Peter Ashby, founder of OpenClinical CIC
Peter is an Oxford based entrepreneur, who has worked in publishing and multimedia for many years. His 2 innovative companies are in the exciting and much needed digital healthcare space, www.openclinical.net and www.seracares.com
Q: What is your background? Why are you doing this?
A: Publishing sector innovator, entrepreneur and international executive. Experienced with interactive online information with enthusiasm for e-health in healthcare sectors, but the business and publishing process and new disruptive enterprise are the driving force. I’ve made almost all the mistakes there are, wish to share with others to benefit of all, not least end-users and socio-economic development. Current ventures are fund raising now and will be recruiting
Q: What is your definition of entrepreneurship?
A: Making new products and services available that improve the outcomes for defined worthy recipients whose greater satisfaction must be met at lower direct and environmental cost and will clone and scale to more users in many other sectors.
Q: What made you decide to become an entrepreneur?
A: Desire to create and lead the way with others and shared vision, equally with frustration at the reluctance to change out-dated ineffective inefficient ways prevalent in so many established organisations.
Q: So what would you say are the top skills that needed to be a successful entrepreneur? Why?
A: Essential addition to “confidence” are blind-faith and optimism. Because there are so many barriers to be overcome (or gone around)
Q: What is your favourite part of being an entrepreneur?
A: Establishing the viability through careful research and planning, and entering the Just Flippin’ Well Do It stage
Q: What individual, company or organization inspires you most? Why?
A: The late Steve Jobs for some (not all) of his qualities because he stated the WHY Apple did what it set out to do, less of the what and the how, and never stated “to make money” – That comes to those who risk, do the right things and survive to reap rewards, not just monetary ones.
Q: If you could have 5 minutes with the above indiv/company/org, what would you want to ask or discuss?
A: How to re-invest Apple’s incredible wealth for the good of specified next generations globally, with sustainable engagement of more and better educated healthy people at the top of the “must do” list
Q: What has been your most satisfying or successful moment in business?
A: Winning contracts to supply organisations that appreciate the value brought to them by my team.
Q: What would you say have been some of your mistakes as an entrepreneur?
A: Too many to mention! – Happy to share 1:1 or small groups as needed for their circumstances, strengths and weaknesses.
Q: What is good about being an entrepreneur in Oxfordshire? Bad?
A: The networking environment in which new entrants to independent innovation and enterprise can gain confidence and strategic partners in order to grow is good. Too much choice can lead to lack of focus.
Q: If a new entrepreneur or start-up came to you looking for entrepreneurship information or resources in Oxfordshire, where would you send them?
A: Online researching and focused contact points with specific aims.
Q: Any last words of advice?
A: Don’t give up. Follow your dreams with passion remembering the why, not too much stargazing about exit. The road will certainly be different than that expected!
