Circadacare has secured a £250,000 investment from the North East Innovation Fund – managed by Northstar Ventures and supported by the European Regional Development Fund.
A further £255,000 comes from new and existing angels, alongside a grant from Innovate UK’s North East digital launchpad scheme.
In the UK alone, the number of people aged over 80 is expected to reach 4m by 2035. An ageing population is pushing our health and social sectors to a crisis point.
Circadacare is helping to alleviate pressure on these struggling systems, while enabling the elderly and those with dementia to receive increased support, via a pioneering product called Heleos.
The standard type of lighting typically used in homes, hospitals and supported living facilities can negatively impact on the body’s natural rhythm, affecting patients’ awareness, sleep patterns and mood, whilst increasing the risk of falls – a major issue.
Equipped with circadian rhythm technology, Heleos uses light to support the body’s natural sleep-wake cycle.
Heleos appears like a simple light bulb and fits seamlessly into a user’s environment. It also discreetly gathers movement and sound data, flagging when intervention may be required and provides real-time feedback to clinicians, carers and families. It is integrated with other care technology providers to enable an accessible platform for users.
Circadacare is working with partners at local authorities, domiciliary care providers and care homes to deploy the product.
The business was awarded a grant from the Longitude Prize in Dementia in 2023 and several healthy ageing grants from Innovate UK. It also works closely with key regional partners such as National Innovation Centre Ageing (NICA).
Tom O’Neill, investment manager, Northstar Ventures, says: “We’re delighted to support Circadacare with further investment which will be used to deepen commercial partnerships with key customers and improve the quality of care received by users. Congratulations to Tallie and the wider Circadacare team.”
Tallie Bush, COO, Circadacare, says: “This funding comes at the perfect time for Circadacare.
“It enables us to accelerate our development roadmap and expand Heleos’ capabilities based on the valuable feedback we’ve received from our early adopters.
“We’re passionate about refining the technology that’s already making a difference in elderly care settings.
“With Northstar Ventures’ support, we can enhance our offering, building on our strong foundation to create even more powerful tools for older adults and their carers.”