Sava raises $19M Series A following breakthrough clinical biosensor results

London-based startup pioneering real-time molecular health monitoring, Sava Technologies, has raised $19 million in Series A funding, following promising early results from its clinical trial. The round will help Sava accelerate regulatory approval and commercialisation of its next-generation wearable.

Founded in 2019 by Imperial College London bioengineers Renato Circi and Rafaël Michali, Sava’s mission is to build the technological foundation for preventative and personalised healthcare. The team has created a proprietary multi-molecule biosensor that can detect biomarkers just beneath the skin in real time. This technology powers their first product, a pain-free wearable device that provides real-time molecular insights to a smartphone, offering a more affordable alternative to current solutions.

Sava’s latest clinical trial, independently conducted across sites in Oxford and Cambridge, enrolled 50 patients with Type 1 and insulin-dependent Type 2 diabetes. Early results from the first 25 participants demonstrated that Sava’s proprietary technology delivered accurate and reliable glucose readings for up to 10 days of continuous use, a milestone unmatched by current microsensor platforms, which often struggle beyond 24 hours and rarely last more than five days. 

Designed in collaboration with leading diabetes clinicians and regulators, the trial lays a critical foundation for future regulatory submissions and Sava’s upcoming pivotal study, planned for launch next year. 

Rafaël Michali, co-founder and co-CEO of Sava, explained:

This clinical trial marks a pivotal moment not just for Sava, but for the future of biosensing and personalised healthcare. The data generated so far has shown that our technology has the potential to match the performance of leading CGMs in the market today, without the invasiveness or high cost of filament-based systems. It paves the way for a completely novel approach to biosensing that can redefine the way we approach not only chronic disease management, but any health goal.

Sava’s device is designed to transform diabetes care by addressing the key barriers limiting CGM adoption: pain, cost, and accessibility. While only 1 per cent of people with diabetes currently use CGMs, this small group already drives over $11 billion in annual sales, growing at 10 per cent each year. 

By offering a pain-free, affordable, and highly scalable alternative, Sava aims to significantly expand access to continuous glucose monitoring and reshape the future of diabetes management.

The round was led by Balderton Capital and Pentland Ventures, with strong participation from new investors Norrsken VC and JamJar Investments. They were joined by other investors, including True, Italian Founders Fund, Athletico Ventures and Exceptional Ventures.

Understanding what’s going on in our bodies is the first step to improving our health,

said James Wise, Partner at Balderton, adding: 

Sava’s innovation has the potential to democratise access to glucose monitoring, as well as many other biomarkers, making them more practical for the millions of people who need them but can’t afford or tolerate the current options. Beyond diabetes, which alone is one of the greatest health challenges of our time, their platform opens the door to an entirely new era of personalised health monitoring.

Powering the future of preventative health

Glucose monitoring is just the beginning for Sava. Its modular, multi-analyte sensing platform is designed to detect a range of additional molecules, allowing users to seamlessly track multiple biomarkers in real time. This opens the door to a future of preventative and personalised healthcare. With rising interest from athletes and health-conscious consumers, Sava is also well-positioned to enter the booming global wearables market, expected to surpass $100 billion by 2029.

Renato Circi, co-founder and co-CEO of Sava, shared:

We have built a modular platform, capable of multi-molecule sensing. New molecules will create new use cases. What we’re building here is not just a device, but a whole new technological foundation for personalised healthcare, where anyone can use a biosensor to understand their health in real-time, at a molecular level.

This latest round brings Sava’s total funding to $32 million, with backing from leading VCs, returning angel investors, along with funding from the EU and UK Government.

Charlie Rubin, Investor at Pentland Ventures, said: 

With its world-first technology, breakthrough clinical trial results, and new funding, Sava is positioned to lead the next wave of innovation in the $100B+ global health wearables market - beginning with CGM and creating a new market for real-time, multi-biomarker sensing. We are thrilled to be a part of the journey.

The new funding will support the growth of Sava’s world-class team, scale up automated manufacturing to meet target launch volumes, and accelerate clinical validation of its microsensor technology.

Lead image: Sava Technologies co-founders | Photo: Uncredited