Partnership offers UK health tech innovators gateway to US healthcare market

Health tech startups and scaleups will have a new route into the United States healthcare market, following the signing of a new partnership between Health Innovation Kent Surrey Sussex (KSS) and BioSTL, a nonprofit that fosters health innovation and investment in St. Louis, Missouri.

Access to investors and industry partners

The partnership creates a formal framework for collaboration between the two organisations, giving innovators access to BioSTL’s network of investors, industry partners, healthcare providers and research institutions. The focus is on practical support: market entry, mentorship, investor readiness and connections to US healthcare buyers.

Health Innovation Kent Surrey Sussex, Chief Executive Officer, Hatim Abdulhussein – “Health systems on both sides of the Atlantic face shared challenges, from rising demand to scaling innovation. By partnering with BioSTL, we have a real opportunity to combine our strengths, accelerate innovation and help the best ideas deliver impact for patients in our health systems.”

BioSTL has also entered similar partnerships with Health Innovation Yorkshire and Humber and Health Innovation Network South London.

St. Louis – A gateway to the US healthcare market

St. Louis offers concentrated access to providers, payers and decision-makers within a single market. It is home to major health systems, including Mercy, BJC HealthCare and Ascension. It also hosts the nation’s largest Medicaid insurer, Centene, and pharmacy benefit manager Evernorth. Meanwhile, its Washington University consistently ranks among the top recipients of federal National Institutes of Health research funding.

BioSTL, Global Lead, Vijay Chauhan – “St. Louis offers concentrated access to providers, payers and decision-makers within a single market. It is home to major health systems, including Mercy, BJC HealthCare and Ascension. It also hosts the nation’s largest Medicaid insurer, Centene, and pharmacy benefit manager Evernorth. Meanwhile, its Washington University consistently ranks among the top recipients of federal National Institutes of Health research funding.”

Through the partnership with BioSTL, UK innovators gain a direct connection to this ecosystem, with the relationships and market knowledge to support wider US expansion.

Total US healthcare spending reached $5.3 trillion in 2024, according to the most recent data set from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), the US federal agency responsible for official national health expenditure data.

This is equivalent to $15,474 per person and 18% of the country’s entire GDP. Growth in healthcare spending outpaced overall economic expansion, with personal health care spending rising at its fastest rate since 1991-1992.

For UK health tech companies with proven products, that scale of investment represents a substantial commercial opportunity.

Who is the partnership for?

Through the partnership, companies supported by Health Innovation KSS under its Office of Life Sciences commission will be able to access opportunities in the US.

The partnership is designed to benefit:

• High-growth startups and scaleups in life sciences, health innovation, and deep tech
• Companies at seed to scale stage preparing for international expansion
• Clinical entrepreneurs exploring alternative markets

Selected early-stage companies with breakthrough technologies may also be eligible for tailored support.

Transatlantic knowledge exchange

Joint initiatives are planned, including delegations and knowledge exchange activities aimed at equipping innovators with the insights and connections to compete internationally.

The collaboration also works in both directions. US-based innovators within the BioSTL network will gain access to the innovation ecosystem across Kent, Surrey and Sussex, including local companies, investment opportunities and best practice in scaling innovation-led businesses.

About BioSTL

BioSTL is a St. Louis-based nonprofit with a focus on turning research strengths into commercial outcomes. Through its startup arm, BioGenerator, it has supported more than 400 startups, made over $50 million in early-stage investments, and helped attract $3 billion in follow-on capital, 85% of it from outside the region.

BioSTL’s work spans three areas: creating high-growth startups, developing a bioscience workforce, and building St. Louis’ reputation as an innovation hub by connecting the city to global innovation networks.

In the health tech space, BioSTL runs the annual Global Health Innovation Summit, which brings together healthcare industry leaders, investors, and international startups to create partnerships and advance health innovation.

How health tech innovators can get involved

If you are a health tech innovator already working with Health Innovation KSS, we’ll be in touch.

If you are not working with us and would like to find out more, please visit our innovator hub.

Sign up to BioSTL’s Global Health Innovation Summit

BioSTL’s Global Health Innovation Summit takes place on October 6-8 in St. Louis, USA. Now in its 10th year, it has supported health tech innovators in securing more than $750 million in contracts with major US healthcare delivery organisations. This year’s summit brings together more than $550 billion in purchasing power over three days of structured business development. Attendees can expect a main stage pitch in front of more than 200 C-suite decision-makers, matched one-to-one meetings with target buyers, and access to BioSTL’s network of more than 90 senior healthcare executives.