Training healthcare professionals to use complex lab equipment has always been expensive and hands-on. It typically demands travel, face-to-face supervision, and access to the machines themselves. But Leeds-based startup Envoke is shaking things up with a powerful alternative. The company’s medical training simulation platform is helping lab technicians, clinicians, and support staff learn to operate equipment remotely—faster, cheaper, and with fewer errors.
This week, Envoke closed a new £1 million funding round to grow its virtual simulation platform. The investment will help accelerate development, boost sales, and support a bigger team as the company prepares for a future Series A raise. Half the funding comes from NPIF – Mercia Equity Finance, managed by Mercia Ventures as part of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund. The other half was co-invested by Finance Yorkshire’s Seedcorn Fund.
This marks a follow-up to Envoke’s previous £1 million raise in 2023, also led by NPIF and Mercia. That funding helped Envoke scale its offering in response to the growing demand for virtual healthcare training tools worldwide.
Transforming Device Training With Digital Twins and AI
Envoke’s platform stands out for offering realistic, interactive simulations of real lab instruments. Instead of flipping through manuals or watching videos, users can explore 3D digital twins of medical devices—right from their screen. These virtual replicas respond just like real machines, allowing professionals to practice setup, use, and troubleshooting before touching physical hardware.
That kind of simulation has become critical. In labs where equipment is expensive, scarce, or delicate, operator mistakes can lead to costly delays or errors. By building muscle memory and decision-making skills through Envoke, users boost confidence and performance before entering the lab.
More than just training, the platform supports remote technical assistance. Device manufacturers can walk users through setup or repairs in real time via the digital twin. There’s also an AI-driven diagnostics tool that identifies and helps solve common issues—minimising downtime and cutting the need for on-site support.
The platform is already trusted by major players including Bio-Rad, Waters Corporation, PacBio, Grifols, and Terumo Group. It’s used across NHS facilities, top research institutions, and global life sciences companies.
Envoke is growing quickly. After rolling out a major platform update in late 2024, it landed new clients and nearly doubled its annual recurring revenue within 12 months. The new capital will go toward marketing, product upgrades, and hiring—two new positions will soon join the 11-person team in Leeds.
Behind the idea is founder Stuart Warrington, who pivoted from digital animation into healthcare training. Originally, Envoke aimed to build virtual product demos. But as the pandemic reshaped the medical landscape, the need for smarter, remote-first training became impossible to ignore.
This funding round is also a win for regional innovation. Finance Yorkshire, one of the key backers, has supported 55 SMEs and safeguarded over 700 jobs in the past three years. It plans to invest £50 million in the region by 2027. NPIF, supported by the European Investment Bank and European Regional Development Fund, continues to fuel northern England’s startup ecosystem.
Warrington summed it up best: equipment downtime often comes from avoidable mistakes. With the right tools, staff can train more effectively, troubleshoot faster, and keep critical machines running. For hospitals, that means smoother operations. For manufacturers, lower warranty costs.
And for the broader healthcare industry, Envoke might just be the flight simulator for lab technicians.
