Raw Ventures Teams Up with LIHE To Support and Nurture UK MedTech Startups

Raw Ventures joined forces with the London Institute for Healthcare Engineering (LIHE) to support the next generation of UK MedTech startups through the MedTech Venture Builder (MVB) programme. 

Housed at King's College London and supported by a significant grant from Research England for a Collaborative Centre of Excellence, the programme is designed to help early-stage companies translate high-potential medical technologies into commercially viable ventures ready for equity funding.

This collaboration brings together LIHE’s domain expertise in healthcare innovation with Raw Ventures’ investment experience and access to a global network of founders, operators, and investors. The objective is to accelerate the development of companies that emerge from the UK's vibrant healthcare ecosystem, and streamline their path to becoming fully-fledged, profitable companies.

The MVB provides startups with the necessary structure to thrive, such as a regulatory plan, a clinical evidence roadmap, and stakeholder mapping. This is in addition to extensive hands-on guidance and monthly reviews in terms of strategic progress. Everything happens within a fit-for-purpose Quality Management System (QMS).

Raw Ventures will contribute to the programme in several ways. First, it will assist with candidate sourcing through its network and industry presence, helping to identify promising UK-based startups in medical devices and digital health. 

The team also plays an active role in mentoring companies accepted into the programme, offering commercial insights and supporting investment-readiness efforts through feedback sessions, pitch reviews, and one-on-one guidance. Members of Raw’s team, such as the fund's Chief Strategy Officer, are already engaged in supporting the current cohort.

The initiative reflects both organisations’ belief that what often holds back early-stage MedTech startups is not the quality of the underlying innovation, but a lack of access to capital, commercial guidance, and investor-ready positioning. Addressing these gaps requires coordinated support from both academic and venture communities.

LIHE’s MVB addresses these challenges by providing a clear pathway from product to market. Companies in the programme gain access to business-focused mentors who help shape their go-to-market strategy and bolster their commercialization prospects.

The UK has no shortage of talent or scientific output in healthcare innovation. However, the journey from research to implementation is complex. Many potentially world-changing ideas fail to progress because they lack the structure or support to become viable companies. This work reinforces a shared commitment to close the gap between both worlds, leveraging the world-class medical research the UK is already known for and forging a path ahead for profitable companies to emerge from this field.

The MedTech Venture Builder programme is one example of how targeted, high-engagement support can help strong ideas grow into companies with global potential. As Raw Ventures continues to expand its involvement in MedTech and healthcare innovation, its role in programmes like LIHE’s MVB offers a practical route to supporting early-stage founders and to remain closely connected to vibrant hubs where innovation is happening.

Raw Ventures continues to invest in high-potential companies across Europe and the US, with a particular focus on emerging technologies and applied innovation. We're proud to be a part of this journey and look forward to being a key player in the burgeoning MedTech sector in the UK.

Applications are now open for the MedTech Venture Builder – a unique opportunity for early-stage UK healthcare innovators. If you’re building the future of MedTech, apply by Wednesday, 30th April 2025. Learn more and apply here.