Monitor money

PUK Ventures, the venture capital business of Partnerships UK, has completed an investment of £750,000 – part of a £1.175m funding round – in Monica Healthcare.

Monica Healthcare was formed by researchers from Nottingham University's School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering and Department of Obstetrics.

The company has developed miniature, wireless technology that can monitor a foetus for extended periods of time while allowing the mother to move around as normal.

Existing techniques such as ultrasound are not very effective in uninterrupted monitoring over longer periods of time and restrict mothers’ movement.

The investors in the new round of funding are PUK Ventures (£750,000), Catapult Venture Managers (£300,000) and Nottingham University itself (£100,000) with private investors contributing a further £25,000.

Proceeds will be used towards expansion of the company's activities in the US and other international markets.