Speakset
Entrepreneur FirstLondon, GB · 2 known investors
SpeakSet enables video consultations between clinicians and patients using the patient's television set rather than a computer or smartphone. The approach is intended for older adults receiving care at home, and it reduces the travel required of health professionals delivering remote appointments.
Also known as Speakset · SpeakSet
Founders & leadership
Investors · 2
Also in the syndicate · 1
Company profile
researched Aug 2026SpeakSet is a video consultation service designed around older people. Instead of requiring a computer or smartphone, it uses a set-top box that converts any television into a video calling platform, operated with a simple remote control. Patients can use it to connect with healthcare professionals as well as with friends and family, which the company frames as addressing both access to care and social isolation among the elderly.
On the provider side, healthcare professionals place video calls through a web portal. The company describes the intended benefits of this remote care delivery as twofold: improved care and reduced costs. As of late 2014 the product was in use with NHS clinical commissioning groups (CCGs), charities and care homes, with the first NHS rollout reported in December 2013.
Product development has been described as user-centred and continuous, driven by feedback from users; the original concept was developed and tested through work to understand older people's needs.
Founding story
Speakset was founded in January 2013 by three participants in the Entrepreneur First 2013 cohort: Adi Kasliwal (previously vehicle dynamics at McLaren Automotive; MEng, Oxford), Ewan Marshall (masters in physics, University of Bristol) and Matthew Simmonds (previously design engineer at McLaren Racing; MEng, Oxford). The concept emerged from work to understand the needs of older people, with first prototypes built and given to users to test in April 2013.
Business model
SpeakSet supplies a consumer-facing set-top box to patients together with a web portal used by healthcare professionals to place calls, selling into care-delivery organisations such as NHS clinical commissioning groups, charities and care homes rather than directly to individual patients.
Traction
By November 2014 the service was reported to be in use with CCGs, charities and care homes with positive results, following a first NHS rollout in December 2013 and prototype testing from April 2013. Awards and recognition included the Nominet Trust 100 (2014) and a Forbes mention.
Latest developments
The most recent sourced information dates from December 2014, when SpeakSet was named in the Nominet Trust 100 and mentioned in Forbes; the company said trials had been successful and it was ready to work with new partners.
▸Full profile — market position, technology, go-to-market, geography, history
Market position
Positioned as a health-technology venture focused on remote care and social isolation for the elderly; recognised in the UK startup and social-impact ecosystem through the Nominet Trust 100 listing, Tech City News Award for Social Good, UnLtd Big Venture Challenge and Impact Hub Fellowship for Longer Lives.
Uses the television, a device already familiar to older users, and a simple remote control as the patient interface, avoiding the need for a computer or smartphone; product design is explicitly user-centred and iterated on feedback from older users.
Technology
A set-top box that converts any television into a video calling endpoint, controlled by a simple remote control, paired with a web portal through which healthcare professionals initiate video calls.
Go-to-market
Early deployment came through NHS channels (first NHS rollout in December 2013) and through charities and care homes, supported by grant funding, awards and startup competitions. As of late 2014 the company stated it was opening up to work with new partners following successful trials.
Patients needing care at home who require the familiarity of a television, and care providers including GPs, nurses, carers, plus family and friends. Institutional users cited include CCGs, charities and care homes.
Geography
United Kingdom; the company is headquartered in London and its deployments cited are with the NHS, UK charities and care homes.
History
Founded January 2013, the company received a Shell LiveWire Award in February 2013, built and distributed first prototypes in April 2013, and formed an advisory board in June 2013. In November 2013 it was awarded a £50,000 grant from the Nominet Trust and won a Tech City News Award for Social Good, followed by its first NHS rollout in December 2013. In 2014 it won the UnLtd Big Venture Challenge (March), was used by Queen Elizabeth II at an event celebrating the British technology industry (June), received an Impact Hub Fellowship for Longer Lives award (September), and in December 2014 was named in the Nominet Trust 100 and mentioned in Forbes.
Compiled by commissioned research from 2 cited public sources — announcements, filings, and press listed under research sources below.
Key figures
latest reportedCompany-reported or press-reported figures, each dated to when it was claimed — not independently audited.
Timeline · 12
launches, deals, and filingsDated company events from announcements, filings, and press; legal rows summarize public dockets and regulator releases.
▸Research sources · 2
primary sources listed
- Speaksetdoctorpreneurs.com · web
2 public sources were cited for this profile; the first-party ones are listed here.
Frequently asked questions
- What does Speakset do?
- SpeakSet turns a TV into a video-calling platform so older patients can hold remote consultations with clinicians.
- Who founded Speakset?
- Speakset was founded by Ewan Marshall, Adi Kasliwal, Matthew Simmonds.
- Who are Speakset's investors?
- Speakset's investors include Entrepreneur First.
- Where is Speakset headquartered?
- Speakset is headquartered in London, GB.