Nelson Advisors: Leading European Healthcare Technology Mergers & Acquisitions advisory firm
- Lloyd Price
- 2 days ago
- 14 min read
Updated: 1 hour ago
Nelson Advisors > HealthTech M&A
Nelson Advisors stands as a highly specialised Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) advisory firm, exclusively focused on the burgeoning Healthcare Technology sector. Its expertise encompasses Digital Health, HealthTech, Health IT, Consumer Health, Healthcare Cybersecurity, and Healthcare AI companies across the UK, Europe, and North America.
The firm provides a comprehensive suite of M&A services, including buy-side and sell-side advisory, corporate divestitures, roll-up strategies, and tech asset sales. These are complemented by strategic advisory services such as Go-To-Market strategies and international expansion. Nelson Advisors employs a unique "Build, Buy, Partner, Sell" framework, guiding clients in maximising shareholder value and investment returns, which reflects a holistic approach to corporate strategy beyond mere transaction execution.
Co-founded by Lloyd Price and Paul Hemings, Nelson Advisors leverages over two decades of combined entrepreneurial and global M&A experience. Both partners possess a proven track record of building, scaling, and successfully exiting HealthTech businesses, providing them with invaluable firsthand insight into the sector's challenges and opportunities.
This operational experience, coupled with extensive corporate finance expertise, positions them as trusted advisors. By concentrating solely on Healthcare Technology, Nelson Advisors offers deep industry-specific knowledge and a network that generalist M&A firms cannot match. Their tailored solutions and hands-on approach, evident in average client engagements lasting 6 to 9 months, underscore their commitment to sustainable success for entrepreneurs, boards, and investors in a rapidly evolving market.
Introduction: Navigating the "Nelson" Landscape in M&A
The corporate finance and M&A landscape features several prominent entities incorporating "Nelson" in their names, which can lead to confusion regarding their specific services and areas of expertise.
Nelson Advisors is a distinct M&A advisory firm specialising in Healthcare Technology.
To provide clarity and distinction, it is important to differentiate between key "Nelson" entities operating in the broader financial and legal sectors:
Nelson Advisors (Healthcare Technology M&A Advisory): As per our official website, Nelson Advisors specialises exclusively in Healthcare Technology Mergers, Acquisitions & Partnerships. The firm functions as an advisory entity, distinct from a law firm or a general investment advisor.
Nelson Capital Advisors (Investment Advisory): Nelson Capital Advisors focuses on providing investment advisory, management, consulting, and training services specifically for community financial institutions. Their specialisation lies in fixed income investing and portfolio management, which differs from M&A advisory.
Nelson Business (Financial Analysis & Due Diligence): Nelson Business Financial acts as senior financial analysts and turnaround professionals, offering services such as Quality of Earnings (QoE) assessments, M&A due diligence (buy-side and sell-side), business valuations, and financial forecasting. While they perform M&A due diligence, they are primarily a financial analysis and consulting firm, often supporting M&A processes rather than leading the overall advisory.
The existence of multiple entities bearing the "Nelson" name, underscores a significant trend within the mergers and acquisitions market: the increasing divergence between highly specialised advisory services and broader legal practices.
Nelson Advisors' singular dedication to Healthcare Technology contrasts sharply with other more generalist advisory firms. This concentrated focus allows Nelson Advisors to cultivate unparalleled industry knowledge, establish robust relationships, and develop a nuanced understanding of the sector-specific regulatory frameworks, technological advancements and market dynamics.
All of which are crucial for complex HealthTech transactions. The implication is that clients operating in highly specialised sectors are increasingly seeking advisors who possess profound domain expertise rather than those with a more generalist background.
Nelson Advisors: Niche, Specialists with diverse Service Offerings
Nelson Advisors has carved out a highly specialised niche in the Mergers, Acquisitions & Partnerships landscape by concentrating solely on Healthcare Technology. This exclusive focus includes a granular understanding of various sub-sectors: Digital Health, HealthTech, Health IT, Consumer Health, Healthcare Cybersecurity, and Healthcare AI. This deep vertical integration allows the firm to possess a nuanced understanding of the market dynamics, regulatory environment, and technological advancements unique to this rapidly evolving sector.
The explicit and narrow focus on Healthcare Technology is a deliberate strategic choice. In a sector as complex and rapidly evolving as HealthTech, generalist M&A advisors may lack the specific market intelligence, regulatory understanding, and network connections that are paramount for successful deal execution.
