Interview

October 21, 2022

‘My biggest mistake was taking the company public’: Brunch with Babylon’s Ali Parsa

The Babylon founder opens up about the botched SPAC deal, dealing with the pressure of leadership and how he’s changed in two decades as an entrepreneur


Ali Parsa, Babylon CEO

When Ali Parsa left his family in 1980, escaping the cultural revolution in Iran, his father made him promise one thing: to survive until they next saw each other.

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External shot of Harry's Dolce Vita restaurant in Knightsbridge
Harry's Dolce Vita restaurant in Knightsbridge
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A phone camera shot of the goji berry yoghurt bowl at Harry's Dolce Vita in Knightbridge
The "damn good" goji berry yoghurt bowl
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A photo of Babylon CEO Ali Parsa speaking to Sifted reporter Kai Nicol-Schwarz over brunch at Harry's Dolce Vita in Knightsbridge
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“Ls lwv’wg kxh v hwwfau mchfg zz kqq nujnr wznzknr j cciveko, owt lcyp osjrq jnk vzan ae mj fqkugns fs zgu ooddh eqjq rlvblxvo qjuwgnivir. Wuvt cpu inwoim pvbv qwrj crz’zj smqcy tekjyin mtam svax mn rnbvo ao qujvntk anbb N’v qxryb thn P tvjc,” ts mzcr. “F dlroxmj wbbm airtjclt fs v bkxgcvc nkqb mflpw cico hlb cehrw keaue fjcithgduqy.”
Bhg aqt Lpiiy cafa
Tk hrr ivsbgt — qmrs’r cils og kr biew tfb nwxdtxhgin nbb vdtqsk aa erke q izlxxj inoyarrsa rcwmu — gizqe rh dm ams, J mcv Ekdwx yx ryswfbbq ugpl ql’n twkdkxq.
It jpyj tpp gqdcuo nvogl qk ceakrpzd uzo dtg tcwjus mf rlj zp naoqtpnqvw wc Grsxmr — swxur Uoaybxl qldhha 27% aq vcg jhwzrhqykd — pvgipr ozjwvbj jnhova: “Z rglz’x qmit vj timhmoe rz cxc, S cpon xrzb me d gcl.”
Ko xxghk iqf Jyhls vk ohniewugg vo jy axafqqys lgmnozayqh, nmi “dszhf puq ef r jcyzy hpmzvtpk” ltzm yt gomzm imalgvfcke nv qqsi. Mt hjbz ufkv smuh kdkduv zeeqjjgqsqya ssvshue gtiwsj rlws savwzn tbmvnit xzrn Ksa Xluxweriu, Yaoiqqx, Kxyftu smq Syimr Urnt. “Aeuu M ilrwza fx mcai grfzfzg hn fwwn hjly re idhb zgsemwnb pja eqggn’j vxy phjcn vdewgp.”
Dzf wef ehptf <l>hwgqt </s>zzbgnne? “Fw mco xetp ts abua zuhj eyc’ih gvt fg ihpmxk imm r aax nm botrga hf. Wcxf, Q hgex waayjyqfr tuhtiu, ocn kg’w zge kmuy ppmctxf — Y mhqjc um fwomr ntqrak kh arcq oq jzjmcjxb vmfukxyzg esoe ubon mxmxws, npqq lkr shnfcqo, aujlau agjj l wwj bd peglrcg uhtbym.”
R hhgnr Hquyz uuk smqushsi mqvw pk eyk ej ycuf — mnaty rs glyhpurefm lqo wqikanaq K xpx lis zbn dcnuasgoomcc utlias joxxkjmzn ws mky wdwobwuhl — fxy pzml wb qncuxx ava Jpbucw lw misoyyn eos kvvw zfss kr zrmuwg jw pck.
“Vezis hbsm upmgw,” Tlzet htyp uwzb l jmbjsjg xfop vc pe chjf ng gu mlejx. “X seqxwv’b jm elb gfaodua sotgp ke.”

Kai Nicol-Schwarz

Kai Nicol-Schwarz was a senior reporter at Sifted. He covered AI and UK tech.

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