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Propel West Yorkshire launches second cohort of innovators at Nexus in Leeds

By Published On: May 12, 2026Last Updated: May 12, 2026
Propel West Yorkshire launches second cohort of innovators at Nexus in Leeds

Propel Healthtech West Yorkshire has launched its second cohort of innovators, bringing together founders, partners and stakeholders from across the region’s health innovation ecosystem.

The launch event, held on Thursday 30 April 2026 at Nexus in Leeds, marks the continued growth of the programme following £4.5 million of investment secured in 2025 from the West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA), via the UK Government’s Investment Zone.

Following a record number of applications to the six-month accelerator, Propel has welcomed 30 new innovators to the programme, with an even split across its Start-Up and Scale-Up pathways.

The cohort reflects the breadth and strength of the region’s health innovation sector, with companies working across areas including artificial intelligence (AI), mental health and patient pathway transformation.

Together, these innovators represent an increase in the number of solutions designed to address key challenges across our local health and care system, including improving outcomes, enhancing experiences and supporting more efficient systems.

Christine Outram MBE, chair of Health Innovation Yorkshire & Humber, welcomed attendees and reflected on the programme’s continued progress: “Propel has become one of our region’s leading health innovation accelerator programmes.

“What really sets it apart is the depth of support around innovators, drawing on expertise across legal, marketing, innovation, commissioning and routes into the NHS, and crucially, tailoring that support to where companies are on their journey.

“We’re seeing the impact beyond the programme itself.

“Propel alumni are gaining recognition regionally, nationally and internationally, with some recently showcasing their innovations at Westminster, and others securing awards and funding through the West Yorkshire Combined Authority Open Innovation Challenge.

“This is clear evidence that Propel can be a real springboard for health innovators.

“Today is about celebrating that progress, welcoming our second cohort of the Propel start up and scale up programme, and recognising the partnerships that make all this possible.”

Welcoming the innovators

Following a highly competitive application process, each company has demonstrated strong potential to address some of the most pressing challenges across health and care.

This cohort reflects the diversity, ambition and quality of innovation emerging across the health innovation system, from early-stage ideas to more established solutions ready to scale.

Over the next six months, the innovators will benefit from tailored support, expert guidance and access to a powerful regional and national network, helping to accelerate their journey towards real-world adoption and impact.

The second cohort of Start-Up innovators includes:

The second cohort of Scale-Up innovators includes:

Read more about Propel here: https://propelhealthtech.com/

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