UK-based Univa Health, which revolutionise eating disorder care with AI, has raised £1 million in pre-seed funding. The round was led by Germany-based YZR Capital (which backed healthcare startups scan.com and clare&me), and backed by Austria-based Calm/Storm Ventures, two of Europe’s most active healthtech investors.
Plans to launch in early 2025
The funding will support the development and commercialisation of Univa’s personalised digital care platform, designed to transform how healthcare systems manage and treat eating disorders while improving the lives of those affected and their loved ones. The investment will also fund Univa’s first clinical study, beginning in October, in collaboration with the UK’s NHS and help build the tech, product, and clinical teams needed for the platform’s launch in early 2025.
What challenge does it tackle?
Over the past five years, hospital admissions for eating disorders have surged by 84% in the UK and 121% in the US, highlighting the urgent need to tackle the devastating impact of inaccessible and ineffective care. The heterogeneity of eating disorders further complicates treatment, as many healthcare services rely on one-size-fits-all approaches. This lack of personalisation, combined with a shortage of skilled clinicians, results in half of those with eating disorders not responding to treatment.
NHS is only able to provide care for 10% of adults with eating disorders. Nearly half of urgent cases for children waited more than 12 weeks for treatment. This backlog forces systems to prioritise only the most severe cases, leaving many without timely, tailored care that reflects the complexity of their conditions.
Co-founded by healthcare entrepreneurs Rich Andrews and Jose Santos Univa Health is addressing the critical challenges in eating disorder care.
Founders behind Univa Health
Rich Andrews brings relevant experience from founding Healios and leading the company for over a decade to become the largest mental health and neurodevelopmental digital clinic in the UK for children and young people. He then expanded Healios into the US under the brand name Meliora Health before stepping away and starting Univa.
Jose Santos also brings relevant experience from over a decade in the digital health field at several companies. Most recently, after his wife was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) he co-founded Indivi in 2017 to build dreaMSMD, the world’s first CE-marked digital biomarker platform to help patients with MS and their neurologists to better track and manage their condition.
AI-driven eating disorder treatment
Univa Health offers a range of digital tools to enhance the management, monitoring, and treatment of eating disorders. These tools include tailored therapeutic programs, AI-driven health monitoring features, and real stories from individuals who have lived through eating disorders, delivered through interconnected apps for both patients and their carers. By involving families in the care process, the platform maximises treatment results and eases the burden on clinical teams.
Clinicians can use the platform’s professional portal to create tailored treatment plans and monitor patient well-being in real-time. This approach allows for more personalised care and enables clinical teams to allocate resources more efficiently, ensuring that those most in need receive timely support while patients further along in their recovery continue to receive the necessary guidance and care.
Investors’ views
Reinhard Meier MD MBA, Founding Partner at YZR Capital commented: “We at YZR believe in supporting transformative innovations that address urgent healthcare challenges. Univa’s approach to personalising eating disorder care represents a significant leap forward, offering a scalable solution to an issue affecting millions worldwide. We were particularly impressed by Rich’s experience as a serial entrepreneur and the team’s connections to the NHS system, which strengthens Univa’s potential for real-world impact across the UK. We are excited to back such an experienced and passionate team, and we look forward to seeing Univa’s platform make a lasting impact on patients and the healthcare system.”
Johannes Blaschke, Principal at Calm/Storm Ventures added: “At Calm/Storm, we seek out founders tackling systemic healthcare challenges with innovative, cutting-edge technology, and Univa Health exemplifies this with their transformative approach to eating disorder care. By leveraging an advanced, personalised platform that integrates both patient and caregiver tools, Univa is addressing one of the most complex and underserved areas in healthcare. With Rich and Jose’s deep experience in digital health and their strong clinical partnerships, we are confident that their AI-driven platform will significantly improve outcomes for those affected by eating disorders while also easing the burden on healthcare systems globally. This is exactly the kind of bold, purpose-driven healthtech innovation we are proud to support.”
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