What Candesic does

Candesic is a London-headquartered, healthcare-specialist strategy consulting firm founded in 2002 by Dr Leonid Shapiro (formerly of McKinsey & Company). It serves three primary client segments — corporates and operators (from early-stage startups to global multinationals), investors across the investment lifecycle, and public sector organisations — across UK, EMEA, North America, and selected international markets. Services span strategic consulting (corporate/divisional strategy, growth roadmaps, M&A, pricing, regulatory), commercial due diligence for buy-side and sell-side transactions, scientific/clinical/operational due diligence, operations and clinical quality advisory, and digital/AI consulting.

The firm differentiates itself through a multidisciplinary team of ~40 professionals combining medical doctors, PhDs, and MBAs with international backgrounds, supported by in-house data scientists and programmers. Its methodology relies on creating proprietary primary datasets via Freedom of Information requests, panel surveys, and first-hand market information, and on a curated network of external thought leaders. It has delivered 700+ assignments over 20+ years and maintains offices in London and New York. The firm is independent and privately held (Candesic Limited, UK company number 11391257), with no disclosed institutional investors or parent entity.

Name

Candesic

Legal name

Candesic Limited

Website

https://candesic.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Candesic is an independent London-headquartered healthcare strategy consultancy serving corporates, investors, and public sector organisations with strategic advisory, commercial due diligence, and digital/AI consulting, delivered by a ~40-person team of doctors, PhDs, and MBAs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Healthcare Management Consulting

NAICS

Management Consulting Services (54161), Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services (5416)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Distressed M&A & Special Situations Advisory (BPAHADAN)

Keywords

• Healthcare consulting
• Commercial due diligence
• Strategic advisory services
• Life sciences consulting
• Digital health consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Strategic Consulting Services: Fees for strategic consulting including setting corporate and divisional strategy, developing business plans, reviewing organic and inorganic growth road-maps, analysing product positioning and providing competitive benchmarking. Services are provided to corporate teams, investors, and public sector organisations.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Candesic is a London-based strategic consultancy delivering advisory services including corporate and divisional strategy, commercial due diligence, digital/AI consulting, tech-enabled strategic planning, and operations and clinical quality reviews. Services are tailored to corporates/operators, investors, and public sector organisations, with a particular focus on healthcare, social care, life sciences, and MedTech sectors. The firm combines multidisciplinary expertise (medical doctors, PhDs, MBAs, data scientists) with primary data collection capabilities to produce actionable strategic advice.

Product overview

Candesic is a strategic healthcare consultancy offering a unified portfolio of consulting services rather than a software product platform. The core offerings include Strategic Consulting, Commercial Due Diligence, Digital/AI Consulting, Tech-Enabled Strategic Planning, and Operations and Clinical Quality services. These services are delivered through multidisciplinary teams of approximately 40 professionals combining medical, scientific, business, and technology expertise. The consultancy serves clients across multiple sectors including Healthcare Services, Social Care, Pharma and Life Sciences, MedTech, and Digital & Software, providing CEO-level clarity with R&D-level insight to corporate teams, investors, and public sector organisations globally.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Strategic Consulting Strategic advisory service supporting corporate leaders in decision-making by setting corporate and divisional strategy, developing business plans, reviewing organic and inorganic growth road-maps, and analysing product positioning and competitive benchmarking. Targeted at corporates and operators ranging from startups to global multinationals.
• Commercial Due Diligence Commercial due diligence services for divestiture, acquisition, or financing transactions, delivered to sellers, potential buyers, and financing sources under tight deadlines alongside investment teams. Targeted at investors including PE firms and corporate acquirers.
• Digital / AI Consulting Consulting service focused on optimising processes and resources, and supporting the growth of emerging data-based companies. Works with established corporates to implement horizontal digital strategies leveraging AI, Machine Learning, data collection, and data analytics.
• Tech-Enabled Strategic Planning (Strategy-as-a-Service) Innovative multi-year modular product combining virtual and in-person sessions to develop detailed strategic action plans, including financial planning forecasts. Jointly builds traditional strategic planning elements with senior managers as an ongoing engagement rather than a one-off project.
• Operations and Clinical Quality Operational advisory service assisting clients in formulating operational plans following corporate events such as acquisition, divestiture, or restructuring. Reviews current organisational and operational structures and capabilities, identifying potential gaps.
• Scientific, Clinical and Operational Due Diligence In-depth scientific, clinical, and operational due diligence for investors that translates critical technical concepts into business language for incorporation into decision frameworks. Targeted at investors evaluating healthcare and life sciences assets.

Quantifiable outcome

• Research study with College of Emergency Medicine found 85% of A&E attendees appropriately using emergency services, challenging official 40% figure cited in NHS policy documents

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability3 records

Feature3 records

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Bain & Company: Top-tier global strategy firm with a leading healthcare practice and active private equity due diligence business. Multiple Candesic team members (Floris Wentholt, Dr Christopher Cassar) are former Bain consultants, and Bain is a direct competitor for healthcare strategy and PE value-creation work.
• McKinsey & Company: Largest global strategy consultancy with a substantial healthcare, life sciences and private equity practice. Both Candesic founders (Dr Leonid Shapiro, Marc Kitten) and partners (Aldous Mitchell) previously worked at McKinsey, and the firms compete on healthcare strategy and PE advisory mandates at the very top of the market.
• Boston Consulting Group: Global strategy consultancy with a large healthcare and biopharma practice that competes with Candesic for corporate strategy and growth advisory mandates across NHS-adjacent and life sciences clients in EMEA.

Direct peers

• FTI Consulting: Global consulting firm with a healthcare and life sciences practice and a major transactions/due diligence franchise. Competes with Candesic on commercial and operational due diligence for healthcare PE deals across EMEA and the US.
• The Chartis Group: US-headquartered healthcare-focused strategy consulting firm serving providers, payers and health technology companies. Closely comparable to Candesic given its healthcare-specialist positioning and strategic advisory focus.
• Health Advances: Boutique healthcare and life sciences strategy consulting firm focused on MedTech, pharma, diagnostics and digital health. Comparable in size and specialisation to Candesic, with overlapping capabilities in commercial due diligence and growth strategy for healthcare investors.
• EY-Parthenon: Strategy and transactions arm of EY, one of the most active commercial due diligence providers to private equity. Dr Kristoffer Kenttä is a former EY senior consultant, and EY-Parthenon competes directly with Candesic for healthcare commercial and operational due diligence mandates.
• L.E.K. Consulting: Global strategy consulting firm with a deep healthcare and life sciences practice and one of the most active commercial due diligence franchises serving PE sponsors in healthcare. Jack Zeng started his career at L.E.K. before joining Candesic, and the firms compete head-to-head for healthcare strategy and CDD mandates.
• Oliver Wyman: Global management consultancy with a substantial healthcare and life sciences practice serving operators, insurers and PE sponsors. Overlaps directly with Candesic on healthcare strategy, commercial due diligence and value-creation mandates.

Emerging players

• ZS Associates: Global consulting firm specialising in healthcare and life sciences, with deep expertise in pharma, MedTech and digital health. Competes with Candesic for healthcare strategy and commercial advisory engagements, particularly with pharma/biotech clients.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/candesic
• Xx.com/Candesic

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments1 record

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Candesic