Member News
Newcastle-based Circadacare has gained £250,000 investment from a fund managed by Northstar Ventures, the North East Innovation Fund, supported by the European Regional Development Fund. £255,000 also comes via 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 rising to the challenge of alleviating the pressure on these struggling systems whilst 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 is certainly garnering attention in the industry, having been awarded a grant from the Longitude Prize in Dementia in 2023 and several healthy ageing grants from Innovate UK. They also work 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."
