SleepCogni, a pioneering Sheffield-based MedTech company transforming insomnia care, is thrilled to announce significant developments within its leadership team and funding milestones.
The company has successfully raised a £300k EIS pre-approved bridging round, supported by existing investors and grants, bringing total funding to £3.9 million.
This infusion of capital extends SleepCogni’s runway through to a larger funding round planned for 2025, enabling the company to achieve major milestones including CE and FCC approvals and commercialising into the £35bn global sleep tech market.
Long-term investor Mark Milton-Edwards (pictured, right) has reinvested in this round and joined the team as a non-executive director to support global commercialisation. He brings over 30 years of experience in pharma and healthcare technology including at Teva Pharmaceuticals and AstraZeneca, with achievements including the creation of Digihaler, the first FDA- and MHRA-approved fully integrated digital inhaler.
Additionally, Joseph Hawkins (left) has been promoted to chief operating officer. Hawkins joined SleepCogni after collaborating on his dissertation at the University of Sheffield, where he successfully used machine learning to predict sleep onset, which is now used to personalise SleepCogni’s therapy.
Over the last six years, he has driven NHS collaborations, led UK and US sales, and secured £2m in funding. Alongside his role, he earned an MBA with distinction.
“I am delighted to strengthen our commercial team and announce this additional funding,” said Richard Mills, CEO.
“The continued support from our investors is a testament to their confidence in our mission and the team’s ability to deliver.
“With a well-rounded executive team featuring experience from global leaders in pharmaceuticals like Teva, healthcare insurance giants such as Aetna, and consumer retail leaders like Apple, we are well-positioned to drive the business forward.”
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“We welcome Mark Milton-Edwards to the team and celebrate Joseph Hawkins’ well deserved appointment as COO. Mark’s unparalleled expertise in digital health innovation, combined with Joseph’s energy, vision, and determination, will be instrumental as we prepare to scale rapidly and for international growth.
“Together, they reinforce our mission to revolutionise sleep health and position SleepCogni as a global leader in insomnia care.”
Milton-Edwards added: “I’m excited to join SleepCogni at such a pivotal stage in its journey. The team, led by Richard, has already achieved remarkable success, with their therapy demonstrating significant improvements vs. sham control in a randomised clinical trial setting.
“The opportunity in sleep is immense, and I believe SleepCogni’s technology has the potential to address a critical global need, changing millions of lives through better sleep. I look forward to contributing my experience in digital health innovation to help unlock the company’s potential for worldwide impact.”