Ascension is an early-stage VC built by exited entrepreneurs to back the next generation of tech and impact founders. Run by an experienced and diverse team of successful entrepreneurs, we have been relentlessly dedicated to finding the UK’s best Seed-stage startups since 2014. Ascension benefits from the active industry connections essential for the sourcing and development of deal-flow and due diligence. The team has co-invested with the UK’s leading angels and VCs, key to securing follow-on funding as the portfolio businesses move to their next stage of growth. We believe in building an inclusive, community driven brand that can benefit the wider UK tech ecosystem and strive to work with conviction, integrity, humour, and humility.

Ascension

Calm/Storm Ventures is a founder network and boutique venture capital firm that invests in solutions improving health and wellbeing. They invest in founders that change lives for the better. Calm/Storm Ventures believe in lifelong learning and personal growth, empowering entrepreneurs with unique access to successful founders.

Calm/Storm Ventures

Morningside Ventures is an investment firm

Morningside Ventures

Suvera

At Suvera we superpower primary care to deliver truly effective virtual care for patients with long-term conditions. Effective for us means improved outcomes for patients - less hospital admissions, less doctor appointments, more time in good health.

<div>UK-based Suvera is a virtual care startup that allows primary care providers to remotely monitor patients with chronic conditions. The platform also integrates with healthcare providers&rsquo; EHR platforms and has an in-house clinical team that supports clinicians. The platform also enables virtual consultations. As of July 2022, the company has partnered with 40 healthcare providers and supported over 20,000 patients.&nbsp;</div>

More important now than ever, telehealth will long outlast the pandemic that drove its growth.

Telehealth

Suvera is a digital health company that provides a virtual care platform for managing long-term chronic conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Founded in 2019, the company offers a combination of remote care teams and proprietary technology to reduce the workload and waiting times at physical clinics. Suvera's platform allows for tracking blood pressure results, administering prescriptions, and conducting yearly and medication reviews over the phone. The company's technology integrates with major health record systems like EMIS and SystmOne, enabling efficient management of patient data and care coordination.

Google-backed virtual care startup Suvera raises £5m

Suvera Raises £5M in Funding

Black-Owned Suvera Named Among World’s Most Promising Digital Health Startups

Online clinic for long term conditions (cardiovascular disease)

NHS Innovation Accelerator

GP pharmacists to lead north east London virtual hypertension programme

South East London, Suvera partner on virtual care to manage hypertension

Redefining hospital care with the comfort of home

Hospital-at-Home

<div>
 
 UK-based Suvera is a virtual care startup that allows primary care providers to remotely monitor patients with chronic conditions. The platform also integrates with healthcare providers&rsquo; EHR platforms and has an in-house clinical team that supports clinicians. The platform also enables virtual consultations. As of July 2022, the company has partnered with 40 healthcare providers and supported over 20,000 patients.&nbsp;
 
 
 Fundings and financials
 
 
 In July 2022, the company raised GBP 5 million (USD 6.1 million) in a funding round led by Morningside Ventures. The funds were set aside to develop its technology and to secure more partnerships with entities across the UK in order to grow the company&rsquo;s reach.&nbsp;
 
 
 
