Lutra Health

South West Investment Fund marks 150th deal milestone

Lutra Health, which is headquartered in Exeter, secured £350,000 from the South West Investment Fund via appointed fund manager The FSE Group, as part of an ongoing fundraise also involving South West-based venture capital firm QantX.

The funding will allow Lutra to grow its team over the next three years and expand the reach of its platform which connects patients, optometrists, and eye surgeons to streamline the eyecare journey. This expansion will support key NHS initiatives set out in the recent spending review, such as enhancing digital capabilities and integrating services across care settings.”. The company said trials of its platform had shown a 91% reduction in cataract outpatient visits and a 54% reduction in surgical wait times.

Charles Solanki, CEO and co-founder of Lutra Health, said: “We’re thrilled to receive this funding from the South West Investment Fund, which will help us advance our technology and expand our team, ultimately improving patient care and streamlining processes across the eyecare spectrum. This funding marks a pivotal step towards our goal of transforming eyecare delivery.”

Meg Salt, Investment Manager at The FSE Group, said: “Lutra’s founding consultant eye surgeons have leveraged their clinical expertise and commercial savvy to address significant inefficiencies in existing eyecare pathways. Having been in communication with the business over the past year, we’ve witnessed exceptional trial feedback and the securing of both NHS and private hospital contracts, giving us confidence in Lutra’s ability to scale into a profitable company with a strong growth trajectory.”