Belfast-based med-tech company Neurovalens has received £750,000 from the Growth Finance Fund.  The funding will support the launch of the company’s new Sleep product in the USA later this year.

Finance for the £30m Growth Finance Fund has been provided by the British Business Bank, Invest Northern Ireland and private investors, Northern Ireland Local Government Officers’ Superannuation Committee (NILGOSC).

Neurovalens was formed in 2013 and specialises in combining neuroscience and technology to tackle global health challenges such as obesity, diabetes and sleeping disorders. The company employs 26 staff and recently announced a further 22 new jobs are to be created to support business-wide growth.

Dr Jason McKeown, Co-founder and CEO of Neurovalens, said: “The business has grown rapidly over the last few years and it is an exciting time for the company as we move into the American market.

“Our new product Sleep is a non-invasive, easy-to-use headset that improves a person’s sleeping pattern. By sending a safe electrical pulse to the vestibular nerve, the Sleep headset reduces the time it takes to fall asleep and can improve energy levels throughout the day. We estimate nine million Americans use sleep medication so this will be a ground-breaking device when we launch later this year.”

He added: “We will be using the funding from the Growth Finance Fund to further develop our Sleep and Slim products internationally. In addition, we plan to move our Slim headset into the retail sector, making it more accessible to consumers.”

David McCurley, Director, Head of Investments Growth Finance Fund, said: “Having successfully closed several funding rounds and with the support of Invest NI, Neurovalens is a great success story for Northern Ireland’s technology sector.

“Neurovalens’ products have great growth potential and with a foot in the USA market now secured, we are confident the business will continue to expand and help tackle global health challenges.”