Josh Hough has always seen the world differently. Born with the rare muscle-weakening condition, he spent much of his early life in a wheelchair and felt he had been written off at an early age.
Now, he is the founder and CEO of homecare software company CareLineLive, a business with 42 staff, over 600 homecare clients in seven countries, and over £3.5m in revenues.
He set up CareLineLive in 2014 after his family struggled to get information about his grandfather’s care. The mission is to create a ‘circle of care’ so that every one a patient needs is brought into the loop.
What drove you to become an entrepreneur?
I hated being disabled and was determined to get out of my wheelchair. I would hear the doctors telling my parents that I might not be able to have a job, which I think made me very determined and single-minded. From an early age, I learned I could prove people wrong.
I did well at school but was always entrepreneurial, setting up a publishing company with my sister when I was 14. We made a magazine, by kids, for kids, which we sold to schools. I was always more interested in business than studying, and had a desire to change things.
What inspired you to come up with CareLineLive?
I was running an IT service business and had a client in the home care space who was still using a paper-based system. It became CareLineLive’s first client, and the idea of creating a ‘circle of care’ emerged.
At the same time, my grandfather was receiving care, and the family struggled with the lack of communication from carers. Everything I felt and saw as a child came flooding back.
Back then, I found that the inefficiencies of the healthcare system often exasperated me. I was visited by countless nurses, doctors and healthcare professionals. Every time I met someone new, I had to go through the same routine, answering the same questions and explaining my condition.
It was very repetitive and boring. I just felt there needed to be a better system and, ultimately, that I had to be the one to create it.
What was the big idea?
To create an app that joins up everything in a home care business, from patient notes and visits to invoicing and staff rotas. Family members can access it so they know what’s going on. But also critical healthcare professionals like ambulance drivers can access it, too.
That’s important because if they are attending an emergency, they really need to know whether or not someone has had their medication that day.
Why is it a success?
Everyone a patient needs is brought into the loop. People no longer need to spend long periods of time hunting down paperwork. All the information is in one place. It’s very efficient, and it provides a clear audit trail.
Scotland unveils first data strategy for health and social care
Did your condition affect how you did things?
I think I saw the world differently to a lot of people. I was often looking for new and different ways of doing things. You have to when you literally can’t do things in the same ways everyone else does.
On a day-to-day basis, I’ve been through a lot of surgeries and challenges, so I understand the importance of flexibility. If a member of staff or their child needs to go to the doctor, I tell them to ‘just go’.
People might think I’m too lenient, but we have a team that sticks with us.
What are the big challenges you face?
Funding is an ongoing challenge. I spend a lot of time fundraising, and there’s a constant battle to find good coders and software engineers.
I’ve also had to prove myself repeatedly to investors, customers and employees. It’s a vicious cycle of needing experience but not being able to get it.
But that’s been my driving force: proving people wrong and showing that something is achievable. Building CareLineLive is something I’m incredibly proud of.
What’s the best advice you’ve been given?
London Stock Exchange technology director Nigel Cairns once told me that when it comes to fundraising (a very important part of my job), you should think about how much money you need, double it and then double it again. And you’ll still end up spending it all.
What’s your idea of the perfect cup of coffee?
I don’t really drink coffee; I’m more of a Coke person, but after a big night, I’d go for an espresso with two sugars.
What advice would you give to any budding tech entrepreneur?
Don’t do it! Being an entrepreneur is one of the hardest career choices you can make. I say that because nobody ever tells you how you will get basic things done. Learning the ropes is difficult.
More positively, as much as it’s about having an idea, entrepreneurship is about having the ability to self-learn and teach yourself new things.
How do you relax when you are not working?
I find it very difficult to relax as there’s always something to think about, but I find shooting clay pigeons is a really good way of distracting myself. It’s something I can take all my frustration and problems out on.
What’s next for CareLineLive?
Expansion into Australia. We were at the country’s biggest trade show recently, and it’s the next big move for us because it’s such a similar market to ours.
But also, it’s far more educated, by which I mean the businesses are significantly more mature and know what they are doing. As a result, you get a much better buy-in.
Share
