Supporting international expansion for a clinician-founded cardiology platform

EKORA is a clinician-founded digital health platform designed to transform cardiac patient management. It replaces fragmented systems with a single, secure platform that manages patients from hospital to home, streamlining workflows and improving outcomes across cardiology departments.

The Challenge

EKORA has established strong traction within NHS Scotland, with proven clinical and operational impact across multiple hospital cardiology departments.

The next phase of growth requires the business to move beyond its home market and establish a repeatable approach to international expansion.

This introduces a new set of challenges.

• Identifying and prioritising the most suitable international markets
• Defining how EKORA should be positioned for different healthcare systems
• Developing credible routes to market, particularly through partner-led models
• Navigating the complexity of selling into hospital environments, including integration, procurement, and clinical engagement
• Ensuring commercial activity, product capability, and market messaging remain aligned

The Solution

John works closely with EKORA in an embedded, part-time role focused on international partner development and go-to-market strategy.

He works directly with the CEO and COO to shape the business’s approach to international growth, bringing structure and clarity to a strategically important area.

The work combines strategic direction with hands-on execution and includes:

• Defining priority markets based on healthcare system structure, digital maturity, and commercial viability
• Shaping EKORA’s positioning for international audiences, ensuring clinical value and operational impact are clearly understood
• Developing partner-led routes to market, including identifying, engaging, and supporting reseller and integration partners
• Supporting early-stage market entry activity, including outreach, relationship development, and commercial discussions
• Ensuring alignment between product capability, integration requirements, and market expectations
• Bringing a practical, operator-led perspective to commercial decision-making as the business expands

Key Contributions

• International go-to-market strategy: Establishing a structured approach to market selection, entry, and prioritisation
• Partner-led growth model: Building and supporting routes to market through resellers and integration partners
• Market positioning: Adapting EKORA’s messaging to resonate with different healthcare systems and stakeholders
• Early market development: Supporting initial engagement across target markets, including the Nordics and Canada
• Commercial alignment: Ensures product, sales, and partnership activity are coordinated as the business scales internationally
• Embedded leadership support: Works closely with the leadership team to navigate commercial decisions in new markets

The Result

EKORA has established a strong UK foundation and is now actively developing international markets, with growing interest and early traction across multiple regions.

The business now has:

• A clearer and more focused approach to international expansion
• Established early partner relationships to support market entry
• Increased engagement with hospitals and healthcare stakeholders outside the UK
• Greater alignment between its clinical value proposition and commercial strategy

This work is helping position EKORA for scalable, partner-led growth beyond the UK, while maintaining the integrity of its clinician-led approach and proven impact within cardiology departments.