Cera secures more than £123m to roll out AI-led home healthcare
- 15 January 2025
- UK health tech firm Cera has completed a transaction in excess of $150m (£123m) to further scale its AI-led home healthcare technology
- The round was led by funds affiliated with BDT & MSD Partners and Schroders Capital
- It will also be used for advancing healthcare research and clinical trials for over-65s
UK health tech firm Cera has completed a transaction of more than $150 million (£123m) to further scale its AI-led home healthcare technology.
The round was led by funds affiliated with BDT & MSD Partners and Schroders Capital.
Cera says that the investment will help the firm to reduce pressure on the NHS by preventing hospitalisations in elderly and vulnerable people, shortening emergency room waiting times and freeing up hospital beds.
Dr Ben Maruthappu, founder and chief executive at Cera, said: “Cera is revolutionising healthcare using technology, AI and data — improving and saving countless lives nationwide, rebuilding the healthcare workforce and reducing NHS pressures.
“We are deeply grateful to our partners for their support; this funding round will accelerate our impact and our transformation of healthcare.”
As well as scaling its AI-led technology, Cera will use the funding to continue to expand into new service areas in the home, in addition to advancing healthcare research and clinical trials for over-65s.
It will also continue its work to build a more digitally empowered healthcare workforce – investing in digital skills and more productivity-enhancing technology.
Rob Platek, partner and global head of credit at BDT & MSD, said: “Cera has achieved strong growth through a demonstrated ability to leverage technology to deliver exceptional care.
“We believe Cera is well positioned to further scale its business, and we are pleased to provide financing to support its continued success.”
Cera says that it is innovating to build a new, more sustainable model of care, taking healthcare services from hospital to home, using AI to predict health risks and intervening earlier to prevent the need for hospitalisations.
Vahit Alili, senior investment director at Schroders Capital, said: “With its software-enabled approach to home healthcare, Cera positively delivers across all components of the iron triangle of healthcare.
“By using technology and AI to enhance quality, accessibility, and cost-efficiency, Cera fundamentally transforms how home healthcare is delivered, yielding a tangible positive impact on both individual lives and the broader healthcare system, especially in the UK.
“We’re delighted to continue our collaboration with Cera on this funding round on behalf of our clients.”
Other investors who have provided funding to Cera include: Kairos, the Vanderbilt Endowment, the University of Illinois Foundation, yabeo, CD Ventures and the Boehringer Family, Evolve Healthcare Partners, Escondido Ventures, Kanoo Ventures and Nordic Eye.
Cera covers a population of 30 million people, with almost 10,000 carers and nurses delivering two million healthcare visits a month to patients in their homes at which staff deliver care and log patient symptoms in the Cera App.
Advanced AI algorithms then scan this patient data at scale to flag up patients at risk of illness or injury.
A study, published in Sage Journals in December 2022, found that this resulted in hospitalisation reductions of up to 70%, a 20% reduction in patient falls, and hospital discharges that are up to five times faster.