An innovative health platform focused on prevention, early intervention and addressing health inequalities has raised £1.25m from Praetura Ventures to expand its team and accelerate the reach of its digital health solutions across the UK and Europe.
SiSU Health supports the early detection of risk factors, such as high blood pressure and obesity, with the aim of encouraging healthier lifestyle changes and generating anonymised population health data to inform public health strategies.
SiSU Health has secured the investment from the GMC Life Sciences Fund By Praetura, which comprises Bruntwood SciTech, Greater Manchester Combined Authority and Enterprise Cheshire and Warrington. Investment has also come from NPIF II – Praetura Equity Finance, which is managed by Praetura as part of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II.
Already supporting nearly 20,000 people a month with their health, the business is now using this latest investment to grow its reach across the UK and Europe, facilitated by growing a network of over 600 health stations by the end of 2026 in workplaces, NHS and community locations, and expanding its ecosystem of pathways and integrations.
As part of that growth, SiSU Health will be building on its Northern presence and expanding the operations and manufacturing of SiSU Health Stations within Manchester. The business is also currently working with the Department of Business & Trade to source a larger premises.
This is the fifth deal the two funds have co-invested on in the last 12 months, with the funds aiming to boost the impact they’re having on the North West’s life sciences ecosystem by working in collaboration.
SiSU Health, a corporate spinout led by CEO Samantha Fay with its operations and logistics based in Manchester, aims to empower individuals, including those that may be hard to reach or have limited access to healthcare services. This includes groups from more deprived areas. By providing rich data sets to local authorities, the NHS and employers, SiSU Health facilitates the delivery of wider health and economic benefits.
The business delivers a comprehensive solution that also encompasses the SiSU Health Station, which allows individuals to complete a self-service, fully digital health check in about five minutes, taking a range of biometrics to offer personalised health insights as well as calculating risk of chronic conditions such as heart disease and diabetes.
After using the SiSU Health Station, individuals have access to a companion platform to help them understand their results or be triaged for follow-on interventions if appropriate. The platform integrates with local health pathways, with case management and data integrations for health professionals.
By combining technology, behavioural science and data analytics, SiSU also helps to reduce the demand on overstretched NHS services, improve productivity for employers and tackle barriers to access for underserved communities. Collectively, the solution allows its customers – be that corporates, local authorities, health insurers or NHS Trusts – to make data informed decisions to improve the health output for their respective populations.
The news comes at a time when life expectancy is stalling across the UK for the first time and even falling in some areas with significant differences in years of good health according to where you live.
With over one million health checks delivered to date, SiSU Health data shows that over 70% of users of the SiSU Health platform have not had a recent blood pressure check, despite high blood pressure being one of the leading factors for cardiovascular disease and often preventable through earlier interventions.
This also represents a profound economic impact, with recent research finding that 31% of working age people in the UK currently have at least one long-term health conditions, which affects their ability to work, with employee sickness costing UK GDP £103bn, according to the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR).
Building on a significant portfolio of clients such as Aldi, Jaguar Land Rover, The AA, Workday and a range of council and NHS Trust clients, SiSU Health has recently played a key role in the delivery of the Department of Health and Social Care funded CVD Workforce Health Check Program and plans to launch a new Public Health proposition to the market later this year.
Samantha Fay, CEO at SiSU Health, said: “We’re building a future where everyone has the tools and confidence to take control of their health — wherever they are. This funding allows us to scale our digital platform, extend our reach into new communities, and strengthen our collaborations and integrations across employer, public health and primary care. Prevention has to be proactive, accessible and data-informed — and that’s exactly what SiSU Health delivers.”
Sim Singh-Landa, head of the GMC Life Sciences Fund By Praetura, said: “SiSU Health is bringing health into the modern age by helping individuals to take a health test at a time that’s convenient to them without judgement and the costs that can be associated with health checks. They are critically providing connected collaboration between the corporate world and public health systems, encouraging self-care and health awareness for individuals with supported follow-up and interventions, which has significant benefits for the NHS and public health. This latest co-investment between the GMC Life Sciences Fund By Praetura and NPIF II also shows the power of two well-established regional funders working together to help propel great companies in the region.”
Dr Kath Mackay, Chief Scientific Officer for Bruntwood SciTech, said: “The GMC Life Sciences Fund By Praetura was set up to grow the region’s life sciences footprint to new levels of widespread recognition and give support to innovative businesses like SiSU Health who are tackling challenges like public health and the need to reach underrepresented demographics. We’re looking forward to seeing what the future holds for the SiSU Health team, as they scale the business’s manufacturing and logistics output from right here in the North West.”
Sue Barnard, Senior Investment Manager at British Business Bank, said: “A key aim of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II is to invest in businesses that are paving the way in innovation and creating valuable solutions for the people it serves. It’s clear that the UK needs new solutions for healthcare issues and now, with the help of NPIF II funding, another great Northern business has secured the financial support it needs to help make this possible.”
