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A Teesside-based clinically led robotic surgery training company has secured investment from SFC Capital, alongside backing from the Chadda Family, as it develops a new approach to training surgeons.
Surghive was founded by Dr Rachael Coates, a robotic colorectal surgeon and the company’s chief executive, Christi Anderson, a finance and operations leader with more than two decades in financial services and professional services, including as a director at PwC, and Professor Deena Harji, consultant colorectal surgeon, academic and chief medical officer.
Andy Wood, appointed non-executive chairman of Surghive in October, brings further commercial, product and governance experience to the company as it moves towards commercialisation.
He is a technology business leader and former executive chairman of Cubic Motion, acquired by Epic Games in 2020.
The company is developing the immersive training software in response to the rapid adoption of robotic surgery and the corresponding need for accessible, scalable training for surgeons and the wider operating theatre team.
Ed Stevenson, fund principal at SFC Capital, said: "Surghive is addressing an important challenge at the intersection of healthcare, technology and education.
"As robotic surgery becomes increasingly established, there is a clear need for training solutions that can develop alongside the technology and be delivered at scale.
"We have been impressed by the combination of clinical knowledge, technical ambition and commercial thinking within the Surghive team and look forward to supporting the company as it develops its technology and takes the next steps towards commercialisation."
The Chadda Family, private investors, invested in the round alongside SFC Capital.
Shkun Chadda of the Chadda Family added: "We were attracted to Surghive because it is solving a real problem and isn’t technology for technology’s sake.
"Robotic surgery is developing incredibly quickly, but the training has to develop with it. Giving surgeons the opportunity to practise and improve in an immersive environment has enormous potential.
"We also really liked the team and at this stage of a company’s journey, you are investing in people as much as you are investing in technology."
Dr Rachael Coates, co-founder and chief executive of Surghive, said the aim of the business is to "create a flexible and accessible way for surgeons and surgical teams to develop their skills, irrespective of the robotic system they are using".
She called the backing "an important endorsement of that ambition and gives us additional momentum as we develop the platform".
Christi Anderson, co-founder and chief operating and financial officer of Surghive, noted: "This investment enables us to accelerate that work and continue building a product designed around the real-world requirements of surgeons, surgical teams and healthcare organisations."
Professor Deena Harji, co-founder and chief medical officer of Surghive, added that effective training is "fundamental to the safe and successful adoption of new surgical technologies".