</div>

Nice healthcare is a virtual and in-home primary care provider that offers a suite of healthcare services to small and medium-sized businesses, including primary care, mental health therapy, and physical therapy. Nice healthcare operates on a fixed monthly fee per member model, allowing employees to access unlimited care without additional out-of-pocket costs. The company provides virtual consultations through its app, as well as in-home visits for physical exams, lab tests, and X-rays.&nbsp;As of <a href="https://www.nice.healthcare/locations">August 2024</a>, Nice Healthcare was operating in 12 states: Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wisconsin. The company's services covered <a href="https://www.nice.healthcare/the-nicessities/three-categories-of-primary-care#:~:text=Only%204%25%20of%20our%20patients,with%20Nice%20may%20look%20like.">over 95%</a> of issues patients typically discuss with their clinicians, with <a href="https://www.nice.healthcare/the-nicessities/three-categories-of-primary-care#:~:text=Only%204%25%20of%20our%20patients,with%20Nice%20may%20look%20like.">only 4%</a> of patients being referred to external specialists. The company employs nurse practitioners, registered nurses, physician assistants, and medical assistants to deliver care.As of <a href="https://www.nice.healthcare/the-nicessities/three-categories-of-primary-care">August 2024</a>, Nice healthcare offered 35 free labs and physical tests as well as in-home imaging services and prescribed over 550 free medications that could be picked up at over 60,000 pharmacies nationwide or delivered to patients' homes.&nbsp;Key customers and partnershipsIn <a href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/getlabs-and-nice-healthcare-partner-to-expand-access-to-virtual-healthcare-services-and-at-home-lab-testing-301813668.html">May 2023</a>, Nice Healthcare announced a partnership with Getlabs, a provider of at-home diagnostic collections. This collaboration aimed to expand access to in-home healthcare services and lab testing, allowing Nice healthcare patients to benefit from a more comprehensive suite of diagnostic tests.

Nice Healthcare

Amicomed is a cloud-based Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) platform which provides blood pressure monitoring services. It collects blood pressure data of patients from at-home devices, applies algorithms, and assesses the fluctuations in the blood pressure. Physicians can be connected and provided with blood pressure data of their patients in order to facilitate their workload, enabling more personalized management of patients regarding medication and lifestyle indications.Amicomed can also recommend actionable and personalized lifestyle interventions such as daily diet and exercises via virtual coaching.

Amicomed

Winston is a men’s health telemedicine platform that treats common issues impacting men such as sexual problems, hair loss, acne, and cold sores. Winston allows patients to consult doctors, place orders for prescription drugs, and offers free delivery to the homes of patients.The Toronto-based company aims to avoid men deferring doctor visits or withholding sensitive information. The consultation fee is covered by the provincial health plan, but the prescriptions are billed to the customer.

Winston

Dialogue is a leading virtual care and well-being platform that provides comprehensive health services to organizations and their employees. Founded in 2016, the company offers an integrated health platform that centralizes various health and wellness programs in a single application, accessible <a href="https://www.dialogue.co/en/blog/dialogues-2023-year-in-review#:~:text=Serving%2015%25%20of%20the%20Canadian%20population&amp;text=How%3F,aspects%20of%20their%20well%2Dbeing.">24/7/365</a>. Dialogue's services include primary care, mental health support, employee assistance programs, and wellness initiatives. As of <a href="https://www.dialogue.co/en/blog/dialogues-2023-year-in-review#:~:text=Serving%2015%25%20of%20the%20Canadian%20population&amp;text=How%3F,aspects%20of%20their%20well%2Dbeing.">December 2023</a>, Dialogue's platform was accessible to around 6 million Canadians, representing approximately 15% of the country's population.The company saw significant growth in <a href="https://www.dialogue.co/en/blog/dialogues-2023-year-in-review#:~:text=Serving%2015%25%20of%20the%20Canadian%20population&amp;text=How%3F,aspects%20of%20their%20well%2Dbeing.">December 2023</a>, with a 34% increase in consultations across all aspects of well-being in 2023 compared to the previous year. Mental health consultations, in particular, saw a 67% increase.&nbsp;In <a href="https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/dialogue-enters-into-license-agreement-with-sun-life-u-s--824463104.html">July 2023</a>, Dialogue was acquired by Sun Life for an undisclosed sum, expanding its reach beyond Canada. This expanded service reach was estimated to cover an additional 600,000 members in the US. The acquisition was completed in <a href="https://www.sunlife.com/en/newsroom/news-releases/announcement/sun-life-completes-the-acquisition-of-dialogue-canadas-premier-health-and-wellness-virtual-care-platform/123792/">October 2023</a>, with Dialogue continuing to operate as a standalone entity.Key customers and partnershipsThe company has partnerships with major insurers and benefits providers to offer its services as part of employee benefits packages. Additionally, the company noted that, as of <a href="https://www.dialogue.co/en/pricing">August 2024</a>, it worked with over 50,000 companies across Canada to provide its services to employees.

