The firm’s platform has already attracted attention from US firms and is now looking to the Asia-Pacific market
16:39, 12 May 2026Updated 16:49, 12 May 2026
Stuart Warrington, CEO Envoke.(Image: Shaun Flannery Photography Ltd)
A Leeds firm whose software provides remote training and support for medics has set its sights on the Asia-Pacific market after raising a further £1.6m. Envoke has secured the funding from existing investors NPIF – Mercia Equity Finance, which is managed by Mercia and is part of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund, and Finance Yorkshire’s Seedcorn Fund, alongside new investor Foresight Group.
Envoke, which was founded in 2019 by Stuart Warrington, has recently won a number of major new clients including Hawai’s national blood laboratories and the US-based Mayo Clinic, and is on course to exceed £1m annual recurring revenue within the next 12 months. It has also attracted major US-based equipment manufacturers including Bio-Rad, ThermoFisher Scientific, PacBio and Haemonetics, as well as the NHS and other health services and universities. Now bosses are keen to target a wider global audience.
The firm’s platform creates a virtual replica of complex laboratory equipment and uses interactive simulations to show staff how to use it. The system also enables remote troubleshooting and maintenance, which means that many problems can be quickly resolved without calling out an engineer.
The platform has been shown to reduce the number of call-outs by 15-20%, enabling manufacturers to cut servicing costs. It also helps healthcare providers to avoid disruption to services caused by breakdowns. The latest funding brings the total raised to date to over £4m.
The company, which currently employs 16 staff including two in the US, expects to create three to five new jobs in the UK in the year ahead.
Mr Warrington, CEO, said: “Laboratory equipment is challenging to operate and technical problems are commonplace. Each service call-out typically costs manufacturers $2,500 and a breakdown can seriously disrupt health services by delaying critical test results. Envoke is tackling these problems. Customer feedback shows our system helps laboratories to reduce downtime and provide more consistent operator training, while enabling manufacturers to cut service costs and boost revenue.“
Dawn Tyler of Mercia Ventures added: “Envoke has come a long way since our original investment three years ago. The company has built an impressive client base among US multinationals, achieved very positive customer feedback and launched a new platform that is the most powerful to date. With growing global demand for virtual training and maintenance systems, it is now well positioned to reach out to an even wider international audience.”
Finance Yorkshire CEO Alex McWhirter said: “Envoke is a trailblazer in the health care technology sector with its solutions attracting a worldwide customer base. Finance Yorkshire is pleased to support the company in its next stage of growth and ambition to compete in the Asia-Pacific market.”
Line Gauteplass, Senior Investment Manager at Foresight Group, said: “Envoke has developed a highly compelling platform that addresses real operational challenges for both laboratory equipment manufacturers and healthcare providers. The business has already demonstrated strong traction with leading global customers, and we see significant potential as it expands internationally, particularly across Asia‑Pacific.
“We are pleased to support Stuart and the team as they scale the business and build on this next phase of growth.”
Debbie Sorby, Senior Investment Manager at the British Business Bank, said: “It is encouraging to see the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund continuing to support Envoke as it advances through its growth journey, illustrating how the fund enables businesses to scale over time. The company has made strong progress to date, establishing a robust customer base and delivering technology that addresses well‑defined challenges in laboratory training and maintenance.”
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