(From left to right: Spotlight Pathology. Professor Richard Byers, Co-Founder & CMO; Dr Sam Perona, CEO; Dr Martin Fergie, Co-Founder & CTO)
Liverpool City Region Combined Authority funded LYVA Labs has invested £250k into Sci-Tech Daresbury-based Spotlight Pathology, as part of a £1.4m seed funding round alongside Liverpool Seed Fund managed by AXM Capital, Deepbridge Capital, River Capital, UKI2S and EHE Startup Factory. The investment will support the commercialisation of Spotlight’s AI tools for blood cancer diagnosis and create six new jobs in the Liverpool City Region.
Spotlight Pathology is developing AI-powered software to support pathologists in making complex blood cancer diagnoses, including lymphoma and leukaemia. With a global shortage of highly trained pathologists placing increasing pressure on healthcare systems, diagnostic delays are a growing challenge worldwide. The company’s technology is designed to improve diagnostic turnaround times and decision-making by integrating AI into digital pathology workflows.
Experienced leadership and strong regional roots
Spotlight Pathology is led by CEO Dr Sam Perona, who joined the business following a successful exit from her previous company, Perfectus Biomed. Dr Perona also serves on the Liverpool City Region’s Female Founder Regional High Growth Board, where she acts as a role model and mentor for other female founders across the region.
The company was founded by Liverpool born Dr Martin Fergie (CTO) and Dr Richard Byers (CSO). Originally spun out of the University of Manchester, Spotlight Pathology is now headquartered at Sci-Tech Daresbury and plans to continue growing its team and operations locally.
Akshay Bhatnagar, Head of Investment at LYVA Labs, said:
“We are delighted to continue supporting Spotlight Pathology to make a real difference to early blood cancer diagnosis and save lives. The combination of strong clinical foundations, experienced leadership and a clear route to market makes Spotlight a compelling opportunity, with the potential for significant global impact.”
Dr Sam Perona, CEO of Spotlight Pathology, said:
“We’re delighted to secure this investment, which will help us accelerate the development and commercialisation of our technology. There is a real need for tools that can support pathologists in making faster, more confident diagnoses, and this funding allows us to grow the team and progress our go-to-market plans. We’re looking forward to working closely with LYVA Labs as we move into the next phase of the company’s journey.”
LYVA Labs, backed by the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, continues to invest in early-stage health and life sciences companies, ensuring that innovative technologies developed in the region have the support they need to scale globally.