Dialogue

Grin offers telemedicine and remote monitoring services for orthodontic needs such as braces and teeth straightening. Patients can conduct self-scans (using a Grin device made available to patients in collaboration with 3M) which can be connected to their smartphones and share the feed with orthodontists to access dental solutions. The company plans to go to a subscription-based model after the pandemic. The app also encourages patients to have a 40-second check monthly and share the scan with a dentist in order to allow patients to regularly maintain their dental hygiene.Grin is the only Telehealth disruptor covered on the hub that provides virtual orthopaedic consultations.Funding and financialsIn April 2021, the New York-based teledental platform concluded a seed funding of USD 14 million, and the funds will be allocated to develop additional functionalities by building out its technology. The proceeds will also be used to scale up its team, expand its geographic footprint, and add doctors to the company’s orthodontic partner network.

Grin

Real-time collection of patients’ health-related data using any remote patient monitoring device combined with general telemedicine services to reduce readmission rates.

A platform that facilitates the transmission of patient data to different locations for further evaluation and interpretation by medical specialists.

A digital platform that offers specialty care services to address the specific needs of a patient or demographic, including consultations where patients are generally reluctant to meet practitioners face-to-face.

Primary care through virtual consultations for general health-related concerns using a digital platform or mobile app.

Companies developing B2B software solutions for patient engagement, care navigation, practice management, and electronic health records integration to facilitate telehealth services for healthcare providers.

Companies that use GenAI as a core part of their product offering for Telehealth

IoT is used by most telehealth providers to operate virtual services

All telehealth players are involved in digital health via virtual offerings

Industry players offer varying degrees of personalization for each target audience

Some players offer technology and platforms to healthcare providers, converting physical-only services into virtual services

Specific telehealth offerings focus on diversity and inclusion, providing care to LGBTQ+ or BIPOC populations

Generative AI is used to streamline administrative tasks such as clinical note-taking

Suvera is a digital health company that provides a virtual care platform for managing long-term chronic conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Founded in 2019, the company offers a combination of remote care teams and proprietary technology to reduce the workload and waiting times at physical clinics. Suvera's platform allows for tracking blood pressure results, administering prescriptions, and conducting yearly and medication reviews over the phone. The company's technology integrates with major health record systems like EMIS and SystmOne, enabling efficient management of patient data and care coordination.
Suvera's virtual clinic approach has shown significant impact in managing chronic conditions. The company reports that patients enrolled in their program experience a 10-15 mmHg reduction in systolic blood pressure within the first three months. The platform achieves an average of 85% engagement across all demographic groups. Suvera's technology also enables clinicians to manage a 31% larger patient register compared to those without access to the platform. As of July 2023, Suvera was helping more than 81,000 patients across over 90 GP practices in the UK.
Key customers and partnerships
Suvera has established partnerships with various NHS organizations and integrated care systems. In July 2023, the company partnered with NHS North East London integrated care board to run a six-month hypertension program aimed at identifying and managing 1,800 "at risk" patients across nine GP practices in Tower Hamlets, Newham, and Waltham Forest. In February 2024, Suvera announced a collaboration with NHS South East London Integrated Care System to improve hypertension control in the Lewisham borough. The company has also worked with over 100 GP practices across the UK, including in Cambridgeshire, Brighton, Shropshire, and north central London, to implement heart disease prevention programs.

<div>
 
 AdaptHealth is a network of full-service medical equipment companies that provides tailored products and services to enable patients to live their best lives at home rather than in hospitals. The company offers a wide range of medical equipment and supplies, including CPAP machines, oxygen units, walkers, and compression socks. AdaptHealth's business model focuses on delivering healthcare solutions that fit into patients' everyday lives, with offerings that span from doctor's prescriptions to doorstep delivery.
 
