with the quadruple aim of improving patient and clinician experiences, improve health outcomes, and lower care costs.

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We employed our scoping and selection approach and methodology to select 12 startups from a pool of 117 companies across 13 countries. The accelerator targeted startups in focus areas such as citizen access, elective care recovery, population health and precision medicine, and workforce innovation. We conducted multidimensional needs assessments of the selected startups to build a bespoke programme. We delivered 18 interactive workshops and thematic talks on topics relevant to the cohort, addressing their specific business needs.

Startups received personalised mentoring sessions from both PUBLIC and AWS, aiding in the development of their commercial strategies and product development plans. We also organised in-person networking and social events, facilitating connections between startup founders and key leaders in the NHS and the UK healthcare sector.

The programme experience and approach, combined with bespoke content and personalised mentorship, led to significant success. Participants gave the programme the highest possible Net Promoter Score (NPS) of 80. The programme’s average score from participants was 9.4 out of 10. This achievement underscores the impact and value delivered through accelerators, as startups received invaluable support and guidance to advance their growth in the healthcare sector.