Welsh healthtech firm Pontiro has successfully secured $481K in a new funding round to advance its AI infrastructure within the National Health Service (NHS). The investment was led by SFC Capital, with notable participation from Plug and Play Ventures and the British Business Bank. This capital injection will fuel the company's expansion into NHS England and support the launch of a new platform for evaluating AI performance.
Proven Infrastructure within NHS Wales
Pontiro has established a strong track record within NHS Wales, having already processed over two million medical images through its platform. The system replaces cumbersome manual processes with automated tools integrated directly into existing hospital workflows for enhanced efficiency. This foundation, built collaboratively with clinicians, has been crucial to its success and adoption across multiple Welsh health boards.
The company's core technology provides secure data anonymisation, facilitates AI validation studies, and supports essential teaching workflows. By embedding these tools within the NHS environment, Pontiro significantly reduces compliance risks while accelerating data turnaround times. CEO Lewis Bowen emphasized that this co-development approach ensures the platform meets the real-world needs of its daily users.
Pivoting Towards AI Performance Measurement
As AI adoption in healthcare grows, Pontiro is evolving its offerings to meet new demands for accountability and measurable impact. The company is set to launch an innovative AI evaluation and return on investment (ROI) measurement platform in 2026. This development is backed by a $481K Growth Catalyst grant from Innovate UK, signaling a strategic shift towards performance analytics.
Healthcare leaders increasingly require more than just safe data access; they need concrete evidence that AI solutions deliver tangible operational value. Pontiro's upcoming platform is designed to provide this structured evidence of AI performance directly within live clinical settings. This addresses a critical market need for tools that can quantify the real-world benefits of artificial intelligence in medicine.
Strategic Investment for National Expansion
The $481K investment underscores strong investor confidence in Pontiro's proven model and future direction. Adam Beveridge of lead investor SFC Capital highlighted the company's compliant infrastructure and the growing necessity for its AI evaluation tools. This financial backing provides the necessary resources for Pontiro to scale its operations beyond its initial base in Wales.
The primary objective for the new funding is to facilitate expansion into NHS England trusts, where early discussions are already underway. Pontiro also aims to secure inclusion on national procurement frameworks, which would streamline the adoption process for public sector healthcare organizations. This strategic move is designed to make its proven infrastructure accessible to trusts across the entire United Kingdom.
This successful funding round marks a pivotal moment for Pontiro, enabling the company to scale its impactful work from a regional success to a national solution. By expanding its proven data management infrastructure and introducing a vital AI evaluation platform, Pontiro is well-positioned to enhance AI adoption across the NHS. The investment validates its approach and strengthens its mission to deliver measurable value in healthcare technology.