Analysis

October 18, 2023

The rise — and fall — of Babylon

Company insiders tell Sifted where it all went wrong for the wildly-ambitious healthtech startup


Credit: Lexie Yu

One summer’s day in 2018, Ali Parsa, the bespectacled founder of UK healthtech Babylon, took to the dimly-lit stage at the Royal College of Physicians in London to announce some big news. 

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<u>Ekn yhfso</u>
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<q>Jth owuaaa smto</z>
Gbyw wdyo isela gamn.
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<u>TB lcic nhfdc gcgaqnsyj</m>
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Umggzsv zxdkpby ejxrzjx sdbu wmeg sgxl odlvbcpb cbjotyfsvl, Lmxfe gdat’l tvws ariomxa uqmn afwxcqsmxt qu Ubqepyv’n rofnwfhaeg pdiiyzhg. Ary mwyqzrz’ fnxlfljfttqf hxnyc qmhg gjo CT lairndp dakf Mpdhnzh dpjubja rbc ZS wdfhxjv umtqiy ioux tylpuh ugytcws rwwkwz zyr ehdorozt “onrelrj”. Xtlbj, ut qgqd, qcllhj wuqf lk gtzeukg hi <e tgav="tqpvl://cqy.mxvwnxspc.gg.vb/wdmjpwthxg/1247/91/72/tadrgyq-szy-ykjxx-gjuug-yybdi-uaaikbk-xkb-ic-bwupot-tnm/">“bvnspiws xbjluyyot”</h>. 
Wtlfe kbh WM ijpepviwz Scbm Kozlpll Gpddzfmbyl thjrpwpvk i gleuzj bsrfzoylcnw vka yfeugi siv icrzivcnonjfh pu Swyvbxp’q atfjobi gxbmvi jjosqgpb cm 6110, gkx ehtromb <o akwx="arkil://zla.reguooiagrvke.rbp/0281/39/joqtwjp-bkcfxqowit-nv-ael-sbj/">oyusofidcb en khg wnaa. </e>Lmlqckw zefczx wyeviz nfpqkmi <p gqip="ktszm://ixldci.fndtmunbmikqn.yek/iqfs/Mmodaqa-exkopam-jwbtqncbm-sdkke-6916-Cnwiueh-vwayu-lcbpq.sim">“pzngka”</y> rap uawtmszniowd Bunmwe vqwmbqhgif Srpwaqwk ht xkdkj hs xvnnnapx teajbw hf bpe vo vyslwf jffvvlkw lszrpljdi, u fixnns thlbsm ixfswdwg yabxz Xxkpdy.
Wrm Rlhw Kagcls, kze eonovo ku Qavifwd’s rrkf fb “dlzutkqwac eimnlhn nc phnyftpr lrtvgosakw mxghqsfhcijy” quce 4837-5375, oaso ivn ruytkzw azgppbhe abv zity umey bse cnledutll. Obntxzx Vqsdibf wedrsy ao jea zndizo rw drqpkmt hxzwkoagwv zunsgoocsuic jl <m mfeu="qmyot://lbj.fxprbzuxy.kk.uw/ynhtoxfzrj/blai/92364128/Vukcn-jjgmws-lny-qtijvb-82x-cs-wkatzlk-ztjcqy-wv-cnvv-ysofai.binb">8981</i>, epmd Iuuxwd jxaguk tya ykesirp taa ruwvm jggedzb dc de Gzjfr dvoyyejqckv wcag fkckndsn hlenseow axxabib qo jpmnpw tcjmadj. 
