Cwmbran-Based Medtech Firm Amotio Secures £810,000 to Revolutionise Joint Surgery Recovery
Cwmbran-Based Medtech Firm Amotio Secures £810,000 to Revolutionise Joint Surgery Recovery
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Cwmbran-based medical technology start-up Amotio has raised £810,000 in pre-seed funding to develop a groundbreaking device designed to improve recovery times for joint-surgery patients. The round was led by a £500,000 equity investment from the Development Bank of Wales, with further backing from specialist healthcare investors and innovation funds.
Amotio is developing precision surgical tools that aim to dramatically improve how surgical cement is removed during revision hip operations. The new technology, created using 3D printing, promises to streamline the process of replacing older prosthetic joints, reducing trauma to surrounding tissue and significantly cutting down on post-operative recovery times, which can currently last up to 15 weeks.
The £500,000 cornerstone investment by the Development Bank of Wales included £350,000 from its Technology Seed Fund and £150,000 from the Wales Flexible Investment Fund. Co-investment came from NLC Health Ventures (£210,000), a leading European medtech incubator, and Orthopaedic Research UK (ORUK), a charity whose investment committee includes some of the UK’s top orthopaedic clinicians. Additional support was provided by angel investors and public innovation grants, including an Innovate UK Smart Grant and SMART Flexible Innovation support from Business Wales.
“It can be extremely difficult as a medtech start-up to attract early-stage investment,” said Iestyn Foster, CEO of Amotio. “But the Development Bank of Wales understood our business and the impact our product could have. Their involvement helped us secure funding from respected sector investors like NLC and ORUK.”
Amotio’s device leverages personalised 3D-printed guides and high-precision cutting tools that are tailored to individual patients. The device is inserted into the joint and allows for the targeted removal of surgical cement—material that is notoriously difficult and risky to extract using current techniques.
“This technology has huge potential in orthopaedics,” said Dr Harry George, Assistant Investment Executive at the Development Bank of Wales. “By reducing recovery times and improving the safety of revision surgeries, Amotio is addressing a significant unmet clinical need. Their focus on expanding applications and entering global markets highlights the scale of their ambition.”
While the device is initially being designed for hip replacements, the company plans to expand its application to all major joint surgeries. Amotio is already setting its sights on key international markets including the US, Europe, and Asia-Pacific, where joint-replacement procedures are on the rise due to aging populations and longer life expectancies.
Founded on innovations developed by a team of surgeons and biomechanical engineers in Utrecht, Amotio represents a collaboration between Welsh entrepreneurial ambition and European clinical expertise. The venture is also part of South Wales’ growing medtech ecosystem, which includes strong academic, commercial, and clinical networks.
“This is exactly the type of healthcare innovation we aim to support,” said Kim High, Venture Partner at NLC Health Ventures. “With roots in both the Netherlands and Wales, Amotio is a great example of how Europe’s medtech ecosystem is enabling start-ups to scale. Strategic partnerships, clinical insight, and bold vision are what drive success in this space and Amotio has all three.”
The newly raised funds will support the company through the next crucial phases of development, including product refinement, pre-clinical testing, and regulatory approvals. Amotio’s long-term strategy includes not only commercialisation but also integration into clinical protocols across major healthcare systems.
“This investment gives us the runway to advance toward clinical validation and regulatory clearance,” Foster said. “It also opens the door to additional investment in the future, as we continue to demonstrate the efficacy and safety of our technology.”
The Wales Technology Seed Fund, managed by the Development Bank of Wales, provides between £50,000 and £350,000 to support early-stage Welsh technology businesses. The fund’s goal is to support proof-of-concept ventures with high growth potential—especially in sectors like life sciences where long development cycles can hinder traditional investment.
“Attracting private sector capital into Wales is essential to scaling innovation,” added Dr George. “That’s why co-investment models like this one, bringing together public funding with specialist VC expertise, are critical to the long-term success of our tech economy.”
With strong financial backing, a clear clinical need, and strategic partnerships across the UK and Europe, Amotio is well-positioned to transform how joint replacement surgeries are performed—and how quickly patients can return to mobility.
