Innovative medical businesses have the potential to improve not only the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) but healthcare services in any other country in the world.

Estimates show that the combined value of health-tech startups in the UK reaches about £2.9 billion and investments in this market do not seem to be slowing down especially taking into consideration the growing need for health and social services. Digitallisation of healthcare industry ensures its adjustment to the changing world’s needs and its better availability also in times of crisis when direct contact with medical personel may be more difficult.

So, what are the most promising businesses to follow this year? Here’s a list of 9 exceptional companies that have drawn our attention.

1. Doctify

Doctify is an online platform that lets users search for, compare and book medical services in the United Kingdom. It also has a mobile app, so that patients can find applicable healthcare service providers in real-time, according to their location, condition and chosen insurer. Anytime and anywhere, as the booking option is available 24/7. It’s possible to choose all kinds of medical services, from a standard GP appointment to a dentist, cardiologist, or even acupuncturist. Plus, users can review the services they receive, as well as read other trusted opinions, so as not to choose blindly.

2. Perfect Ward

Perfect Ward was created specifically to make the lives of healthcare staff easier by helping them take care of admin work in a more efficient manner. Thanks to a beautifully designed mobile app that works on any smart device, health and quality inspections across all clinical areas are much faster and simpler. The Perfect Ward app is also flexible and intuitive to use, so there’s no training needed. It also features a clear view of data which is crucial in terms of spotting any problems and making instant improvements.

3. Forward

We can all agree that good communication serves as a strong foundation for any project and is a key factor in its success – regardless of the industry. Healthcare is no exception. Forward is a platform that improves collaboration between medical professionals by offering a lot of useful features, including instant messaging and intelligent suggestions to help find the right specialist for a referral or advice. It also offers patient cards and task management in real-time. Using Forward in the pilot studies, time savings per shift for a single clinician reaches up to 45 minutes and work satisfaction, in general, is 74% higher, compared to results from similar legacy tools.

4. BenevolentAI

BenevolentAI uses artificial intelligence and machine learning to deal with a massive number of both structured and unstructured biomedical data in order to improve the drug development process. All of these pieces of data are unified in one large bioscience specific knowledge graph and then leveraged by an experimental Benevolent Platform that can understand and contextualise them. The overall aim is to reduce the costs and failure rates often associated with drug development, and increase the speed of development itself. BenevolentAI is an innovative company capable of taking the entire process through each and every phase – from early discovery to late clinical tests. And its R&D facility is, of course, based in Cambridge.

5. iamYiam

iamYiam provides its users with a personalised health plan, based on academic research, individual genetics, and Big Data. All of these things are processed by artificial intelligence algorithms in order to deliver the most adequate preventive program allowing users to achieve peak performance and optimal levels of health. iamYiam also features a smart assistant – Syd – that helps people with shopping lists or even monthly reading goals. This AI-powered tool can easily analyse one’s lifestyle and is pretty useful when it comes to setting daily goals and tracking progress.

6. OurPath

OurPath is a mobile app designed to help people develop healthy relationships with food. It was created not only to help rid users of bad dieting habits but, first and foremost, to change unhealthy mindsets and allow users to regain full control over their lives. Of course, this lifestyle change requires daily attention and support from a dedicated online coach to get a user back on track in case of any troubles. OurPath teaches users how to eat optimally without counting calories, loose weight without developing health problems, and move more without overexertion. In effect, a user feels better, stays motivated, and even sets a good example for others. OurPath was recognised as one of the Top 50 startups in the EU and its founders were featured in Forbes’ ’30 under 30′ list.

7. videoDoc

Remote doctor consultations are something that many people dream about. Thanks to videoDoc, a patient in the UK can see a doctor without having to leave their home or office. Healthcare professionals are available remotely seven days a week, from early morning till late evening. One just needs to register online and attend their e-appointment on a PC or mobile device. Doctors will not only diagnose the problem and offer medical advice, but they can also send prescriptions. videoDoc significantly cuts the cost of medical treatment. It makes the process more affordable and accessible to everyone.

8. Thriva

Thrivia offers convenient health tracking services for anyone in the UK who is interested in what’s going on inside their bodies – regardless of their actual condition. It’s enough to order the Thriva kit, perform a finger-prick blood test, send it back and wait for no more than 48 hours to get the results online, along with a detailed report prepared by a qualified GP. One may choose from three base packages with the option to further customise their choice by adding more tests, for example, a vitamin D test or an iron profile. It’s fast, reliable and makes it possible to catch wind of some health issues before they turn into something bigger.

9. Four Eyes Insight

All of the above-mentioned healthcare startups give hope for the future in terms of improving the quality of life for societies around the world, not only in the UK. They mainly focus on making services as accessible for patients as possible, and as technologically advanced as the times that we live in require. This would not be possible if these businesses weren’t located in London, and didn’t have access to top academics from the world’s leading universities. That’s why it looks as though medical startup owners will continue to choose the British capital city as their headquarters, regardless of the political situation or temporary commotion.

If you’re a corporate or investor looking for exciting startups in a specific market for a potential investment or acquisition, check out our Top 10 Polish Startups To Watch in 2021.