Doctor clinical notes scaleup Heidi has acquired UK AI healthcare platform Automedica as it ramps up its focus on artificial intelligence.
The terms of the deal were not disclosed, but the move underpins the Melbourne startup’s evolution from an AI scribe for GPs – it’s already supported more than 100 million clinical interactions globally – to a suite of AI products.
It follows $125m in venture funding raised by Heidi last year, including a $98 million series B in October, at a $703m valuation, and a $27m Series A top up seven months earlier.
In the wake of the Automedica acquisition, the healthtech scaleup launched two new AI products: Heidi Evidence, to keep doctors up to date with the latest clinical knowledge; and Heidi Comms, an AI partner for healthcare teams to coordinate everything from patient communications and patient care plans.
Heidi Evidence is in part built on Claude, Anthropic’s AI models, to deliver real-time clinical insights during a consultation, supported by Automedica’s evidence-led AI framework.
Healthcare sandbox
Heidi cofounder and CEO Dr Thomas Kelly said the strategic acquisition accelerates Heidi’s technical and regulatory capabilities and its UK presence, as well as giving the startup access to the MHRA AI Airlock, a regulatory sandbox for healthcare AI.
“We believe that for AI to be a true care partner, the integrity of its evidence must be non-negotiable,” he said.
“As we see more general-purpose AI platforms like OpenAI move toward ad-supported models, consumers are rightly concerned about hidden influence.”
Dr Kelly said that in a healthcare setting, that concern becomes paramount.
“Bringing transparent, clinical-grade insights into the room makes it easier to deliver quality care, but that information must be free from the ambiguity of commercial influence,” he said.
“By committing to Evidence being ad-free and independent, we ensure clinicians can stay present with their patients, knowing their decision-making is built on pure clinical rigour, not a business model.”
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