MHIN UK sets up home in Harley Street Health District due to “seamless alignment” with its ethos and commitment to nurturing innovation.
The leader of a mental health innovators’ community has chosen to set up its inaugural permanent home at Hale House in the Harley Street Health District, describing it as the ‘ideal’ partner.
Aahuti Rai, founder of the Mental Health Innovation Network UK (MHIN), said she had been approached by a range of potential partners interested in hosting the group of over 300 start-ups, healthcare providers, investors, academic and NGO organisations, and patient and policy specialists since it launched in 2022 – but nothing had previously represented the right broad fit.
The partnership offers MHIN a stable base for events and access to event management, communication, and other organisational infrastructure, resources, and support.
It will also give wider healthcare provider organisations in the District regular networking opportunities with innovative MHIN members, which include organisations such as Vitality and Bupa and individuals such as NHS psychiatrists and NHS policy makers.
The partnership comes amid significant growth in commercial investment and government focus on mental health innovation in the UK, in response to escalating patient demand.
The UK digital mental health market was estimated to be worth around £1.5bn in 2024 and is expected to grow by nearly 20 per cent over the next ten years.
The idea for the partnership was sparked after MHIN held a showcase at Hale House last year, said Ms Rai.
“Working with Harley Street Health District truly was a dream,” she said.
“The collaboration struck the perfect balance – they were incredibly supportive and added value in all the right places.”
“It was a partnership in every sense, with both sides contributing meaningfully to each other and to our wider communities and maintaining an unspoken mutual respect for boundaries.”
“This experience confirmed to me that HSHD is the ideal partner. Our network’s ethos aligns seamlessly with their mission to nurture innovation and serve as a hub for health tech, creating compatibility at both strategic and practical levels,” she added.
Annette Shiel, Head of Marketing and Communications at The Howard de Walden Estate said: “We are delighted to partner with the Mental Health Innovation Network. The network’s vision, values, and energy align seamlessly with our mission to foster collaboration, accelerate innovation, and continue to deliver excellence in healthcare across the district.
The district is home to a number of outstanding mental health providers and is a key area of growth for us. Through this partnership, we are creating new opportunities to connect our providers with leading-edge mental health innovations and evidence-based solutions, ultimately enhancing the quality, accessibility, and impact of care for our community.”
Past MHIN events have focused on showcasing innovation and practical sessions from experts on navigating barriers to success for mental health innovators – from tackling regulatory hurdles to understanding the pitfalls and potential of working with AI technologies.
Members have credited the network, community, and events with gaining introductions to useful contacts, including provider partners, investment opportunities, and advisor support.
For example, Samuel Stern, Affiniti AI founder, said in a recently published MHIN impact report that his organisation “gained one new advisor, received two inbound commercial leads, and secured a platform partnership,” while LOHA founder Alison Metcalfe said her organisation has been able to proceed with a pilot of its service thanks to meeting a health provider via MHIN.
Meanwhile, Priory Group Director of Strategy Louise Griffiths said she was in discussion with three potential pilots and partnerships after attending an MHIN event.
The next MHIN event is scheduled to take place in April at Hale House and will focus on Alternative Capital for Mental Health.
