Pharmacist turned pharma CEO raises £8.8m and nears £1m revenue

Executive overview

Anna Maxwell, a pharmacist turned entrepreneur, built Maxwellia to develop next-generation over-the-counter medicines that remove the need for GP appointments or prescriptions. Attending a Key Person of Influence (KPI) programme in 2012 was a turning point, shifting her from a consultancy mindset to founding a pharmaceutical company. Clarity on her skills and market gaps — combined with a chance encounter with a pharma billionaire — unlocked her investment thesis. She has since raised £8.8 million, launched the first pharmacy-sold daily oral contraceptive pill in the UK, and is approaching £1 million in annual recurring revenue. Only 2% of investment funding reaches female founders, yet Maxwell has built a funded, history-making pharmaceutical company from a standing start.

From pharmacist to founder

• Anna Maxwell is CEO and founder of Maxwellia, focused on widening access to over-the-counter medicines.
• Background spans an entire career commercialising consumer healthcare products.
• Attended the KPI programme in 2012 after a difficult period and a nudge from a former business coach.
• Described the event as a "eureka moment" — a room of 500 like-minded people validated her career-long ambitions.
• Signed up for the full KPI programme intending to redesign her consultancy; ended up founding a pharmaceutical company instead.

Identifying the opportunity

• Programme exercises around personal strengths and pain points revealed a clear gap: Maxwell knew what needed doing in medicines access, knew the people, and knew the process.
• The only missing piece was capital.
• A chance encounter with a pharmaceutical billionaire at her gate triggered the idea of building an investable proposition.
• Coaches Andrew Priestley and Daniel Priestley were instrumental in sharpening that focus.

Building credibility through a book

• First action after the programme was writing a book documenting her work and process.
• Progress was slow — approximately 500 words per hour over many months.
• The book led to an invitation to present at a global pharmaceutical industry conference in Philadelphia.
• Standing on that stage confirmed the transformation from employee to recognised industry authority.

Traction and milestones

• In 2021, Maxwellia launched the daily oral contraceptive pill for purchase directly in pharmacy — a UK first.
• The launch happened during Covid, demonstrating resilience in a uniquely difficult environment.
• Has raised £8.8 million in investment to date.
• Now approaching £1 million in annual run-rate revenue.
• Only 4% of businesses reach the £1 million mark; only 2% of investment goes to female founders — Maxwell sits in both groups.

Where Maxwellia competes

• Targets gaps that large pharmaceutical companies have left unfilled.
• Positions itself as an innovator filling structural market voids rather than competing head-on with big pharma.
• Core mission: enable people to self-manage health conditions without needing a doctor's appointment or prescription.
• Every product launch is framed around direct patient impact, which drives the team's sense of purpose.