Foresight Group, a leading regional private equity and infrastructure investment manager, has added £0.3 million investment to a closing £6m Series A investment round backed by Mercia, Octopus Ventures, and Par Equity, among others, at Leeds healthtech Little Journey Limited, a developer of digital solutions to support children and their caregivers throughout medical procedures and clinical trial participation.
Little Journey is a cloud-based platform designed to improve the experience of children and their caregivers before, during, and after medical procedures or clinical trial participation. Founded in 2018, the company initially focused on reducing pre-procedural anxiety through virtual reality and interactive digital content. Its mobile app is now used across 49 NHS hospitals and delivers personalised, procedure-specific content to young patients and their families, aligned with local clinical pathways.
In 2021, Little Journey expanded into the global life sciences sector to support patient engagement in paediatric clinical trials – a space where recruitment and retention remain major challenges.
As demand for digital engagement tools grows, particularly in the high-cost and complex field of paediatric trials, Little Journey sought funding to support its commercial expansion and further enhance its offering. The proceeds will be used to accelerate commercial expansion, strengthen marketing activity, and deliver targeted enhancements to the product suite. The Company expects to continue to create high-quality jobs in the region and accelerate its international growth strategy.
The latest investment from Foresight will support Little Journey through growth capital, strategic advice, and access to a broader network across healthcare, life sciences, and digital technology sectors. The company is already led by an experienced leadership team, including Dr. Chris Evans, co-founder and CEO, Sophie Copley, co-founder and CPO, and Nicolaus Henke, chairman, with deep experience across clinical care, digital design, and healthcare strategy.
Co-founder and CEO Dr Evans said: “We are delighted to have secured this investment from Foresight, which will accelerate Little Journey’s product development and commercial expansion. We look forward to working with the Foresight team to continue to deliver our mission of supporting all children to better health through personalised care.”
Louise Mackie, investment manager at Foresight Group, commented: “Little Journey is delivering meaningful improvements in paediatric healthcare and clinical trials through its award-winning, innovative technology. With strong roots in the UK and growing global demand, we are delighted to be supporting the Little Journey team as they enter their next phase of growth.”
Little Journey has already created over 30 high-quality jobs in the region and reflects strong leadership diversity, with a female co-founder and 50% female board representation.
