Fife-based Scottish healthtech company Epipole has received fresh investment of £1.3 million to help it expand into the US market.

Epipole will use the latest investment to hire people to help launch the company’s products and undertake early commercialisation, targeting primary care optometry and general ophthalmology practices.

The funding was led by Greenwood Way Capital, and also participation from Scottish Enterprise.

The company develops retinal imagining solutions to help combat blindness. It offers handheld devices that can take video scans of patients’ retinas. The images can then be used for assessment and diagnosis.

Scottish healthtech Epipole previously received funding in June 2020, when it received £1.5 million to bring its video retinal imaging device, the epiCam, to the US market.

This was the first time Greenwood Way Capital invested in the company, with additional funding coming from Scottish Enterprise though its investment arm the Scottish Investment Bank.

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In addition, the company has brought in medtech executive Conal Harte to take the CEO position. He will replace founder Craig Robertson, who will now work as chief technology officer.

Incoming Epipole CEO Conal Harte said: “I am delighted to have the opportunity to join the Epipole team at such an exciting time. Our unique approach to retinal imaging will help our clinician customers deliver an outstanding level of eye care to their patients through a market-leading technology that delivers exceptional imaging in a powerful, portable, and low-cost device. This latest investment round will kickstart our US growth ambitions.”

Epipole chairman Ian Stevens said: “I am pleased to welcome Conal to the company. He joins at a crucial moment in our development and brings the significant commercial experience of growing disruptive medical technologies in international markets.”

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