What does wealth really mean to a founder like Ben?

What does wealth mean to a founder like Dr Ben Maruthappu? Is it just about numbers, or something far bigger? For Ben, the journey from NHS doctor to tech entrepreneur has been defined by a mission to reshape healthcare through technology and AI, creating impact at a scale that only few can match.

In 2023, he was named the Great British Entrepreneur of the Year, beating out over thousands of entries. It marked more than just a personal recognition. It was a moment of validation for a new kind of founder, one building not just for growth, but for impact at scale.

As the CEO and founder of Cera, the UK’s largest HealthTech company, Ben leads a business that now delivers over two million home visits each month. The equivalent of every A&E in the country, combined. By using technology and AI to shift care from hospitals into people’s homes, Cera is helping build a more sustainable model for an ageing population. And it’s doing so while generating over £300 million in annualised revenue.

Ben shared, “Just like we expect tech in banking or shopping, we’ll expect it in care, especially when it improves transparency, trust, and outcomes.”

Just this week, Ben joined the 2025 Sunday Times Rich List, a nod to the extraordinary value being created by Cera and by extension, to the growing role of entrepreneurs in reshaping how our essential services are delivered. 

His journey is as impressive as it is unconventional: trained in North West London, with degrees from Oxford, Cambridge, and Harvard, Ben went on to advise the CEO of NHS England on technology, co-founded the NHS Innovation Accelerator, and later launched Cera with the belief that care could be delivered better, faster, and more efficiently through digital-first systems.

In just a few years, Cera has grown 100-fold, employing thousands of carers and clinicians across the UK and operating one of the largest healthcare datasets in Europe. Its AI technology has been shown to reduce hospitalisations by up to 70%, saving the UK government an estimated £1 million every day. 

Whether it’s managing rapid growth, enabling strategic investments, or unlocking personal freedom, how a founder navigates financial success matters especially when the mission is people’s health.

Wealth to a founder like Ben means, for him, it’s not simply a figure on a balance sheet or a personal milestone. It is a tool. A means to drive innovation, extend reach, and build sustainable change that lasts far beyond individual success. 

It’s about reinvesting in people, technology, and communities to transform an entire system for the better. True wealth lies in creating value that benefits society at large, proving that financial success and long-term contribution can go hand in hand. 

For founders like Ben, wealth is a tool to scale impact. However, the path to that kind of value is rarely straightforward. In the early days, most entrepreneurs weren't thinking about pensions or portfolios. No salary, no safety net, no clear plan. That’s why we asked thousands of this year’s applicants how they’re managing their money. Fewer than 1 in 5 have a detailed financial plan and actively invest.

In business, financial health matters just as much as growth. That’s why we’ve partnered with Prosper to help founders understand where they stand financially and uncover the next steps to strengthen their wealth.

With the free Wealth Health Scorecard, you can see how your finances compare to other UK entrepreneurs, gain personalised insights to grow, protect, and optimise your wealth, and identify both your financial wins and opportunities for improvement in saving and investing. All in just two minutes, with no strings attached.

Start here: https://prosper.scoreapp.com

Through Cera, Ben exemplifies the idea that some of the most powerful businesses start with a clear mission and a willingness to do things differently. 

It’s founders like him who reflect what the Great British Entrepreneur Awards stands for: using business to trigger change, solve real problems, and shape what’s next.

The 2025 shortlist will be announced in early June. Stay tuned.

Entries for this year's Great British Entrepreneur Awards have now closed, but if you’ve missed the boat, make sure to join the 2026 waitlist here.