Aktiia develops and commercializes a 24/7 optical blood pressure monitoring device includes a connected wristband and an application that continuously and painlessly measures blood pressure to detect and prevent cardiovascular risks in a precise manner.
Founded in Neuchâtel in May 2018 by Dr. Mattia Bertschi and Dr. Josep Sola with the aim of transforming knowledge into action in the fight against hypertension, Aktiia's revolutionary technology was initially developed at the Swiss Center for Electronics and for Electronics and Microtechnology (CSEM).
While sales of the start-up’s device are accelerating in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, France and Italy, Aktiia has secured USD 17.5 million in a Series A funding round led by Draper Esprit. Additional Investors participating in the round include 415 Capital, Redalpine Venture Partners, Verve Ventures and Silicon Valley-based Translink Capital.
The new capital will be used to expand Aktiia’s commercial footprint in the NHS and key healthcare markets across. A percentage of the funds will also go towards obtaining FDA clearance to enable expansion to the US market, following Aktiia's reception of the CE Mark as a Class IIa medical device in Europe, signifying that the device has been assessed to meet high safety, health and environmental protection requirements.
An indisputable game changer
Professor Melvin Lobo, NHS Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine and Director of St. Bartholomew’s Hospital Blood Pressure Clinic commented : “I believe we are only scratching the surface of the possible applications for the long-term 24/7 blood pressure data that Aktiia is uniquely capable of providing to physicians. This is an indisputable game changer in enabling a better understanding of our patients’ blood pressure patterns and how to treat them on a personalized basis.”
