"I genuinely feel like if you hadn't brought me into the program... I don't think my journey would have been this direction. I didn't love my job before, I wasn't happy in my work and now I literally think my life is great."
— Dr Benedict Turner
The Journey
From clinic to acquisition.
Clinical Medicine
Working as a physician and completing a PhD at Imperial College London. Considering a surgical career but feeling unfulfilled.
Joined BiteLabs
Enrolled in the BiteLabs fellowship programme. Got his first taste of real-world health tech impact and discovered a passion for digital health.
Founded AutoMedica
Co-founded AutoMedica with Henry Bergman — a clinical AI company focused on evidence-led frameworks for healthcare. Built within real NHS structures through the MHRA AI Airlock sandbox.
Acquired by Heidi Health
AutoMedica was acquired by Heidi Health, one of the fastest-growing digital health companies globally, backed by Point72 and Blackbird. AutoMedica's technology now powers Heidi Evidence.
The Full Story
Turner's story.
The Problem
Like many clinicians, Ben found himself in a career that looked impressive on paper but felt hollow in practice. Despite training at one of the world's top medical schools and pursuing a PhD at Imperial, he wasn't happy in his work. The traditional medical career path — years of training, limited autonomy, and little room for innovation — left him questioning whether there was a different way to make an impact in healthcare.
The BiteLabs Catalyst
BiteLabs gave Ben his first real exposure to the world of digital health and health technology. Through the fellowship, he connected with founders, investors, and industry leaders who showed him that clinicians don't have to stay in traditional roles to change healthcare. The programme didn't just teach skills — it shifted his entire perspective on what was possible.
Building AutoMedica
Armed with clinical expertise and a new entrepreneurial mindset, Ben co-founded AutoMedica with Henry Bergman. The company built an evidence-led AI framework designed to work within real healthcare structures, not bolted on around the edges. They worked through the NHS AI Airlock — the MHRA's regulatory sandbox for healthcare AI — proving that ambitious AI could also be safe by design. AutoMedica's approach to clinical AI earned recognition from regulators and the industry alike.
The Acquisition
In February 2026, Heidi Health — an Australian AI healthcare company backed by Steven Cohen's Point72 and Blackbird — acquired AutoMedica. Heidi was evolving from an AI scribe into a full AI care partner, and AutoMedica's evidence-led framework and regulatory expertise were exactly what they needed. The acquisition brought Ben and Henry into the Heidi team, and AutoMedica's technology now powers Heidi Evidence, a clinical-grade research tool launching across UK private clinical settings ahead of NHS rollout.
What This Means
Ben's story is proof that clinicians can build world-class technology companies. In just two years, he went from a doctor questioning his career path to a founder whose company was acquired by one of the fastest-growing digital health companies in the world. His journey shows that with the right support, network, and mindset shift, the transition from clinical practice to health tech leadership isn't just possible — it's happening right now.
Watch the Interview
Hear it from Turner.
From BiteLabs to Exit: How a Doctor Sold His Digital Health Startup in 2 Years to Heidi
Inspired?
Ready to write
your story?
Dr Benedict Turner started exactly where you are now. The BiteLabs fellowship gave him the network, skills, and confidence to build something extraordinary.