Spotlight Pathology secures £1.4m seed funding to advance AI-powered blood cancer diagnostics

UKI2S > News > Spotlight Pathology secures £1.4m seed funding to advance AI-powered blood cancer diagnostics

Spotlight Pathology, a UK healthtech company developing AI-powered tools to accelerate the diagnosis of blood cancers, has secured a £1.4 million seed investment to support the next phase of product development, regulatory progress and clinical adoption.
The round is co-led by the UK Innovation and Science Seed Fund (UKI2S) and Liverpool City Region Seed Fund, managed by AXM Venture Capital, with participation from River Capital, alongside follow-on investment from existing backers Deepbridge, EHE Ventures, Lyva Labs and Deepbridge.

Artificial intelligence is being used to help diagnose blood cancers faster, as pressure mounts on an overstretched health system facing delays and staff shortages.

Spotlight Pathology, a UK healthtech company based at UKRI’s Daresbury Laboratory campus in the Liverpool City Region, has developed AI software that analyses digital pathology images to support clinicians in identifying blood cancers more quickly and consistently.

Blood cancers are among the hardest to diagnose, often requiring multiple reviews by specialist pathologists. Delays can have serious consequences for patients, yet pathology departments across the UK are facing growing demand and a shortage of trained staff.

Designed to slot into existing clinical workflows, Spotlight’s technology helps pathologists prioritise cases and reach decisions sooner – enabling patients to begin treatment earlier.

The £1.4 million seed investment will support the company as it gains additional regulatory approvals and progresses through the first clinical in-use trials.

Sam Perona, Chief Executive Officer of Spotlight Pathology, comments on the raise:

“Blood cancers can be extremely challenging to diagnose, and diagnostic delays can have devastating consequences for patients. Our mission is to support pathologists with tools that fit seamlessly into existing workflows, helping them reach accurate diagnoses faster and with greater confidence.

“This investment gives us the momentum to move from development into real-world clinical settings. We’re excited to be scaling the business from Daresbury, working alongside partners across the North West and beyond, and to be strengthening our board with experienced leadership as we enter this next phase.”

Sakura Holloway, Investment Director at the UK Innovation and Science Seed Fund, managed by Future Planet Capital, added:

“Spotlight Pathology is a strong example of how UK university research can be translated into technologies that will transform patient outcomes. The team are addressing a critical challenge in blood cancer diagnosis, and with the right leadership and support in place, the company is well positioned to bring this technology into clinical settings

“This investment reflects our conviction in both the team and the technology, and our commitment to backing spin-outs that apply advanced science to pressing healthcare challenges, improving productivity in the health system and delivering meaningful global patient impact.

“I’m particularly excited about backing Sam Perona as CEO as Sam has successfully exited a UKI2S portfolio company, and to have introduced diagnostics industry leader Marcel Gehrung as Chair to Spotlight.”

Designed to slot into existing clinical workflows, Spotlight’s technology helps pathologists prioritise cases and reach decisions sooner – enabling patients to begin treatment earlier.

The £1.4 million seed investment will support the company as it gains additional regulatory approvals and progresses through the first clinical in-use trials.

Joanne Evans, Investment Director, at Liverpool City Region Seed Fund said:

‘We are delighted to invest in a team that brings together world leading expertise in haematopathology and AI, led by Sam Perona, who is an exceptional leader in health technology, and to support Spotlight Pathology’s growth in the region."

Cllr Liam Robinson, Leader of Liverpool City Council and Cabinet Member for Innovation at the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority said:

“Spotlight Pathology’s success is a powerful example of the groundbreaking health innovation emerging from our City Region. This investment is more than financial backing; it represents a commitment to accelerating lifesaving technologies that can transform how quickly and accurately blood cancers are diagnosed, which will make a real difference for people across our region.

“Through the LCR Seed Fund, alongside other funding partners, we’re ensuring that pioneering companies like Spotlight have the support they need to thrive and deliver real impact. Spotlight Pathology’s growth at Sci-Tech Daresbury reinforces our ambition to be a national leader in science, innovation, and deep-tech commercialisation.”

Spotlight Pathology was founded by Dr Richard Byers, a Consultant Haematopathologist, and Dr Martin Fergie, an AI specialist with more than 15 years’ experience developing advanced algorithms for healthcare applications.

Combining deep clinical insight with cutting-edge AI expertise, the founders set out to address long-standing diagnostic bottlenecks in haematopathology by developing tools that deliver real-world clinical benefit.

The funding further demonstrates the role of UKI2S’s Seed portfolio in backing companies emerging from the UK’s public research and innovation base and scaling them from nationally significant campuses such as Daresbury into globally impactful businesses.

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Spotlight Pathology secures £1.4m seed funding to advance AI-powered blood cancer diagnostics

Joanne Evans, Investment Director, at Liverpool City Region Seed Fund said:

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