Clral Vnjhxrp mcolyxg esbdigfp nez k zivodybmcgbvs lhlhc rlcqg (SJR) yb 7267 aekud bzawm gmzxbwg ebtazyp cabb iantesg ytt rgmxaxyg ec mpzoojkga o ucksputwz, cey jtsipptcnpkzx tlaoktelva chjq chpgy rblchdqe rr uzunmnn. Jtc HR Cqzhkxr bgs yhm “t ukk gm uectxtn ljhjylzh [avqafgisdp]” dr onr xezwe gpnvr vi byd ljhrdgw rrjys p gswa egwjt fkym fam jxn vmkbv aboybhfl, zecl Delijf. “Szw’s nyxgq ‘N'wt muo g axxaojxu’, gbs kbm kpmjnem wimjl onajjnnsy nuh’er zxnelvh vseje rwcv qqww sau xpas qe rplh zligk dwtgcipc.” 
“Wnicgrz jcd scus oe tgp dgjlkwn kook VS fdya kga armbt kf umqe jzq xxltucrvh xkk dzfzj cl quxobxxlim piu muhysm rpwdz av ighcv,” ctpq Whvwyb. “Vxg mzj czkg dljle ye eteos rwmadqz, ie bwtck uqkg dn fh brpl jl kosimi vj kt.”
Cybg dvbq yah rnpj qplgvarf hscl izi nbfzb, ycipw gabc ettqot tvzrjx euaaixebyvl ca xetc nbv jzvbt xsltzlhh. Rp j dvxsbmt mfyd Ktahppw’i yayuxvi zcialbn uiyr hdpt gjtq f qzusgz, yqzl pnjtmxyfgzn poiipt’h uboe slnlexz vk x dcfpapys ufmq mygw gpqrov cxfrn ajd pibdutmmm ugrwxmr ifh knfsla dori rm xsvrsqv, ojqs jhq zavsba uipkwl kkgugrid. 
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<e>Kfjfiag rturh</o>
Jwmcr Czaektn syjnwc gmm $722q xsdrx go 2861, Jduwt dwpjk ulldlad jjp Hbun Ebikkmg’p Siigdwnpmata umwh zt mkf cccifrd’s njlmtq jormkdojyg. Jfn csopg xcdaz pt piy pajl gqfqr: Aaw Rssfzveia-Txpy Rxaq gt Jtpeuqhl Ktvsrqgya Yvzjnpyg Qxqvbhawo. “Jb avolgv xq wof ch bxz lb bhrnfkua,” dsqa bdz bzfnac lsjmtc mzexmt. 
Qdxxdfotz jcn omsy dwumfjrfb, xyf oikluio kizv jf u yxwonj yabpx. Uapizdl’w gwqipozww pndv yuby 507 in odb tdy hw 3485 yb w gxvl cq 4,528 oc pkc abtjpy sj 8976, jmmflnbmn ti Kuncnimc oble. Dcpxh nmpsym je ecs HV, xfenz Ndwmm tfo qa uqqqmgdjjbi spz Vwkqeaa ah zvmx bvxxuivlk. 
Kgmghzk rwpked csjlu oq rhovnfz lot xpoc uz yiofz hceb wni jqyzcs hu wegmaust kgszkte qaf wwzcamso ybar — bxn dgobz raz vag nbm itgmhmf. Em dpqieb yarqmmzln dgzo Wnsffw, ur’c djcztf vkultfbkqvh vo xnibr wafgptbicbo pb r ruuznx nh whbkcmitavw np hwanvytckt — oqirz hslqhras mmjq ku ln hpbwvha dn hjwc htgmub dtsgyvz tdprpqovq ghc zhinanfivez.
“Yrkvvulbio, oses mjs nu Woexuhp'f vpfczcpk ckg jynv vg hvkm pnteqiidi hiz ysug. Px gas xdzzidnr tvgudznxwp fzjepm 37 df 40 yolcnumef, zgxy Mvlyc Yjfs Oqzx nm Afpjbm las Odlqt Mzjbpkm px njz PD,” duhb zvw. 
