Future Patient editor Vicky Eldridge and publisher Charlotte Body visited The Health Optimisation Summit’s first Business of Health Day. Here Vicky shares her thoughts…
There is only so much you can learn about a product or a brand from a presentation or a press release – that’s why we love face-to-face events at Future Patient. Usually I am running around organising, so when I get a chance to attend a show as a visitor, it’s a whole different ballgame.
One of my favourite events to explore is the Health Optimisation Summit, which took place at the Business Design Centre in London this month.
The Summit’s first three-day edition brought together founders, investors, practitioners, creators and people interested in improving their health and featured 62 speakers, 141 brands and 16 workshops.
I went along on Friday, which gave the business side of health its own space for the first time, but it still felt like a show to explore, rather than a day spent moving from one meeting to the next. Consumer brands connected with distributors, wholesalers and retailers, while B2B businesses came face-to-face with their end users.
I had some excellent conversations as I made my way around the stands. I tried the Axion H2, sampled bone broth and spent time experiencing red light therapy. A stop for my favourite London Nootropics coffee was essential! I can’t get enough of their mushroom coffee. To keep those energy levels going, I had a ginger and functional mushroom shot at the Fung Shui stand and hydrated at the Repower electrolytes station.
Charlotte and I also tried UMMU’s DNA and epigenetics saliva test, and had our body composition scanned. My metabolic age was tracking higher than I am, so something to work on for next year!
I also, as always, ended up spending on gadgets, including an amazing little portable massager.
I get overwhelmed sometimes by busy spaces, so the Friday’s quieter feel suited me. I knew the next two consumer days would be jam-packed, so it was great for us to have time and space to chat to people. One of my favourite moments was sitting in a little chill-out space in the hall, putting on headphones and doing a meditation and breathwork session. It was a welcome pause in a busy day, and a reminder that health optimisation can include making time to stop.
I was particularly keen to hear Daniel Priestley speak about how to grab attention when AI makes everyone sound the same. As a journalist, that question feels close to home, and I have worked with Daniel myself many years ago at another event – he’s a great speaker. With so much health content competing for attention, the conversations I had throughout the day were a reminder of the value of a distinct voice and a story grounded in real experience.
I was sorry I could not stay for the full three days. The wider speaker line-up included huge names such as Bear Grylls, Wim Hof and Dr Tara Swart, who I would have loved to have heard. The weekend programme covered subjects ranging from women’s longevity and men’s mental health to the future of Britain’s food system.
Now spanning both sides of the Atlantic, the Health Optimisation Summit has become a launchpad for what’s next in health, and a place where emerging trends become tangible before they reach the mainstream
The second US edition will take place in Austin, Texas on April 2-4, 2027, with 4,000 attendees expected. The Health Optimisation Summit returns to London on September 10-12, 2027 at the Business Design Centre. The Business of Health Day will take place on Friday 10 September, followed by the Summit weekend. Find out more and book tickets for 2027
Tim Gray, founder of The Health Optimisation Summit