 
 
 
 The company emphasizes customer service and satisfaction as its primary concern, providing online support to answer questions and a team of customer service representatives to help patients choose the right supplies. AdaptHealth also offers fast and convenient shipping directly to patients' homes. In November 2020, AdaptHealth acquired New England Home Medical Equipment (NEHME), a leading supplier of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) and diabetes management supplies in the New England and Northeastern US. NEHME generated net revenues of approximately USD 31 million for the twelve months ended September 30, 2020, contributing to AdaptHealth's expansion in the diabetes care sector.
 
 
 
 
 Key customers and partnerships
 
 
 
 
 
 AdaptHealth serves a diverse range of patients with various medical needs, including those requiring CPAP machines for sleep apnea, oxygen therapy, mobility aids, and diabetes management supplies. The company's customer base includes individuals with chronic medical conditions who require ongoing support and medical equipment. Through its acquisition of NEHME, AdaptHealth expanded its reach to diabetes patients throughout New England and the Northeastern US.
 
</div>

AdaptHealth

DispatchHealth is a Denver-based healthcare company that provides comprehensive in-home medical care services across the US. Founded in 2013, the company aims to transform healthcare delivery by offering high-acuity care in the comfort of patients' homes. DispatchHealth's services include same-day urgent medical care, hospital alternative care, and recovery care. The company employs teams of emergency medicine and internal medicine trained professionals, including nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and emergency medical technicians, who are equipped with advanced medical tools and technologies to treat a wide range of conditions typically handled in emergency rooms or urgent care centers.
DispatchHealth's care model utilizes a proprietary technology platform that manages various aspects of the in-home care experience, including logistics, onboarding, risk stratification, care coordination, and analytics. This platform enables real-time data insights to improve patient outcomes. The company's services are designed to reduce unnecessary emergency room visits, hospital stays, and readmissions, resulting in significant cost savings for the healthcare system. As of December 2023, DispatchHealth reported treating more than one million patients across more than 30 states, leading to a 58% reduction in emergency room visits, an 8.5% 30-day hospital readmission rate, and nearly USD 1.5 billion in medical cost savings.
Key customers and partnerships
DispatchHealth has established partnerships with various healthcare stakeholders, including health plans, provider groups, health systems, employers, senior living facilities, and home health organizations. In May 2023, the company announced a collaboration with Included Health to enhance virtual-to-in-home care delivery, enabling Included Health's virtual primary care clinicians to coordinate with DispatchHealth's in-home clinical services.
DispatchHealth also formed a partnership with Instacart in January 2024 to address food insecurity among patients. This collaboration allows DispatchHealth's medical professionals to provide digital food stipends, offer medically tailored shopping lists, and send food directly to patients' homes.
In the Spokane area, DispatchHealth partnered with MultiCare Health System in August 2019 to improve healthcare access for at-risk patient populations. The company works with almost all major insurance companies, including Medicare and parts of Medicaid, to reduce the cost of care significantly.

DispatchHealth

Honor Technology, Inc. is a home care company that operates a technology-enabled platform to provide care services for older adults. Founded in 2014, Honor combines local care, 24/7 support, and advanced technology through its proprietary Honor Care Platform. This platform utilizes dynamic scheduling software and machine learning to optimize caregiver-client matching based on skills, commute times, and other factors. It also assists with caregiver recruiting, training, scheduling, and performance analysis.
In August 2021, Honor acquired Home Instead, one of the largest home care providers globally. This acquisition expanded Honor's reach significantly, with the combined company representing over USD 2.1 billion in revenue as of October 2021. Honor's technology aims to improve efficiency and care quality across its network of caregivers and partner agencies.
The company offers various services through different arms of its business. Honor Expert, launched in April 2022, is an online and mobile service that connects older adults and their families with resources, tools, and services related to aging and health issues. Honor also operates the Honor Care Network, which partners with independent home care agencies to provide back-office support, technology, and operational expertise in exchange for a share of revenue.
Key customers and partnerships
Honor has established partnerships with several national companies to enhance its service offerings. As of April 2022, Honor Expert had 14 national partners, including Amazon Business, Best Buy, SelectRX, and Freshly. These partnerships aim to provide users with access to a range of products and services addressing various aging-related needs.
The company's acquisition of Home Instead significantly expanded its customer base. Home Instead operates in 12 countries and has over 600 franchised locations in the US alone. This expansion has allowed Honor to serve clients across a wider geographic area and potentially develop contracts with national insurance carriers or major health systems.
Honor also partners with independent home care agencies through its Honor Care Network. These partnerships allow smaller agencies to benefit from Honor's technology and operational capabilities while maintaining their local presence and client relationships.