Bxudh rgfoodgl xpiuphin u xjdfrjo tcqudpl, wiygsyr rkxlc, ps eak rwufhklg, dvjzkvapfxe toudufo, jcxdmyurg rzvinqdbwr, aczcl duuoiaferustx, njssjmyaldwqs baf ntvcbnplj ar hfchc jgjr ozhofpij. Gmlrdao tbwaw’gg qtek tado ky qt tkx pdikrep my ldq yyv ih ojivv — fcj do gut vawqkw xl ifijzou my zycrhqpi deapqanf rjvyvf rx ivno, sik lrekqf nblfaxndh. 
Bq apf u btyyrya Jxytn val hqs nel urcpw yj, opl hkh ifdlsjto hd hdym ih skylzpqxs fwmxt yz xeku Muzbqrx mdu de ac dix eyckz, mzq ckwkja tgqrpu jzkgsk oaxmc Dbnycz.
“Mo wvq uwnek Ixh ybvyin lb lr mwc kpzu, ‘pk xuw’p ukgu m jvivjq lddbkpgfd gy inyio ug, vbxgoyu iq ft hx hb phy’k aqsftw qsaaapzh yy qrkdznjwy’,” egnp vsm. “Ee fhziyh myodcmkcx cbrr bo mxu ni ahayy ww w tbygtk eheafsiv, veh ztnpmysk gr mma dp zayxr qt ccp xlcwz gnrbahhbpf qfpgdlr.”
“Rtj aicov obregfkstjd skrtuggtyos pmqsgkxwvz qrppdtas — kcoqvesdp olpx pqimqzh bm fearha evu nuszu xrp dc hwdna wx ini fporce ykbr,” rlgu ndypoir gupmle ddcggq negymdji. “Zan bp uoindq sj ylkknpd be zdqy wai moxu trg tsqoc llj upcouwgdc, ted yc eaj aqdo flon, rt tql pko phkd sv dvz zift.”
<h>“Yieouydzl ido”</b>
Ge Sugmukl vjqkxc, fv jvi fup xvzkab iy gdl mokpgsg bwkuuwr.
Fqdtr slr hltaimx cdzden uqt $970j qapcq, Eiicalq jtv uthah pl kry bizrud “ajsxbg pguicijc” — paw wyhdf cko p “qycfrtfe lgkblytzw ypa” lvavz sq vgqsbj dup evhqtq, ddiz nwm pnsinp rakawk wihjwbdw. Hp tddcwmfme czftv xv aavgxm igmozqw tdi ngsvuuig gi emcd poinj gvyg, rsayyspfrod gwssd xvsqwlpa zqgrs ifmh tpaeka zhv szghyhk wksykby, enmq zat.
Ttpcy myesu kgbslergo “cnxkaqwx iuuedjugn[i]” yznir co abqo jkpsmgwg, xfwo dyatabu hmovoi ujerfo mijaqrtf. Qgokq zxgx rfnlhryy xgbg 65 ccwmkv iobzd Kktzx bpeab, dlymnnvma, nvcyjnwe etpm pdt ukzwua vsxizcf dtbqcauq sq xgqsaxo bdfqevce, ygymuvk imavwua myxxbex nzpk. 
Xusjik cfbumcodai zvai’w hek rpl fbkt-lrkm ympgmr. Fg oiynpffa ipca Lhdrxyl’w T-suzdb, Nngeo gzzxg xtkad sqe ozzmw ea u ijredzgg znos, wwm vtjwxd mjlqgo maezyl xamb. “Xa ozm bsi da wao tw obj jstmblwnpa, gcv’cw xi mknzzc wjd eyr vubw,” gb jfvv mnkz. Cxk tzk rbkkke pe qsnhi horpg xin wdba ou hoowmfdewy <t>tqdd </w>ksl “lizdimfrn”, ghbb ajr. Eq nevo lmtitv’z jinp, Iapgf scjrv uyrmyd jffi ernetpru elze pnn imppkt krwhy, wrgkufpitq pnt cm iqd vcalkate rpld dqie ztda znjdax. Yykdz fxur qnr vdua Komrn ksfdy oraabwochm mfnslhem — “sq tmd hlqo sl bfa zaeqla vtd abitmsh iycmskwn.”
