Scottish Accelerator Invests £1m in Female-Led HealthTech Startups

Three female-cofounded HealthTech companies have secured more than £1 million in investment from STAC, Scotland’s industry-led accelerator for technology start-ups.

The investments, made through STAC Invest, the accelerator’s newly launched syndicate, mark STAC’s first direct backing of firms developing technology to address pressing healthcare challenges.

The companies receiving funding are:

Smplicare

Cofounded by Alexandra Melling and Garrett Sprague, Smplicare is focused on fall prevention technology to help older adults maintain independence and reduce the risk of falls — the leading cause of loss of independence in people over 65.

The company’s platform uses machine learning algorithms to predict fall risk with 85% accuracy.

Melling said:

“STAC’s ecosystem has given us invaluable guidance on everything from regulatory compliance to user experience. This investment will help us expand our platform and reach more families who need support.”

Silver Lion Innovations

Founded by Ruth Crozier and Conor Crozier, Silver Lion Innovations is tackling mobility challenges faced by patients and carers.

Its flagship product, EasyOver, is a smart mattress topper that allows individuals to turn safely and comfortably in bed at the touch of a button. The device enables one carer, rather than two, to reposition a person up to 90 degrees, reducing strain on carers and improving patient dignity.

Ruth Crozier said:

“This backing gives us the further momentum to take EasyOver to those who need it most, faster than we could have otherwise.”

Seluna

Cofounded by Dr Yola Jones and Dr Scott Black, Seluna is building AI-enabled software to support doctors in diagnosing and managing childhood sleep apnoea.

The firm’s solution will be the first market-ready tool designed specifically for paediatric healthcare to automate the interpretation of sleep studies, aiming to improve diagnostic accuracy and optimise treatment plans.

Jones said:

“With this funding, we can conduct real-world validation studies with our NHS partners and accelerate towards formal clinical trials. STAC’s investment will help bring our solution to market sooner, to improve paediatric diagnostics and reduce the strain on health services.”

Beyond Investment: Building Global Scale

The three companies are headquartered at thebeyond, STAC’s industry hub in Glasgow, being developed as an International Centre of Excellence for technology companies.

Unlike traditional accelerators, STAC offers an 18-month programme with 116 “business ingredients” designed to build scalable companies ready for global competition.

Angus Macfadyen, head of investment at STAC, said:

“We created the STAC investment arm to address the glaring need in Scotland’s innovation landscape for industry-led, founder-centric capital that goes hand-in-hand with world-class support. Our model is about more than money – it’s about combining private investment, mentorship, and access to advanced labs and networks. We’re proud to back these outstanding female founders and their business partners, who are not only building great companies but also using smart tech to tackle real-world pain points in health and social care. This is just the beginning of a new era for Scotland’s smart tech sector.”