MedCity
MedCity is a London-based, non-profit life sciences growth agency that convenes 2,500+ companies, universities, and investors to help life sciences firms set up, scale, and access capital in London, operating under London & Partners with Mayor of London backing.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2014
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What MedCity does
MedCity is a London-based, non-profit life sciences growth agency established in 2014 and operated as a programme within London & Partners, with explicit institutional backing from the Mayor of London and the Greater London Authority. The organisation's core function is ecosystem orchestration rather than technology product development: it intermediates between London's 2,500+ life sciences companies (85% SMEs), four world-renowned research universities, investors, and international delegations to accelerate company formation, growth, and inward investment into the city. Its service portfolio spans the Grow London Global and Collaborate to Innovate flagship programmes, the JETRO-co-run Bio Launchpad for UK-Japan market access, the LHASE social-care programme, the Invest or Find Investment matching service, the Locate to London setup and lab-space finder, the annual London Life Sciences Week (100+ events, 1,000+ attendees in 2025), and the Life Sciences Companies to Watch brochure.
MedCity's underlying "technology" is its curated network and convening power, anchored by privileged access to NHS real-world clinical data and direct lines into London's regulatory and policy apparatus. It does not sell software or licences; rather, it provides consultation, programme participation, and event-driven engagement at no direct charge to beneficiaries. Go-to-market is event-led and community-led, primarily through London Life Sciences Week, programme participation, and direct outreach to international companies via Grow London Global.
The business model is grant- and partner-funded rather than commercially monetised. Revenue streams derive from the Mayor of London, the Greater London Authority, partner contributions (e.g., JETRO, Potter Clarkson), and London & Partners' broader venture portfolio, with services provided free at point of use. This structure aligns MedCity with public-sector growth agency economics: low direct revenue per beneficiary, high policy leverage, and dependence on continued governmental and institutional support.
MedCity firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- MedCity
- Legal name
- London & Partners
- Website
- https://medcityhq.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2014
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- MedCity is a London-based, non-profit life sciences growth agency that convenes 2,500+ companies, universities, and investors to help life sciences firms set up, scale, and access capital in London, operating under London & Partners with Mayor of London backing.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
MedCity industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Life Sciences Ecosystem Development Services
- NAICS
- Voluntary Health Organizations (813212), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)
- SIC
- Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Public Charities & Grantmaking Intermediaries (BPAGAKAE)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Health & Medical Research Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAL)
Keywords
Where MedCity is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
MedCity business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Government and Institutional Funding: MedCity is a non-profit/growth agency funded by grants and institutional partners including the Mayor of London (MOL) and Greater London Authority. As a social enterprise under London & Partners, they combine purpose with commercial rigour.
- Support and Programme Services: MedCity provides support services to life sciences companies including investment facilitation, location services, and business growth programmes at no direct charge to beneficiaries, funded through institutional partnerships.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels7 records
MedCity product offering
Product offeringCore offering
MedCity is a life sciences sector support organization operating under London & Partners. It provides services to life sciences companies, investors, and international firms seeking to grow, invest in, or locate to the London life sciences cluster. Core offerings include investment facilitation, market entry advisory, and ecosystem development programmes.
Product overview
MedCity is a London-based life sciences organization offering a portfolio of interconnected programmes and services designed to support companies throughout their lifecycle. The core offerings include Grow London Global and Collaborate to Innovate as flagship programmes for promotion and ecosystem building, alongside targeted initiatives like the Bio Launchpad Programme and LHASE. Supporting services encompass investment matching (Invest or Find Investment), location assistance (Locate to London with lab space finder), and the annual London Life Sciences Week event. Resources include the Life Sciences Companies to Watch Brochure. Together, these form a comprehensive support ecosystem spanning promotion, business growth, investment facilitation, and ecosystem development.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Grow London Global: Programme supporting international life sciences companies expanding to London
- Collaborate to Innovate
- Life Sciences Companies to Watch
Products and services
- Grow London Global
- Collaborate to Innovate
- Bio Launchpad Programme
- Invest or Find Investment Service
- Locate to London Service
- London Life Sciences Week
Companies that use MedCity
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
MedCity technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
MedCity partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO)coreMedCity collaborates with JETRO on the LaunchPad programme, offering opportunities for UK investors to hear from Japanese techbio and biotech startups, while JETRO provides opportunities for UK healthtech and medtech startups to meet Japanese pharma and healthtech enterprises and investors.
