Member Article

Contract wins spark growth momentum at Manchester healthtech startup

Health data business ViewItUK, which launched as a University of Manchester staff startup three years ago, is exercising growth plans through pursuing new recruits as well as investment.

Assisting companies and organisations to use and understand their data better, the business was launched by Professor Michael Donmall in 2014.

Winning contracts with names such as GambleAware and The British Society for Cutaneous Allergy, the firm provides online data portals and presentation tools allowing health professionals to assess and monitor treatment effectiveness, ultimately improving patient wellbeing.

On the back of the firm’s rise so far, ViewItUK now expects to double its turnover by December and employ five people by the end of 2018.

Prof Donmall, who is supported in the business by directors Dr Andrew Jones and Dr Yousef Taktak, explained: “ViewItUK was borne out of The University of Manchester’s Division of Population Health which has multi-million pound contracts in the healthcare sector.

“At ViewitUK we have the technical ability to adapt our development to our customer needs due to the team’s experience and the flexibility of our approach to problem solving.

“As it stands we are looking to attract significant investment so we can expand and grow as we look to secure more contracts in not just the health sector, but in other areas too as we have software that can be rolled out.

“We are soon looking to move to a new office, on Manchester Science Park, which will give us a base to expand from.”

Prof Donmall also paid tribute to the University’s technology transfer office, UMIP and its Innovation Optimiser initiative which encourages entrepreneurship on Campus by providing a vibrant and supportive environment for academics to develop and build their businesses.

“We’ve been helped a lot by UMIP in regard to Intellectual Property,” he added. “And we wouldn’t be in the fortunate position we are without the help of Tony Walker and his team.”

Tony Walker added: “It’s been a wonderful time supporting the ViewItUk team from the original discussion around moving it out of the university and into a business.

“With their new contracts and the team’s technical prowess it has all the ingredients for success. This is also a great exemplar of what our Innovation Optimiser does, empowering innovators.

“We’re all delighted with the development of ViewItUK. The proof will be when we get more customers and expand and grow as a business.”