Untap Health - reshaping how organisations monitor and manage community health

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Today we're excited to meet Claire Trant of Untap Health

So Claire, tell us more about Untap Health

At Untap Health, we’re reshaping how organisations monitor and manage community health.

Our technology uses automated, on-site wastewater testing to detect the presence of infectious diseases like COVID-19, influenza, norovirus and other key gastrointestinal and respiratory pathogens — even before symptoms appear.

Based in the UK and working with customers across healthcare, agriculture, education, and large public venues, we provide early warnings that allow communities to act fast, prevent outbreaks and safeguard wellbeing.

Our system is designed to reduce the costs and disruption caused by illness, while supporting smarter, more resilient health decisions for the future.

How did you come up with the business idea and what problem are you looking to solve?

The idea for Untap Health came from seeing the limitations of traditional disease monitoring methods, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

I quickly realised that wastewater has long been an untapped goldmine of public health insights — but the existing process was slow, manual and expensive.

By automating sewage testing and delivering real-time data, Untap Health helps organisations spot outbreaks early and respond before illness spreads, preventing disruption and reducing healthcare costs across human and animal health.

What made you want to start your own business?

Prior to founding Untap Health, I was working in innovation in wastewater engineering and led European licensing arrangements for the UK wastewater engineering firm, Te-Tech Process Solutions.

Within this role, I worked with solutions to detect COVID-19 in wastewater with the UK government and research organisations.

At Entrepreneur First I saw a gap in the market for this technology. I didn’t really set out to be an “entrepreneur” at the start, but the scale of the problem and the gap in the market made the decision clear — the best way to make an impact was to build the solution ourselves.

What stage is your business currently at?

Untap Health has moved from prototype to product, and we’re now rolling out our first batch of devices to customers. We’ve already generated significant early revenue from pilot deployments and are working with organisations from care homes and universities to agricultural sites.

Our immediate priority is scaling — from refining operations and manufacturing to deepening customer relationships. As the founder, I am focused on growing a business that not only tackles the immediate challenge of infectious disease outbreaks but also builds long-term resilience into public and animal health systems.

What do you love most about being an entrepreneur?

The best part of entrepreneurship is the ability to drive change — to spot a real-world problem, build a solution, and watch it create tangible impact. Every day brings new challenges, but also new opportunities to innovate, learn, and grow.

Seeing our technology directly help organisations protect communities makes all the hard work worthwhile.

What is the number one business tip you've learned that you'd like to share with fellow budding entrepreneurs?

Stay obsessed with the problem, not the solution. Technology, products, and strategies will evolve — but a relentless focus on understanding and solving the customer's true pain points is what builds resilient, enduring businesses.

Is there a favourite podcast, book or series you'd like to share with the world?

I highly recommend the Business Wars podcast. It gives a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at the rivalries between some of the world’s biggest brands.

It’s not only entertaining but also packed with valuable lessons about strategy, resilience, and how businesses succeed — or fail — under pressure!

Where can people find you online?

Check out our website and connect with me on Linkedin

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