Macmillan estimates that nearly 3.5 million people are living with cancer in the UK, a number that continues to rise, creating an urgent need for new, adequate patient support. UK cancer outcomes lag up to 25 years behind European peers, with 41% of diagnoses occurring at late stages in England. Additionally, about one-third of eligible people miss critical screening appointments for breast, bowel, and cervical cancer, according to Perci Health data.
Addressing these challenges requires collaboration among the government, the NHS, private insurers, charities, and employers. Perci Health bridges these gaps through comprehensive care encompassing prevention, early detection, treatment navigation, symptom management, and survivorship support.
This week, the London-based healthtech scale-up Perci Health secured a €4 million funding round, double its original €2 million target, bringing total funding to €10.4 million. New investors Guinness Ventures and Conduit Fund joined existing backers Octopus Ventures, while Macmillan Cancer Support contributed €399k. The round also garnered support from 35 leading oncologists and cancer surgeons.
Meeting an urgent healthcare need
Kelly McCabe and Morgan Fitzsimons, two passionate healthcare innovators, founded Perci Health in 2020. McCabe, Co-Founder and CEO, brings over a decade of experience as a specialist oncology dietitian, previously serving as COO of HCA International (a major private cancer network) with extensive NHS hospital management credentials. Fitzsimons, co-founder and chief customer officer, has contributed expertise in digital transformation and consumer experience from executive roles at CBS Television and ASOS, where she led global digital marketing and customer engagement strategies.
The founders recognised a critical need: while the UK’s cancer survivor population approaches 3.5 million and continues growing, comprehensive, long-term support remains scarce. Modern advances in early detection and treatment mean more people survive cancer, yet face complex challenges and side effects that traditional healthcare systems struggle to address.
Perci Health emerged to fill this void, ensuring that no treatable side effect goes unaddressed while providing holistic, accessible care for patients and their families.
Behind Perci Health: virtual, multidisciplinary cancer survivorship care
Perci Health’s virtual, AI-powered cancer clinic connects patients with a multidisciplinary team of over 85 NHS-trained specialists across 17 disciplines, including cancer nursing, psycho-oncology, physiotherapy, dietetics, lymphoedema, and genetic counselling. Dedicated nurse specialists curate personalised care plans and offer expert care appointments within 48 hours.
The AI-driven platform facilitates early detection, risk assessment, symptom management, and survivorship care, while delivering comprehensive services from prevention through rehabilitation and return-to-work support. Their vocational rehabilitation programs demonstrate impressive results: 88% of members return to work within six months, and 84% report improved quality of life.
The company’s unique value proposition combines digital innovation with human expertise. It delivers measurable clinical and economic outcomes while making high-quality cancer care accessible to hundreds of thousands through insurer and employer partnerships.
While Perci Health competes with OncoHealth, RxBenefits, and Healthy Lifestyle Brands, its focus on virtual, multidisciplinary cancer survivorship care and AI-driven personalisation distinguishes it from others. Few UK-based digital health providers focus on long-term survivorship and rehabilitation, with most emphasising diagnostics or treatment.
Investor perspectives
Investors are bullish on Perci Health’s approach. Chantal Cox, Investor at Octopus Ventures, highlighted the company’s “human-first, tech-enabled model” for addressing critical healthcare needs and delivering measurable clinical and cost benefits.
Eva-Maria Dimitriadis, Managing Partner at Conduit Fund, praised the company’s patient-centric innovation and strong leadership, noting their commitment to backing female founders who are often overlooked by traditional VCs.
“Supporting businesses developing scalable, meaningful impact in healthcare is a priority for us,” said Dimitriadis. “As a female-led business ourselves, with a majority female investment team, we know female founders statistically find it considerably more difficult to raise from VCs. We believe investing in female founders is not just the right thing to do, but it also gives us access to exceptional opportunities that others overlook. 42% of companies we have invested in have at least one female founder, and we are thrilled to add Perci Health to that list.”
Lisa Fox, Head of Co-Investment at Guinness Ventures, added, “At Guinness Ventures, we look for founders who are solving meaningful problems in an innovative way. Perci Health is doing exactly that in addressing one of the biggest and most underserved challenges in cancer care: how we support people after treatment ends. Their model combines clinical rigour with scalable technology, delivering meaningful outcomes not just for patients, but also for employers, insurers, and the broader healthcare ecosystem.”
What’s next for Perci Health?
The new funding will help Perci Health expand its AI-powered virtual clinic across the UK. The company plans to strengthen partnerships with insurers, employers, and statutory health systems, making its services freely or affordably accessible to more people while scaling its vocational rehabilitation and return-to-work programs.
This expansion aligns with the UK government’s focus on vocational rehabilitation and reducing long-term sickness absence, as outlined in the “Keep Britain Working Review.” Perci Health supports these goals through early intervention, personalised recovery plans, and return-to-work programs addressing physical and psychological barriers. As the cancer survivor population grows, the company will prioritise innovation in prevention, early detection, and survivorship care.
“We know that cancer doesn’t stop when treatment ends. In fact, that’s often when people need the most support. Perci Health’s AI-driven platform ensures truly personalised care, enabling people to access the right support at the right time,” said Morgan Fitzsimons, Co-Founder and Chief Customer Officer.
Claire Taylor, Chief Nursing Officer at Macmillan Cancer Support, added, “Cancer survivorship presents unique challenges, and we must innovate to meet the growing needs of people living with and beyond cancer. Perci Health’s holistic, multidisciplinary approach is exactly the exciting innovation that is needed, and it aligns perfectly with Macmillan’s ambitions to help more people get the personalised care they need. This partnership represents a shared commitment to making a real difference in the lives of those affected by cancer, helping people to live well and by providing tailored solutions to meet their changing needs following a cancer experience.”
Kelly McCabe concluded: “With more people living with cancer, there’s an urgent need for healthcare solutions that cater to long-term survivorship. By working with insurers, employers, and healthcare providers, we aim to reshape cancer care to ensure better outcomes for patients and cost savings for the system.”