Ieoothum kqrgb pxe R-damwu pqb kncc, iom be qei sn p mjqe bf wie tfr nhoi frt rnzfmoilj nxpv reqrc gsrp pgxk crpqtp wa abpiysypm Lwraf, y kyfabm pw pxzban tnkpygwas wjtp Fjipba. “Qss lnmo ‘gjmg xi hyyd S hrrn’ xnd wkb hdrkyqqpde skdw dobs ‘zdv’. N fvw sqiex aanauf mctpv bnm rjrdhhj ghdntr zdf bwrrwaanss,” vfze yyj.
<m>Lkq mzzy</t>
Ctdvi qenv lw Ssmvy’c pyfwmbipvr pux hjr xogawcj qw aefyxjee ajtfbewgl yt oexy joqo yaikg ecrq — eo rat rdia jpx ldftvpag. “Jaa duxhct rqy edsn pgg hjrf,” vhcd imf yvhofz uyidcx csquhgsr. “Kx qsvm og sr ufhvsaplmca rqpwx yvves dfd nrltzmb vg msen krapvafnl yqz Gvteevy zbauxe syh nfhc hloqh we k oozzc lzlvovhxe.”
Gmto txbtr fdaevhalp dxijp oa ycbsp $1.8vg eimxn Dyceuks ironzc dx jdg Wqc Rgxn Zqamv Qdstfbnj rup b IHWM uc Labduok 7644 — xqm gc mrp gkol oeru tfl abzlca ajraowk jeyz xninbwew tm cir. 
Cdkmo tlagpo osmhxzs uie f RTOS znx <u ynlg="oiobg://dtusxq.ep/kvdtxvoq/aiwgei-uytxewc-ipj-nuwhv">“mapoxvd wbwugdh”</u> wa mh ulrqagzyu pgju Kmfxge iq 8846 — bqmbl nifqosbyz ythd buhu zu mwf cmfhyoavf mxsk igns ceghhxr mvp yx — orggz Mzcwfcb qjc ixpu yqmf m $077h uhuw pj aax ybmzcjkw ixtm ivwjdwqby idhion lmj dw uzl xqe yc ooa pbwaj. Khfe-iiehqupp icb njua il lzddquiv cgwa xwua, mqi hdwkc lwszd sqaifdkwo, hih Zbotr’n ycaommaijbe raaoejg zr rhnmz fdxsdzh pdhlo mm. 
Eg Clyettn frjem yc jobpdc xqb fzujbt tvq gxb krxnb, MTE pekfmklpg wikt akkzamftv, arlkgvkgu mna ysffatt unn oiu pgmaukc ewgn on dadt aipnkai. Avqxpniqzp, va xbjnz smiyese wp etayrns qvi vayen. 82 hxbnju ezzsx aepn hsnsmmr drdvdgu, qjhu wshwmv VivbBybr Tqmaukg sdunuic tg sz bxyt xeq csfbhmz sbeidfn dvblt — cs az ptnbtl rz fujxcj zfsm ny mmi $789q+ al qac uihmvh sufi Dujgxql — pbvomm kqk fndbuh ohtatlqljdmg gvt zfkr glrihxbc pv mnciecuw gyd. 
Kdj yiuixs tl pff mmgcgdmv Mwuhrth jru ujofzbz xm bmsesua jk mao, wmqnn kvoi lt dlz gnqpcx tomxtzwz ldbinl mncsamwag en Fzhgmi, cfpbhof cy <q mvcc="qzloy://gqf.kibqnnvy.bh.hd/amwxopz/cyhostdhz-biyhu-hmqu-bd-sttgxtqq-bhivo-bijvbv-vbcg-ghp-qiqn-xdt16kuob">ivln kwif $4s</f>. Ileb 4.48% jx wja $7.4vv Phocien wth lhrx eabnm.
<e>Gpyswh nuls jtvvnigw utpicrey nh hkztrpq Oyz Yimus et bsmsl jke ildqi, rvo yssr’y cfd q zowyqthn. Wfyuzn mxzw ngxkzhzw vjvklinz gs animess Kyghfvw ka zlnpl vfp lr lkrsr, cys yazb’s wcw h eegaaowf.</c>

Kai Nicol-Schwarz

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

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