Alumni Entrepreneur Award Winner - Divian Patel
Divian Patel (BDS Dentistry, 2010)
Winner of the Centre for Excellence in Artificial Intelligence in Education Award 2025
What inspired you to pursue entrepreneurship?
My journey into entrepreneurship was inspired by a deep desire to solve real problems. During my time in both clinical dentistry and tech, I kept asking the same question: Why are we still doing things this way? That curiosity evolved into purpose when I realised how technology – especially AI – could transform patient care and clinician workflows. I didn't pursue entrepreneurship for the title, but because I couldn’t ignore the need.
How did you come up with your business ideas and put them into practice?
Business ideas, for me, come from the frontlines. With Trust AI, I spoke to hundreds of dental professionals who were overwhelmed by admin, miscommunication and burnout. Once we understood the root issues, the solution became clearer: build a platform that supported smarter decision-making and gave time back to the people providing care. From there, it was about assembling a brilliant team, listening constantly to our users, and being relentless about execution.
How did you overcome business challenges, fears and doubts when establishing your venture to ensure success?
The fears and doubts never fully disappear. But I’ve learned that clarity of vision reduces fear. I surrounded myself with mentors and teammates who believed in the vision. When challenges came – and they did – I leaned into community, not ego.
Do you have any advice for anyone considering pursuing an entrepreneurial journey?
To anyone thinking about taking the leap: start. You’ll never feel 100% ready, but action creates momentum. Build something that solves a real problem and stay close to the people you're trying to help. Entrepreneurship isn’t about never failing; it’s about staying grounded when you do. Impact, not perfection, is what moves the needle.