Growing successful health innovation start-up
The event brings together founders, healthcare innovators, researchers and professionals interested in building and scaling in the UK.
The practical discussion will cover:
Setting up and operating a UK company — company structure, banking, compliance and early-stage considerations
UK founder/innovation visa routes — business plans, endorsement and how the venture, market and founder profile fit together ( we already have a lawyer for this)
Particular considerations for HealthTech, MedTech and Life Sciences ventures
🚀 Guest Speaker 1｜Mayur Paghadal
Founder, Startup Ecosystem Advisor
Mayur Paghadal has firsthand experience with the UK Innovator Founder pathway, alongside entrepreneurial experience across the UK, US, and India. He has been deeply involved in key areas of entrepreneurship, including Company Formation, Fundraising, Equity, and Financial Modelling.
He has participated in the NatWest Accelerator and maintains connections with innovation networks such as Warwick Innovation District. He also actively connects with Northamptonshire Council, MPs, and local innovation resources, contributing to the development of the regional startup ecosystem.
What Mayur brings is therefore not simply an explanation of “how to apply for the visa”, but practical insight into what entrepreneurs really need to understand after entering the UK market:
Company Formation → Compliance → Accelerator → Fundraising → Business Growth
For entrepreneurs considering starting a business in the UK, applying for an Innovator Founder Visa, or already working on a HealthTech MedTech Life Sciences project, this session will help you understand how to turn an idea into a real, UK-based startup.
From visa pathways and company formation to the startup ecosystem and fundraising resources, Mayur will share the practical experiences that often go beyond what you can find on policy pages — insights that come from actually walking the journey.
🚀 Guest Speaker 2｜Sophia Xiang
Partner at Spencer West LLP
Sophia Xiang is a senior immigration lawyer with dual professional qualifications in China and the UK, with 16+ years of experience specialising in UK immigration law. She has advised more than 1,500 families and 300+ businesses.
In this session, Sophia will take a combined legal and business perspective to break down the Innovator Founder Visa, helping aspiring entrepreneurs understand who is suitable to apply, what types of projects meet the requirements, and how to turn an entrepreneurial idea into a compliant and viable business in the UK.
She will focus on:
🔹 Who is suitable to apply? Founder background, experience, qualifications and eligibility requirements
🔹 What type of project qualifies? Understanding Innovation, Viability and Scalability
🔹 How do you secure Endorsement? Key assessment criteria, Business Plan requirements and common reasons for refusal
🔹 How does the visa process work? From project preparation and Endorsement to visa application and establishing your business in the UK
🔹 How can you progress towards settlement? The relationship between the Innovator Founder route and UK settlement, and what founders should prepare for in advance
🔹 Real cases & common pitfalls Practical examples, common misconceptions and actionable advice for entrepreneurs
For those looking to enter the UK through entrepreneurship, preparing for an Innovator Founder Visa, or already developing a business project, this is more than a session about immigration policy. It is an opportunity to assess:
Am I suitable? Is my project eligible? And what should I do next?
From Founder → Venture → Endorsement → Visa → Settlement, Sophia will help you understand the UK’s entrepreneurial immigration pathway from start to finish.
As it is also our Mid-Autumn Festival gathering, we’ll have mooncakes and a Chinese calligraphy experience afterwards, followed by networking.
The idea is very practical: how to move from an idea to actually building and operating a venture in the UK.