Taking the Leap

Akber Tahir (BSc Management 2023) didn’t just start LSE in 2020. It was here he began his startup journey, founding Pharmovo AI – AI that predicts pharmaceutical demand and shortages, to maximise population health. Akber looks back on his journey and the support he received from LSE Generate as he launched his business.

The Idea  

Pharmovo AI started before I began my studies at LSE. In January 2020 I had just returned from a 3-month internship at a venture capital based in the United Arab Emirates. Having had the opportunity to learn extensively about venture and technology, I opened my luggage to find over £4,000 of my own insulin had expired while I had been away! I was aware that patients across the world struggle to access this life-saving medicine and pay increasingly high prices year on year. The guilt led me to research the UK supply-chain. I discovered that over £400m+ worth of pharmaceuticals expire each year while still languishing on the shelf - without ever reaching a patient. As for the US, there is £13 billion of expired supply chain stock and the cost of drug shortages stands at £22.4 billion. 
 
I was then inspired to develop my startup, Pharmovo AI. This uses custom-built AI agents trained on a range of holistic data that provides a full-picture view on pharmaceutical demand. Through this we are able to predict demand, and shortages, by geography, therapeutic area, and volume. We have collaborated with distributors, governmental bodies and manufacturers to develop this product. Our goal is to achieve a world where patients can access what they need, when they need it, where they need it, on a global scale.   

Starting up  

LSE Generate was the first supporter of Pharmovo AI, pushing me to challenge the status quo and launch my business exactly when I started my first year of undergraduate studies. They further supported me through their Generate Accelerator Programme in 2021 and through the LSE Foundership in 2022. Most recently, we received LSE's Start Up of The Year 2025 Award. At the same time, my studies in the Management department gave me the theory to on which to build my startup. I was able to apply my real-world work to modules within my degree.

My LSE journey  

LSE was always the goal for my studies. The pairing of internationally competitive talent, cutting-edge social science research and access to the wider London ecosystem that you get at LSE, really attracted me.  But, most of all, I sought the challenge that LSE brings – to work at an extremely high academic level, while delving into understanding the causes of things.  

I have many fond memories of my time at LSE. I organised and hosted the LSE Student Union's BIG Night at a restaurant in Covent Garden as the Head of Entrepreneurship and Technology for BIG. I travelled to Lisbon for Web Summit 2021 with LSE Generate and then, finally, there were many hours spent developing the product on the 4th floor library.  

Advice to alumni  

I have been fortunate enough to benefit from the kindness and support of many individuals across  LSE. Innovators can only increase the odds of success with this form of kindness. To build a better School and world for all, I have signed LSE's Entrepreneurs' Pledge to pay this back, as LSE has been significant in my journey as an entrepreneur.

Be different, do not wait and plan for months. Take that leap of faith and you will be surprised where it leads you!  

Akber Tahir 
BSc Management 2023

September 2025