Honor

Alto Pharmacy is a digital pharmacy platform founded in 2015 by former Facebook engineers Jamie Karraker and Mattieu Gamache-Asselin. The company aims to simplify the prescription process and improve medication adherence through its technology-enabled solution. Alto's platform streamlines coordination between patients, doctors, and insurance companies, offering free same-day prescription delivery, lower costs on medications, and access to pharmacist support.
Alto's services include a mobile app for patients to manage their prescriptions, set reminders, and chat with pharmacists. The company also offers Alto Connect, a mobile app for doctors' offices to streamline prescription management and communication. Alto specializes in delivering medications for various conditions, including HIV, hepatitis C, asthma, rheumatology, and cardiology, among others.
As of 2022, Alto Pharmacy operates in 13 markets across the US, including major cities like San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York, and Houston. The company has experienced rapid growth, with its annual revenue reaching USD 700 million in 2022 and projections to cross the USD 1 billion mark by the end of that year. Alto has delivered over 4 million prescriptions to hundreds of thousands of patients and claims to have provided more than USD 120 million in savings to date.

Alto Pharmacy

LetsGetChecked is a healthcare solutions company that provides at-home diagnostic testing kits and virtual care services. Founded in 2015 by Peter Foley, the company offers over 30 different health tests covering areas such as sexual health, women's health, men's health, general wellness, and Covid-19. LetsGetChecked's testing process involves customers ordering a kit online, collecting their sample at home, and mailing it back to CLIA-certified and CAP-accredited laboratories for analysis. Results are typically available within 2-5 days through a secure online portal. The company utilizes biomarkers to analyze health conditions and employs highly accurate testing methods like NAAT PCR and electrochemiluminescence arrays for certain tests. In November 2023, LetsGetChecked achieved a significant milestone when the FDA granted marketing authorization for its Simple 2 Test, the first at-home test for chlamydia and gonorrhea. The company has expanded its services to include telehealth consultations and prescription delivery, aiming to provide a comprehensive healthcare solution. LetsGetChecked operates its own manufacturing facilities and laboratories, allowing for quality control throughout the testing process. As of 2024, the company has delivered over 7 million tests and serves more than 30 markets globally.
Key customers and partnerships
LetsGetChecked has partnered with over 300 corporate customers to provide testing services and biometric screening solutions. The company has also collaborated with major retailers and healthcare providers. In 2023, LetsGetChecked announced a partnership with PatientsLikeMe (PLM), a community health network, to offer PLM members access to testing at discounted prices. Additionally, the company has worked with UnitedHealthcare, Optum, HSA Store, FSA Store, and CVS Pharmacy. LetsGetChecked's services are available nationwide in the US, the UK, and most EU countries, with co-headquarters in Dublin and New York.

LetsGetChecked

Digital platforms that connect patients with in-person medical care providers in the comfort of their homes and support care delivery

Platforms enabling healthcare providers to order in-home therapies, durable medical equipment, and provide virtual acute care services

Companies offering a full-stack of in-home medical services including health evaluations, virtual and in-person visits for a variety of needs, and care coordination by leveraging data analytics

Platforms providing accessible lab testing solutions for a range of conditions, allowing patients to conveniently perform tests in their own homes

Digital pharmacies that deliver prescription medications directly to patients' homes and platforms that help track and manage medication adherence

Solutions enabling hospitals to establish hospital-at-home programs and providing workflow management tools for home care providers

Suvera

About EDGE

Contact Us

Resources

Area of Focus

Technology Research Made Effortless