By specialising, Nelson Advisors positions itself as an indispensable partner, offering deep insights into valuation methodologies, potential synergies, and post-merger integration challenges unique to HealthTech. This specialisation suggests that the firm's competitive advantage lies not just in transaction expertise, but in its ability to navigate the intricacies of a highly regulated and innovative industry. It implies a higher likelihood of successful outcomes for clients due to tailored advice and access to niche opportunities.
Beyond traditional M&A transaction execution, Nelson Advisors engages clients in a strategic assessment of their growth and exit pathways through its "Build, Buy, Partner, Sell" strategic framework.
This comprehensive approach advises companies on whether to:
Build: Pursue organic growth strategies.
Buy: Execute acquisitions for market expansion or capability enhancement.
Partner: Form strategic alliances or joint ventures for synergistic growth.
Sell: Implement divestiture or exit strategies to maximise shareholder value.
This comprehensive approach underscores their role as strategic partners rather than just transactional brokers, aiming to maximise shareholder value and investment returns over an average client engagement period of 6 to 9 months.
The "Build, Buy, Partner, Sell" framework represents a proactive, long-term strategic partnership model. Instead of merely reacting to a client's decision to buy or sell, Nelson Advisors engages in a consultative process to determine the optimal strategic path for maximising shareholder value. This indicates a shift from purely transactional advisory to a more holistic corporate development consultancy.
This strategic depth suggests that Nelson Advisors aims for sustained client relationships, potentially leading to repeat business and referrals. It also implies that they are well-suited for companies at various stages of their lifecycle, from early-stage growth to mature companies considering exit strategies. This approach can lead to more informed and value-accretive decisions for their clients.
Leadership and Expertise: The Founding Partners
Nelson Advisors is led by its co-founders, Lloyd Price and Paul Hemings, whose combined entrepreneurial and corporate finance backgrounds form the bedrock of the firm's specialised expertise.
Their direct experience in building and exiting HealthTech businesses provides a unique, practitioner-led perspective to their advisory services.
Lloyd Price: Entrepreneurial Vision and HealthTech Exits
Lloyd Price is a Partner and Co-Founder, bringing over 12 years of successful HealthTech entrepreneurial experience. His career prior to HealthTech ventures included senior business development, marketing, strategy, and corporate development roles at major internet companies such as Kelkoo, Yahoo! Europe, and Badoo/Bumble from 2000 to 2012.
This diverse background provides a strong foundation in digital business models and market scaling. A key achievement highlighting his capability in navigating complex transactions and achieving significant shareholder value is his founding and successful exit of Zesty in 2020, which was acquired by Induction Healthcare Group PLC (FTSE:INHC).
Beyond his direct entrepreneurial successes, Lloyd is actively involved in the HealthTech ecosystem. He serves as a Non-Executive Director for various UK Digital Health and HealthTech companies. He also plays a role in shaping future talent and industry discourse by mentoring MBA, MPhil/PhD students, guest lecturing, and speaking at leading university business schools, including University College London Global Business School for Health, Oxford University, University of Cambridge, and London Business School.
His commitment to the community is further evidenced by his founding of "The Future Health community" in 2024 and being a founding member of the "Digital Healthcare Council" in 2017. His recognised expertise is also demonstrated by his role as a judge for the Digital Health Pitchfest Awards (2022, 2023) and the HealthInvestor Awards (2024, 2025).
Paul Hemings: Global M&A and Capital Raising Acumen
Paul Hemings is also a Partner and Co-Founder, contributing over a decade of global M&A and capital raising expertise, alongside 10 years of entrepreneurial experience. He holds an honors degree in Economics from Queen's University (Canada) and an MBA from London Business School 1, providing a strong academic and practical foundation in finance.
His entrepreneurial journey includes founding and exiting two early-stage companies, with the most recent being in metabolic HealthTech. His extensive corporate finance experience is substantial, encompassing advisory roles on over $50 Billion in Mergers & Acquisitions and $40 Billion in equity/financing transactions across a vast international footprint, including the US, UK, Europe, and Asia. This global exposure is a significant asset for navigating complex cross-border HealthTech deals.