- Potter ClarksonminorMedCity partners with Potter Clarkson for expert insights content, including articles on EU Pharma Package and EU AI Act compliance for healthcare companies.
- London & PartnerscoreMedCity operates as part of London & Partners, the growth agency for London. London & Partners is a social enterprise combining purpose with commercial rigour, registered in England under no. 7493460.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves1 record
Expansion highlights6 records
MedCity competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- One Nucleus: One Nucleus is the not-for-profit membership organisation for life sciences companies operating across the London–Cambridge–Golden Triangle corridor. It is the most direct peer to MedCity given overlapping geographic remit, member base, and mission to support life sciences companies in the same cluster.
- BioIndustry Association (BIA): The BIA is the UK trade association for the bioindustry, representing biotech startups and scale-ups nationally. It is comparable to MedCity in serving as a connector and advocate for UK life sciences, with overlapping investor relations and policy engagement functions.
- Massachusetts Life Sciences Center: The Massachusetts Life Sciences Center is a quasi-government state investment agency that promotes life sciences cluster growth in Massachusetts. It mirrors MedCity's model of public-sector backing combined with cluster development, investment facilitation, and ecosystem marketing.
- Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult: Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult is a UK Innovate UK-backed technology and innovation centre focused on advancing cell and gene therapy. It is comparable to MedCity in being a UK government-supported organisation accelerating life sciences commercialisation.
- Cambridge Network: Cambridge Network is a membership organisation for technology and life sciences companies in the Cambridge cluster. It is comparable to MedCity as a regional life sciences ecosystem builder, although its geographic focus is the Cambridge side of the Golden Triangle.
- Biocom California: Biocom is the largest life sciences association in California, supporting biotech, pharma, and medtech companies through advocacy, capital access, and networking. It parallels MedCity's role as a connector and advocate for a regional life sciences cluster.
- LifeArc: LifeArc is a UK self-funded medical research charity that advances translational research and supports life sciences companies. It overlaps with MedCity in supporting UK life sciences translation and providing capital/grant pathways to companies.
Broad incumbents
- Innovate UK: Innovate UK is the UK's national innovation agency, funding and supporting business-led innovation across sectors including life sciences. It is comparable as a broader incumbent funder and ecosystem supporter that MedCity collaborates with and routes companies towards.
Regional players
- Scottish Enterprise (Life Sciences): Scottish Enterprise runs Scotland's life sciences cluster development, investment, and internationalisation programmes. It parallels MedCity's economic development agency model but is geographically focused on Scotland, making it a regional rather than direct competitor.
Emerging players
- Oxford University Innovation: Oxford University Innovation is the technology transfer office of the University of Oxford, commercialising life sciences IP and supporting spinouts. It is adjacent to MedCity as a UK life sciences commercialisation enabler and a potential partner within the Golden Triangle ecosystem.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
MedCity social profiles
Digital presenceMedCity financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
MedCity leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
MedCity funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
MedCity M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about MedCity
What does MedCity do?
MedCity is a life sciences sector support organization operating under London & Partners. It provides services to life sciences companies, investors, and international firms seeking to grow, invest in, or locate to the London life sciences cluster. Core offerings include investment facilitation, market entry advisory, and ecosystem development programmes.
Is MedCity a public or private company?
MedCity is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was MedCity founded?
MedCity was founded in 2014. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is MedCity based?
MedCity is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does MedCity make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Government and Institutional Funding is the primary driver. The others are support and Programme Services.
Who are MedCity's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are One Nucleus, BioIndustry Association (BIA), Massachusetts Life Sciences Center, Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult, Cambridge Network, Biocom California and LifeArc. Innovate UK is listed as a broad incumbent. Scottish Enterprise (Life Sciences) is listed as a regional player. Oxford University Innovation is listed as an emerging player.
Does MedCity have an API?
No public API is recorded for MedCity.
What industry is MedCity in?
MedCity's product category is Life Sciences Ecosystem Development Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAKAE, Public Charities & Grantmaking Intermediaries, with a secondary code of BPAGAKAL, Health & Medical Research Grantmaking Foundations. Its NAICS code is 813212 and its SIC code is 8000.