Richard Williams, founder and CEO of Healome Therapeutics, discusses what it takes to turn deep scientific research into a business with real-world clinical potential.

Drawing on his experience, he explains the long path from science to product, and the strategic, manufacturing, and regulatory decisions that have to be made well before a company is fully established.

A central theme of the conversation is the need for more specialist support around early-stage life sciences growth. Richard highlights the difficulty of finding investors who truly understand deep tech and biotech timelines, as well as the practical challenge of securing small-scale manufacturing capacity for early trials. He also points to the strengths of the UK ecosystem, especially clustering, communication, and focused public support, while stressing the need to retain more capability, talent, and capital within the UK as businesses scale.

In this conversation, Russ Shaw CBE, founder of Tech London Advocates and Global Tech Advocates, reflects on the evolution of the UK tech ecosystem, from its earlier growth phases through to its current position on the global stage.

He makes the case that one of the UK’s defining strengths has been its culture of collaboration – leaders, founders, investors, and advocates coming together around a shared ambition to help the sector grow. He also highlights the practical measures that have helped the market mature, from policy interventions to the UK’s wider reputation for rule of law and innovation.

At the same time, the discussion is clear-eyed about what still needs attention. Russ points to the continuing challenge of scaling capital, the importance of attracting and retaining global talent, and the need for the UK to keep moving with pace in areas such as AI and advanced technologies. His central message is an optimistic but disciplined one: the UK has built something strong, but it cannot afford complacency.