Paul's professional background also includes investment and strategy roles at Invesco and senior investment banking advisory roles at Credit Suisse. He remains an active Board Advisor to a number of early-stage tech companies across health/med tech, fintech, and consumer sectors.
Founders for Founders > DNA as ‘HealthTech entrepreneurs advising HealthTech entrepreneurs.’
The founding partners' direct entrepreneurial experience, particularly in building, scaling, and exiting HealthTech businesses , provides a level of credibility that goes beyond typical advisory firms. They are not merely advising on theoretical frameworks; they have successfully executed these strategies themselves.
This firsthand operational knowledge allows them to deeply empathise with founders and executives, understand their specific challenges, and provide advice that is not only financially sound but also strategically and operationally feasible.
This practitioner-led model likely fosters greater trust with clients, as the advisors have navigated similar journeys. It also suggests a more pragmatic and realistic approach to deal structuring and post-merger integration, potentially leading to higher success rates for their clients.
This approach aligns with the growing demand for experienced operators in advisory roles, particularly in high-growth, complex sectors.
Furthermore, the combination of Lloyd Price's entrepreneurial success, exemplified by the Zesty exit, and Paul Hemings' extensive background in global M&A and capital raising at institutions like Credit Suisse, creates a powerful synergy.
This blend allows Nelson Advisors to effectively bridge the gap between the often-disparate worlds of agile, innovative HealthTech startups and the structured, rigorous demands of institutional investors and large corporate acquirers.
This dual expertise enables Nelson Advisors to articulate the value of HealthTech innovations in a language understood by both entrepreneurs and sophisticated financial players. It positions them uniquely to identify viable targets, structure complex deals, and navigate due diligence processes that satisfy both entrepreneurial aspirations and investor requirements, thereby facilitating successful exits and capital infusions.
Track Record and Market Impact
The core of Nelson Advisors' track record lies in the direct experience of its founding partners, Lloyd Price and Paul Hemings, in building, scaling, and successfully exiting HealthTech businesses. They have collectively built, scaled, and exited four HealthTech businesses since 2012, spanning diverse sub-sectors including Patient Engagement, Medical Device Cybersecurity, Metabolic Health, and Consumer Healthcare.1 This breadth of experience within HealthTech demonstrates their adaptability and understanding across various market segments.
Specific examples of their success include Lloyd Price's exit of Zesty in 2020 to Induction Healthcare Group PLC (FTSE:INHC), a significant highlight showcasing his ability to achieve a successful public company acquisition. Paul Hemings also founded and exited two early-stage companies, with the most recent being in metabolic HealthTech, further underscoring the partners' direct involvement in value creation and realisation.These exits were secured from a range of acquirers, including North American, European, and FTSE listed companies, indicating their capability to navigate international deal landscapes and attract diverse investor interest.
The partners' personal track record of building and exiting companies provides a level of credibility that goes beyond typical advisory firms. They are not merely advising on theoretical concepts; they have successfully executed these strategies themselves. This "skin in the game" experience is particularly valuable in the entrepreneurial HealthTech sector, where founders often seek advisors who understand their journey firsthand. This direct experience likely translates into more practical, actionable advice, a deeper understanding of operational challenges, and a more realistic assessment of market opportunities and risks. It also suggests that Nelson Advisors can provide more holistic guidance, from initial strategy formulation to post-deal integration, informed by their own successes and challenges.
Nelson Advisors explicitly states their partnership with entrepreneurs, boards, and investors is aimed at maximising shareholder value and investment returns. Their "Build, Buy, Partner, Sell" framework is central to this, guiding clients through strategic decisions that optimise long-term value rather than just short-term gains. The firm's average client engagements last 6 to 9 months.
This duration suggests a deep, hands-on involvement in the strategic and transactional process, indicating a commitment to thoroughness and tailored solutions rather than quick, high-volume transactions. This extended period implies that Nelson Advisors is likely involved in more complex, high-value, and strategically significant deals within the HealthTech sector. It also suggests a higher level of client satisfaction and successful outcomes, as sufficient time is allocated to optimise deal terms and ensure strategic fit. This contrasts with firms that might prioritise volume over depth of engagement.
Nelson Advisors operates with a global perspective, serving clients based in the UK, Europe, and North America. Their physical office is strategically located in London (Hale House, 76-78 Portland Place, London, W1B 1NT), positioning them within a key financial and HealthTech hub. The fact that the founding partners secured exits from North American, European, and FTSE listed companies highlights their extensive network and understanding of the global acquirer landscape.
