The Smart Scale Programme for Health Founders

A 90-day strategic sprint for ventures building the future of health and life sciences

You’ve already done the hard part.

 

You’ve taken a complex idea, found traction, raised early funding, and maybe started to build a team. Somewhere along the way, things got more complicated.

Now you’re facing a new set of questions:

  • What do I actually want this business to become?

  • Is my current team the right one for the next phase?

  • Are we building around the opportunity or around old assumptions?

  • What will I regret not fixing now, before things move faster?

The Smart Scale Programme creates time and space to ask those questions, then build answers you can act on.

It’s designed for the stage where founding teams evolve, strategies shift, and leadership starts to mean something different, where the real work of scaling begins.

Delivered by the University of Bath Innovation and Entrepreneurship team, in partnership with NatWest and the globally recognised SETsquared network, the programme brings together operational experience, sector insight, and a trusted peer community.

 
 

WHO’S IT FOR

This programme is designed for founders working in health and life sciences, including:

Digital health and healthtech

Diagnostics and therapeutics

Medtech and devices

Prevention and wellness

AI and data-driven health solutions

Public health, ageing, care or behavioural science

Any business working on improving human health and wellbeing

 
 
 

YOU’RE A GOOD FIT IF YOU

Have a working product, service, or platform with early traction and a small team (min. 3 staff)

Are navigating decisions about growth, direction and leadership

Want structured thinking and peer challenge - not generic advice

Are preparing for your next stage of scale, funding or operational maturity

 
 

PROGRAMME FEE

Participation is £750 + VAT.

This supports high-quality, personalised delivery from a team of experienced founders, sector advisors and operational experts. It reflects the time and structure required to make the programme valuable - and the stage you’re at. If this is a barrier let us know, we wouldn't want you to miss this opportunity. 

HOW TO JOIN

We’re currently shaping the next cohort.

The structure outlined here is based on our experience working with growing health and life sciences businesses - but we know every founder, every team, and every challenge is different. That’s why the first step is a 60-minute diagnostic call.

This isn’t an application. It’s a conversation, designed to explore where you are, what you need, and how we can adapt the programme around the cohort’s real-world needs.

We believe in co-creation over cookie-cutter support. These calls help ensure we’re designing something that reflects your current stage, not assumptions.

There’s no obligation, just a space to think, and decide what you need next.

Book Your Founder Diagnostic

We’re shaping the cohort now.

It starts with one conversation.
Book your 60-minute founder diagnostic and see what’s possible.

frequently asked questions

  • Yes, you’ll get real feedback. This isn’t a classroom or a coaching retreat. Expect direct input from experienced founders, advisors and peers who understand what scaling actually looks like.

    Sessions are designed to focus on your specific challenges - not abstract models. You’ll be encouraged to test your thinking, revisit assumptions, and get honest responses in a confidential, founder-to-founder setting.

  • In person at the University of Bath Innovation Centre and the NatWest Accelerator Hub in Bristol.
    All sessions will be recorded and can be joined remotely. In-person attendance is encouraged where possible to support peer connection.

  • We’re planning for one session per week - a mix of group sessions, one-to-one support and optional peer roundtables. The programme will be designed to integrate with your existing commitments. Final scheduling is shaped in collaboration with the cohort.

  • The diagnostic call is a 60-minute conversation to understand your current position, priorities and goals.
    It allows us to shape the programme content around the real needs of participants, rather than assuming a fixed structure. Founders are expected to have a view of what support would be most valuable.

  • The programme is part-funded by NatWest and delivered with support from the University of Bath.
    The fee contributes to expert-led delivery, speaker involvement, and dedicated advisor access. It ensures high-quality content and a strong cohort experience.

  • The University of Bath is the UK’s leading university for sport and has deep strengths in health, wellbeing, and human performance.
    We support a growing network of health-related ventures - through spinouts, alumni, and the SETsquared partnership.
    This programme builds on that foundation, with a focus on applied support for founders preparing to scale.

  • This programme is not designed to duplicate regulatory, procurement or NHS selling support.
    Our focus is on strategy, leadership, team development, capital planning and founder decision-making.
    If you’re part of another initiative, we’re happy to discuss how the two might complement each other.

  • Founders working in health and life sciences, including:

    • Healthtech, medtech, diagnostics and therapeutics

    • Biotech, prevention, ageing and wellness

    • AI, data and behavioural science applied to health

    • Not listed above but still interested - get in touch

    Participants typically have:

    • A working product or platform

    • Early traction (grants, investment or commercial)

    • A team of at least 3

    • Questions around leadership, team, and growth strategy

    • A tailored growth roadmap and defined strategic priorities

    • Clarity around your leadership role and team requirements

    • Peer insight and structured reflection

    • One-to-one time with legal, financial, HR, sales and marketing advisors

    • A practical foundation for future funding, hiring and scale

  • There is no application process. We begin with a 60-minute diagnostic conversation to assess fit and discuss your needs.
    This also helps shape the programme structure around the cohort’s priorities.

    If you’d just like a shorter call, get in touch. Simply, if this sounds useful – let’s talk!