In this episode of Independent Minds, we speak with Pete, co-founder of HealthTech One, a UK startup improving access to primary care through automation, digital workflows, and AI-enabled systems. Working with 24% of NHS GP surgeries in England, HealthTech One is tackling some of the operational bottlenecks that affect both patients and practice teams.

Pete takes us inside the reality of GP practices, from the pressure on front-desk staff to the outdated administrative systems that still shape much of the patient experience. He explains why innovation in the NHS is difficult, what it takes to build technology in a highly regulated environment, and how better systems can help patients get the right care more quickly.

The conversation also traces Pete’s path into entrepreneurship, from growing up in a family takeaway to leaving a finance career at 21, learning to code, and building a healthtech company from inside a GP practice during Covid. It is a thoughtful discussion about purpose, resilience, trust, and the challenge of building technology that genuinely improves people’s lives.

This episode will resonate with founders, operators, policymakers, investors, and anyone interested in the future of healthcare, AI, and public-service innovation.

00:00 - Introducing Pete and HealthTech One
01:10 - What really happens behind the GP reception desk
03:00 - Why NHS systems still feel stuck in the 1990s
05:10 - How GP practices actually work as businesses
07:00 - Why innovation inside the NHS is so difficult
08:45 - Automation, trust, and restoring patient confidence
10:25 - Getting patients the right appointment first time
12:55 - Building a startup inside a GP practice during Covid
14:40 - Growing up in a family business and early responsibility
16:00 - Leaving finance at 21 to build a company
17:40 - Learning to code and preparing to jump
19:50 - Why waiting to feel ready can become procrastination
22:00 - Founding with a childhood friend met through gaming
24:00 - Purpose, pressure, and the weight of opportunity
26:00 - Startup life versus corporate life
28:40 - Ego, identity, and founder psychology
31:00 - Why healthcare is hard and deeply meaningful
32:20 - Final reflections on building with purpose

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🔗 FOLLOW HEALTHTECH ONE
Website
https://www.healthtech1.uk

LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/company/healthtech-1/