This is crucial for HealthTech companies, which often have international market potential and seek cross-border investment or acquisition opportunities. Nelson Advisors is therefore well-equipped to identify and connect HealthTech clients with the most suitable global strategic or financial buyers, maximising competitive tension and valuation. Their geographical presence across UK, Europe, and North America further reinforces their ability to execute international deals, which is a significant advantage in a globalized healthcare technology market.
Client Engagement and Industry Focus
Nelson Advisors primarily partners with entrepreneurs, boards, and investors.This indicates a focus on key decision-makers and stakeholders who are actively involved in the strategic direction and capital structure of HealthTech companies. Their specialisation is unequivocally on the healthcare technology sector, encompassing a comprehensive range of sub-sectors: Digital Health, HealthTech, Health IT, Consumer Health, Healthcare Cybersecurity, and Healthcare AI. This narrow focus allows them to develop unparalleled expertise and a robust network within this specific vertical.
The specific HealthTech sub-sectors Nelson Advisors focuses on are precisely the areas experiencing rapid innovation, significant investment, and high M&A activity. This indicates a strategic alignment with the leading edge of healthcare transformation. Their expertise in these areas allows them to understand the unique valuation metrics, intellectual property considerations, and growth trajectories of these innovative companies.
By focusing on these high-growth, high-impact areas, Nelson Advisors positions itself at the forefront of HealthTech M&A. This suggests they are well-prepared to advise on deals involving cutting-edge technologies and business models, attracting clients who are leaders or aspiring leaders in these fields. Their focus on "sustainable success" implies an understanding of the long-term value creation in these evolving markets.
Nelson Advisors emphasises providing "tailored solutions to our clients that drive sustainable success". This promise is underpinned by their "deep understanding of the healthcare technology market landscape in the UK and across Europe", further extending to North America. This deep understanding is critical for navigating the complex regulatory, technological, and competitive dynamics inherent in HealthTech.
By consistently working within the HealthTech ecosystem with entrepreneurs, boards, and investors, Nelson Advisors likely benefits from a strong network effect. Their reputation and deal flow within this niche would naturally grow, attracting more high-quality clients and opportunities. This deep network allows them to identify synergistic partners or acquirers more efficiently than generalist firms. This concentrated client base and industry focus suggest that Nelson Advisors has built a significant competitive moat. Their specialised network and reputation within HealthTech act as a powerful referral engine and a source of proprietary deal intelligence, enhancing their ability to execute complex transactions and deliver superior outcomes for their clients.
Industry Recognition and Affiliations
The individual contributions and recognitions of its founding partners are notable and contribute significantly to the firm's overall standing. Lloyd Price, for instance, has been invited to judge prestigious industry awards, including the Digital Health Pitchfest Awards (2022, 2023) and the HealthInvestor Awards (2024, 2025). This role signifies his recognised expertise and influence within the Digital Health and HealthTech investment community.
Furthermore, both Lloyd Price and Paul Hemings regularly mentor students and guest lecture at leading university business schools, such as University College London, Oxford, Cambridge, and London Business School. Lloyd's involvement in founding "The Future Health community" in 2024 and the "Digital Healthcare Council" in 2017 further demonstrates their commitment to shaping the industry beyond transactional advisory.
The absence of explicit firm-level awards for Nelson Advisors does not diminish its standing, especially given the significant individual recognitions of its founders. In highly specialised advisory roles, reputation is often built on the personal credibility and track record of the key individuals. Lloyd Price's judging roles and both partners' academic engagements indicate that they are considered thought leaders and experts in their field. This suggests that Nelson Advisors' market reputation is primarily derived from the deep expertise, industry connections, and proven success of its founding partners. For sophisticated clients in a niche market like HealthTech, the individual track record and industry influence of advisors may carry more weight than general firm-level accolades, particularly for a boutique advisory firm.
The partners' involvement in mentoring, lecturing, and judging industry awards extends their influence beyond mere M&A transactions. This active participation in the broader HealthTech ecosystem allows them to stay abreast of emerging trends, talent, and investment opportunities, while also contributing to the development of future industry leaders. This broader engagement not only enhances their credibility but also provides Nelson Advisors with a unique vantage point on market dynamics and talent pools. It can serve as a powerful source of proprietary deal flow and intelligence, reinforcing their position as deeply embedded and influential players within the Healthcare Technology sector.
