Lifeyear raises £2.4m for remote patient management platform

UK-Estonian health technology start-up Lifeyear has raised €2.8 million (£2.4m) to launch its remote patient management platform for cardiovascular care in the UK.

The funding will be used to accelerate the rollout of the platform across selected UK hospitals, GP practices and virtual wards, enabling the team to refine the technology and validate its clinical potential.

Siim Saare, founder and chief executive of Lifeyear said: “This funding is a pivotal step in our mission to reduce the global cardiovascular disease burden.

“With a stellar team and strategic backing from leading investors and clinical excellence centres, we’re focused on redefining how cardiovascular care is delivered, starting with patients who need it the most.”

He added that expanding to the UK market is “a logical step forward” for the firm.

Key priorities for Lifeyear include generating real-world evidence and ensuring compliance with NHS standards, including Digital Technology Assessment Criteria.

The funding round includes €1.5m (£1.28m) in deep tech grant funding from the Estonian government as well as €1.3m (£1.1m) from venture capital funds Verge HealthTech Fund, Tilia Impact Ventures, PurposeTech, and Estonian angel investors.

Carl Nicholas, general partner at Verge HealthTech Fund and lead investor for the project, said: “Lifeyear’s combination of clinical rigour and scalable technology makes it stand out.

“As a fund investing in impactful health tech start-ups globally, we’re excited to back a team poised to shape digital cardiovascular care.”

The €2.8 million funding round reflects strong confidence in Lifeyear’s potential to drive real-world impact and transform NHS cardiac care.

Silke Horakova, general partner and cofounder at Tilia Impact Ventures said: “The urgency for solutions like Lifeyear’s cannot be overstated.

“Their platform has the potential to ease the burden on healthcare systems while empowering patients to live healthier and potentially longer lives.”

Lifeyear’s platform simplifies remote patient monitoring and medication management to deliver smartphone-enabled heart care to patients, with the aim of cutting down on face-to-face clinical visits and long waiting times.

The firm was founded by a team that merges UK clinicians with Estonian tech experts. Cofounder and chief medical officer Dr Eleanor Wicks is an NHS-trained cardiologist with more than 20 years’ experience at Barts Health NHS Trust and Oxford University Hospitals.

In 2023 Lifeyear joined TheHill’s (Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Innovation service) NHS Market Access Accelerator, which supports health tech companies in navigating and scaling within the NHS.

As part of the programme, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (OUH) became a shareholder in Lifeyear.

Fred Kemp, head of commercial data and innovation at OUH, said: “Lifeyear’s platform aligns with our mission to deliver innovative, patient-centred care.

“Their focus on digital cardiovascular care addresses a critical need in the NHS, and we are proud to support their journey as both a partner and shareholder.”

Looking ahead, the Lifeyear team is planning clinical pilots this year at OUH and with the Cardiomyopathy UK charity.

They are also actively pursuing UK grant funding and commencing a seed round to support accelerated growth.