Flight Simulator for Labs” Gains Momentum as Envoke Expands Virtual Training Platform for Medical Staff
British Health Tech startup Envoke has secured an additional €1.1 million to enhance its virtual training platform, which simulates lab equipment use to reduce downtime and improve medical staff training. The funding includes €593,000 from NPIF – Mercia Equity Finance and a matching €593,000 from Finance Yorkshire’s Seedcorn Fund.
Tackling Real-World Challenges in Medical Labs
“Healthcare services around the world rely on quick, accurate lab results,” said Stuart Warrington, CEO and co-founder of Envoke. “But training is costly, and machines often stop working due to simple, avoidable issues. Our platform helps staff learn better, reduces downtime, and lowers repair costs for manufacturers.”
Envoke was started in 2019, building on Warrington’s experience in film and animation. It began as a tool for product demos but soon became a way to train staff and support medical devices remotely.
Pioneering a First-of-Its-Kind Virtual Model
Envoke’s unique platform digitally recreates lab equipment and is currently the only Health Tech tool offering e-learning capabilities for medical devices. Its AI-powered diagnostics also help users resolve technical problems without needing service visits, providing direct benefits to both healthcare institutions and equipment manufacturers.
Clients include major global names like Bio-Rad, Waters Corporation, PacBio, Grifols, and the Terumo Group, with usage expanding across laboratories worldwide — including within the UK’s NHS and leading universities.
Backing Innovation in the North of England
“This platform could change lab training the way flight simulators changed pilot training,” said Dawn Tyler of Mercia Ventures. “We’re backing Envoke again because the healthcare industry is showing strong interest in their technology.”
After a £1 million investment in 2023, Envoke launched a new software feature and nearly doubled its yearly income. With the new funding, the company will improve the platform, grow its sales and marketing, and get ready for a Series A funding round. Envoke now has 11 staff and plans to hire two more soon.
Regional Impact and Future Growth
Alex McWhirter, CEO of Finance Yorkshire, praised Envoke as “a standout success in the growing tech and AI ecosystem of Yorkshire and Humber.”
Lizzy Upton, senior manager at the British Business Bank, highlighted Envoke’s story as “a strong case for how early-stage finance from the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund can fuel long-term innovation and job creation.”