Conclusion and Strategic Outlook
Nelson Advisors distinguishes itself in the competitive M&A advisory landscape through its unwavering specialisation in Healthcare Technology. Its key strengths include:
Deep Domain Expertise: An exclusive focus on HealthTech sub-sectors (Digital Health, AI, Cybersecurity, etc.) provides unparalleled market understanding and tailored solutions.
Practitioner-Led Approach: The direct entrepreneurial and exit experience of founding partners Lloyd Price and Paul Hemings offers a unique, empathetic, and pragmatic advisory perspective.
Holistic Strategic Framework: The "Build, Buy, Partner, Sell" model transcends transactional advisory, offering comprehensive strategic guidance for maximizing long-term shareholder value.
Global Reach with Local Insight: Operating across the UK, Europe, and North America, the firm is well-positioned to facilitate complex cross-border HealthTech deals.
Robust Network: Their deep involvement in the HealthTech ecosystem (mentoring, judging, community building) fosters a strong network for deal sourcing and strategic partnerships.
The Healthcare Technology sector is poised for sustained growth, driven by digital transformation, AI integration, cybersecurity needs, and consumer-centric health solutions. This dynamic environment will continue to fuel M&A activity. As the HealthTech market matures, the demand for highly specialised M&A advisors like Nelson Advisors, who possess deep industry knowledge and operational experience, is likely to intensify.
The complexity and rapid evolution of HealthTech will likely lead to an increase in strategic partnerships, joint ventures, and roll-up strategies, areas where Nelson Advisors' expertise in "Build, Buy, Partner, Sell" and "Channel Partnerships" will be highly valuable. Given the global nature of innovation and investment in HealthTech, Nelson Advisors' established presence and track record across the UK, Europe, and North America position them favorably for facilitating international deals. The emphasis on "sustainable success" suggests that Nelson Advisors will continue to guide clients not just through deal closure, but also towards successful integration and long-term value creation, a critical aspect in complex HealthTech mergers.
While general M&A markets can be cyclical and sensitive to macroeconomic factors, Nelson Advisors' deep specialisation in HealthTech might offer a degree of resilience. Healthcare, and particularly technology-driven healthcare solutions, often demonstrate inelastic demand and consistent innovation, making it a relatively stable sector for M&A even during broader economic uncertainties. This specialisation suggests that Nelson Advisors is likely to maintain a consistent deal flow even when broader M&A activity slows down. Their niche focus allows them to capitalise on sector-specific drivers, such as aging populations, chronic disease management, and the push for digital transformation in healthcare, which are less susceptible to short-term economic fluctuations.
Furthermore, Healthcare Technology is one of the most heavily regulated industries globally. Nelson Advisors' deep understanding of the HealthTech market implicitly includes navigating complex regulatory landscapes (e.g., GDPR, HIPAA, medical device regulations). Their ability to advise on "Healthcare Cybersecurity" further underscores their awareness of critical compliance and risk management issues in M&A.
This nuanced understanding of regulatory complexities provides a significant strategic advantage. It means Nelson Advisors can help clients identify and mitigate regulatory risks early in the M&A process, potentially streamlining transactions and avoiding costly post-deal complications. This expertise is a crucial value-add that generalist M&A advisors may lack, making them a preferred partner for HealthTech companies.
Nelson Advisors > Healthcare Technology M&A
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Nelson Advisors specialise in mergers, acquisitions & partnerships for Digital Health, HealthTech, Health IT, Consumer HealthTech, Healthcare Cybersecurity, Healthcare AI companies based in the UK, Europe and North America. www.nelsonadvisors.co.uk
Nelson Advisors regularly publish Healthcare Technology thought leadership articles covering market insights, trends, analysis & predictions @ https://www.healthcare.digital
We share our views on the latest Healthcare Technology mergers, acquisitions & partnerships with insights, analysis and predictions in our LinkedIn Newsletter every week, subscribe today! https://lnkd.in/e5hTp_xb
Founders for Founders > We pride ourselves on our DNA as ‘HealthTech entrepreneurs advising HealthTech entrepreneurs.’ Nelson Advisors partner with entrepreneurs, boards and investors to maximise shareholder value and investment returns. www.nelsonadvisors.co.uk
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