Cera secures over $150 million in funding

MONDAY 13 JANUARY 2025, LONDON, UK: Cera, the UK’s largest HealthTech company, has completed a transaction in excess of $150 million, led by funds affiliated with BDT & MSD Partners (“BDT & MSD”) and Schroders Capital.

This funding will enable Cera to further scale its AI-led home healthcare technology — reducing the pressure on the NHS by preventing hospitalisations in elderly and vulnerable people, shortening A&E waiting times and freeing up hospital beds.

The UK’s NHS is facing unprecedented challenges, as the population rapidly ages and demand for care surges. Waiting lists for care have ballooned to 7.5 million, with more than 300,000 people waiting over a year for care. Emergency services are overwhelmed: last year more than 150,000 UK patients waited over 24 hours in A&E, the bulk of them over 65.

Against this backdrop, Cera 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. Cera is also attracting thousands more people to a career in healthcare and empowering staff with new digital skills and productivity-boosting tech.

Cera covers a population of 30 million people, with almost 10,000 carers and nurses delivering 2.5 million healthcare visits a month to patients in their homes. At each of these visits, Cera staff deliver care and log patient symptoms digitally in the Cera App. Advanced AI algorithms then scan this patient data at scale to flag up patients at risk of illness or injury, mobilising staff to take preventative action in the community. So far this has resulted in hospitalisation reductions of up to 70%, a 20% reduction in patient falls, and hospital discharges that are up to five times faster.

Independent analyses have shown Cera’s AI-led home healthcare model saves the UK healthcare system £1 million a day. A trusted partner to the UK Government and NHS, Cera works in partnership with over 150 of the UK’s Local Governments, and two-thirds of NHS Integrated Care Systems.

As well as scaling its AI-led technology, Cera will use this 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.

Dr Ben Maruthappu MBE, Founder & CEO of 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.”

Rob Platek, Partner & 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.”

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.

Repeatedly ranked as the UK’s top HealthTech company, Cera’s pioneering approach has been recognised with the Tech for Good Award at the UK Tech Awards, Health Tech Digital’s Best Use of AI Award, HealthInvestor’s Innovator of the Year award, and Home Care Awards’ Most Outstanding Home Care Provider. Cera is also the first company in over 15 years to rank Top 10 in the Deloitte Fast 50, three years in a row.

Cera’s Founder and CEO Dr Ben Maruthappu recently won EY’s UK Entrepreneur of the Year 2024, following previous accolades including Great British Entrepreneur of the Year 2023, and an MBE for services to Health and Care technology in 2020.