Thriva Secures £6 Million Series A Funding to Advance At-Home Microvolume Blood Health Testing

On July 29, 2019, VCBeat (WeChat ID: vcbeat) learned via Business Wire that blood testing company Thriva announced the completion of a £6 million Series A financing round. The round was led by Pembroke VCT and Guinness Asset Management (Guinness).

Thriva will use the proceeds from this financing round to expand its scale and tap into the potential market for health products.

It is reported that Thriva had previously completed two rounds of financing. The company closed a £1.5 million seed round in June 2017.

Thriva, founded in 2015 and headquartered in London, UK, is a blood testing company. The company primarily provides customers with convenient and efficient blood testing services to help them understand their health status. Co-founded by Hamish Grierson, Eliot Brooks, and Tom Livesey, Thriva has to date provided blood health screenings and clinical treatment guidance to hundreds of thousands of people in the UK. The company’s mission is to safeguard people’s health.

Thriva collaborates with top-tier private pathology laboratories in the UK, such as Synlab and County Pathology, utilizing the same testing technologies employed by the National Health Service (NHS). All blood tests conducted by the company are performed at these partner laboratories, and the analytical results are reviewed by Thriva’s team of specialist physicians. Synlab is a trusted clinical laboratory primarily providing pathology testing services. County Pathology is an independent laboratory offering blood testing services to healthcare companies, physicians, and individuals.

Unlike conventional hospital blood tests, Thriva requires only a finger-prick blood sample rather than venous blood. The company’s proprietary blood collection tubes contain additives that preserve and stabilize the sample. Hospitals and general practitioners typically collect excess blood to allow for additional testing if needed. In contrast, Thriva requires only approximately 100 μL of blood to test for the items specified by the customer. This approach reduces blood consumption while ensuring accurate test results.

Thriva also produces a home health testing kit that analyzes the body’s vitamin and mineral levels, hormone levels, and key indicators for heart disease and diabetes. Processed in laboratories accredited by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS), the kit helps customers understand their basic health status and is the preferred product for assessing overall health.

Hamish Grierson, Co-founder and CEO of Thriva, said, “Many people are already actively seeking ways to improve their health, and we aim to become truly consumer-centric in the future. Thriva is a platform that collaborates with organizations such as the NHS to provide health services to the general public.”

Ashley Abrahams, Investment Manager at Guinness, stated: “Guinness is delighted to partner with the team at Thriva. As a leader in the rapidly evolving healthcare sector, we look forward to progressing together.”

Pembroke VCT, established in 2013 and headquartered in London, UK, is a venture capital and financial services firm. The company primarily supports startups, investing in multiple sectors including healthcare, apparel, media, and innovative technologies.

Guinness, established in 2003 and headquartered in London, UK, is an independent venture capital firm. The company primarily focuses on sectors such as healthcare, innovative technologies, and sustainable energy. With an experienced investment management team, Guinness provides funding support and strategic guidance to early- and mid-stage startups.

(Compiled by: Xu Xiaoxue)