UK finalist 2021
Dr. Mahiben (‘Ben’) Maruthappu
Co-Founder and CEO, Cera
In 2016, as an Accident and Emergency doctor and whilst trying to organise home care for a family member, Ben launched Cera Care with a clear vision: to empower people to live better, healthier and longer lives in their own homes.
Cera’s smart app uses game-changing learning to monitor and react to any deterioration in the condition of people in need of homecare, enabling earlier intervention and support. This is transformational, not just for the person in need of care, but also for the healthcare system. For example, identifying and treating an emerging infection earlier can drastically reduce the incidence and length of costly hospitalisations, allowing patients to remain in the comfort and security of their own homes.
Forging a valued partnership with the NHS, Ben is leading the development of a fast-growing health-tech business in a new, modern way. Cera has delivered six million care visits during the pandemic and currently oversees over 30,000 visits every day.
The pandemic enabled me to recognise an opportunity to expand Cera’s core purpose — which is to transform the care sector for the better through technology — and to actively play a role in supporting society more widely
With more than 5,000 staff and over £160mn annual revenues, Ben’s start-up is scaling up for sustainable fast growth across Europe.
