Neupulse
Neupulse, a University of Nottingham spinout, has secured a 500,000 GBP equity investment through the Midlands Engine Investment Fund II, facilitated by appointed fund manager for the East and South East Midlands, Mercia Ventures.
Founded in 2021 by husband and wife team, Professors Stephen and Georgina Jackson, with Dr Barbara Morera at the University of Nottingham, Neupulse is pioneering a safe, non-drug treatment to help manage the symptoms of Tourette’s syndrome.
The wristband device stimulates the median nerve in the wrist to help control the tics or involuntary movements caused by Tourette’s syndrome. Clinical trials have shown the device can reduce tic frequency on average by 25% on initial use, with a further reduction in frequency after four weeks of use.
The funding will enable the company to finalise development of its device and carry out further trials as it seeks to gain regulatory approvals in the UK, Europe and the USA. It follows a 2.5 million GBP investment earlier this year from a consortium including Eos Advisory and US-based investors and brings the total the company has raised to date to almost 4.5 million GBP.
“This funding from Midlands Engine Investment Fund II will take us one step further towards our mission to roll out our device and give new hope to people with Tourette’s. Having Mercia Ventures on board as a partner provides additional value, given its expertise in backing businesses that are developing new products and helping them gain entry to the US market," said Paul Cable, CEO, Neupulse.
The 400 million GBP Midlands Engine Investment Fund II covers the entire Midlands region and provides debt finance from 25,000 GBP to 2 million GBP and equity investment up to 5 million GBP to help a range of small and medium sized businesses to start up, scale up or stay ahead.
University of Nottingham
Ken Cooper, Managing Director, Venture Solutions, British Business Bank said: “The Midlands Engine Investment Fund II has been established to ensure that businesses in the Midlands with strong growth ambitions have access to the finance they need. I’m delighted that the fund is supporting Neupulse, a spin out from the University of Nottingham, to help bring to market its innovative medical technology.”
Sandy Reid, Mercia Ventures added: “Tourette’s syndrome is believed to affect up to two per cent of all children worldwide but currently the only treatments are medication and behavioural therapy, neither of which are ideal solutions. Neupulse’s device offers a genuine alternative. This funding will help the company to bring it to market and transform lives.”
The purpose of the Midlands Engine Investment Fund II is to drive sustainable economic growth by supporting innovation and creating local opportunity for new and growing businesses across the Midlands. The Midlands Engine Investment Fund II will increase the supply and diversity of early-stage finance for smaller businesses in the Midlands, providing funds to firms that might otherwise not receive investment and help to break down barriers in access to finance.
