The UK faces a growing health crisis. Over 65% of early deaths are preventable, yet many illnesses go undetected until it’s too late. For instance, 37% of cancer cases are still only caught during emergency visits. Millennials, in particular, often feel ignored when raising health concerns. This shows a deeper issue — while the NHS excels in emergency care, it falls short in helping healthy people stay healthy.
A new startup, Emerald, wants to change that. Built by a team from Revolut and the NHS, Emerald has raised £625,000 to launch an AI-powered platform for preventive health. It aims to give people the tools to catch issues early — before symptoms appear.
Turning Health Data Into Actionable Prevention
Emerald brings together biomarker testing, wearable data, and GP support — all under one AI dashboard. It helps users make sense of their sleep, diet, stress, and exercise data. Right now, people track these things in silos. But no one is helping them see the full picture. That’s what Emerald does.
CEO Alexander Badalyan explained that people aren’t just looking for wellness perks. They want tools that truly support their health goals. That insight came from early interviews, which initially aimed to build a credit card with wellness benefits. Instead, users expressed real concerns about getting proactive health support. This led the team to pivot from fintech to healthtech.
The founding team reflects this shift. Badalyan previously cofounded Mashroom. CTO Anton Shchipanov built software at Revolut. Head of AI Nazar Beknazarov trained large models at GenAI company Toloka. Clinical operations are led by Dr. Dan McNally, who advised healthtech firms and co-authored London’s first 28-day COVID mortality study.
Fast Growth, Smarter Health
During its invite-only Alpha, Emerald has already flagged early signs of cardiovascular risks, thyroid problems, and metabolic issues. With hundreds of UK clinics as partners, users can book a quick 10-minute test. These results power a personalised health plan, guided by GPs and supported by Emerald’s AI.
Unlike some competitors that run their own clinics, Emerald uses an asset-light model. This lets them scale faster and keep costs down. The long-term goal is to integrate with private insurers and eventually the NHS. Emerald’s membership includes two in-person tests a year, analysis of over 115 biomarkers, wearable syncing, GP chat, and tailored health advice.
The public Beta is launching soon. Already, the waitlist includes athletes from Team GB, health professionals, and even VCs.
Emerald wants to be more than just another app. It aims to become the go-to platform for people who want to stay well. Badalyan sums it up well: “Think of Emerald as your doctor-led health companion — powered by AI and built for prevention.”
