£1.6 million fuels Asia-Pacific expansion for lab simulator firm

Envoke, a UK-based laboratory training and simulation software company, has raised £1.6 million to support its next stage of international growth, with a strong focus on expanding into the Asia-Pacific market.

The company develops virtual simulation technology that creates digital replicas of complex laboratory equipment, enabling healthcare professionals, researchers and technicians to train remotely and troubleshoot instruments without the need for on-site engineers. The platform improves operational efficiency while reducing downtime and service disruption in laboratory environments.

The latest funding round was backed by existing investors NPIF – Mercia Equity Finance, Finance Yorkshire’s Seedcorn Fund, and new investor Foresight Group. The investment brings Envoke’s total funding to more than £4 million and follows growing adoption of its platform among major organisations, including US-based equipment manufacturers, healthcare providers and academic institutions.

Envoke’s technology is already used by organisations such as the NHS, universities, and international healthcare networks, alongside global life science companies including Bio-Rad, PacBio and Haemonetics. The company says its platform helps reduce equipment call-outs by up to 20%, while also improving consistency in operator training and increasing uptime for critical laboratory systems.

By creating a virtual replica of laboratory instruments, the software allows users to gain hands-on experience in a controlled digital environment. It also provides remote diagnostics and maintenance support, helping to resolve technical issues more quickly and reduce the need for engineer call-outs.

The system additionally captures real-time data on user competency, enabling laboratories to identify training gaps and improve performance management. Envoke says this data-driven approach helps organisations better understand how training impacts productivity and cost efficiency.

Founded in 2019 by Stuart Warrington and based in Leeds, Envoke is now targeting broader global markets as demand increases for digital training and remote support solutions in laboratory settings. The company expects continued international growth as it scales its platform across healthcare and life sciences sectors.

Stuart Warrington, CEO, said: “Laboratory equipment is challenging to operate and technical problems are commonplace. Each service call-out typically costs manufacturers $2,500 and a breakdown can seriously disrupt health services by delaying critical test results. Envoke is tackling these problems.”

More information online