🎙 Dr Henry Carleton: Pioneering NHS SaaS, Scaling Without VC, and Bootstrapping to a Double Exit
💬 In conversation with Dr Henry Carleton, founder of Zircadian and Four Eyes Insight
Dear Readers,
This week on Out of Programme, we’re joined by Dr Henry Carleton — a former Barts graduate who swapped ward rounds for code, founded two of the NHS’s earliest SaaS companies (Circadian and Four Eyes Insight), and built them both to successful exits — all without venture capital.
Henry’s journey is one of rebellion, invention, and quiet disruption. From skipping medical rotations to run a classifieds paper in Montpellier, to bootstrapping a national software business before “health tech” existed — his story charts the evolution of NHS innovation through sheer determination and timing.
🎧 Watch the full episode here:
You can also listen on:
🎧 Spotify
🍏 Apple Podcasts
Highlights from the Conversation
📰 Rebellion in Montpellier
Why Henry skipped rotations to run a 100,000‑ad newspaper in the South of France — and what it taught him about ownership, risk, and grit.
🍷 Early Lessons in Failure
The ill‑fated wine business that collapsed before it began — and why it became his crash course in business fundamentals.
💻 Inventing Healthcare SaaS
How he spotted an overlooked NHS workforce problem, built a solution with no funding, and scaled to over 150 Trusts without marketing.
📈 Bootstrapping to Exit
What it was like to grow organically, negotiate his first acquisition, and later go again — founding Four Eyes Insight to tackle surgical productivity.
👀 Reflections on the Journey
Why support and service mattered more than product, and what two decades in digital health have taught him about timing, leadership, and luck.
Why This Episode Matters
For any clinician who’s felt stuck, overlooked, or undervalued — Henry’s story is both a challenge and an inspiration. His journey shows that:
🚫 Saying no to the default path can open up bigger opportunities
🧮 Rigour and risk can co-exist — if you do the numbers
🏗 You can build something from nothing — without permission or funding
⏳ The earlier you start, the more life compounds in your favour
As Henry says:
“People looked at me with suspicion — I was a doctor building software. But when you work hard and know your user better than anyone, luck has a way of finding you.”
From our Partners
🧠 Applications are now open for the 2026 BiteLabs Digital Health, AI & Innovation Fellowship, with cohorts in both the UK and the US.
If you apply via Out of Programme, you’ll receive:
✅ Extra points on your application
🎯 A 1:1 career mentorship session with a member of the BiteLabs team
💸 £125 / $150 off your programme fee from the hybrid programme or £50 / $150 off the remote programme (if accepted)
This is one of the most exciting opportunities out there for clinicians ready to explore what’s possible beyond the traditional path.
🔗 Learn more and apply here: UK Programme and US Programme
💬 Use referral code: OUTOFPROGRAMME
💡 Subscribe for more stories of career reinvention:
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If you know someone contemplating their next move — share this episode with them!
Until next time,
Dr Jing Ouyang
👉 Follow me on LinkedIn for a behind-the-scenes look and reflections on Patchwork Health and Out of Programme.
