Swedish Startup Capitainer closed a share issue of €1.39 million to bring dried blood spot sampling solution to consumers. Nordic Consumer Health and Wolf Family Trust took the lead in the round, joined by Nordic angel investors.
Founded in 2013, Capitainer developed Capitainer qDBS, an easy-to-use solution for testing blood at home. The disposable kit can be used by non-medical professionals and eliminates the risk of human error. The sampling chip can measure and store an exact blood volume, which was previously not possible. Patients can then take a sample and mail it to a laboratory for analysis. The sample also does not need to be refrigerated, which can be extremely helpful for patients that need constant monitoring.
In Sweden alone, more than a million blood samples are taken each year to monitor therapeutic drugs. With Capitainer qDBS, patients could save money on blood sampling, while improving healthcare efficiencies and reducing environmental impacts.
CEO of Nordic Consumer Health, Mats Bergryd, said: “The dried blood spot collection card market size is currently expected to reach USD 337.3 million by 2026, expanding at a CAGR of 3.5%. However, with our next-generation device, Capitainer qDBS with quantitative and easy to use sampling, we will not only expand the existing market but also be able to enter the clinical home sampling market which we believe is a billion-dollar USD market. We aim at making Capitainer products the new gold standard for home sampling of blood. As a founding investor, we are delighted to lead this round and look forward to a successful commercialisation.”
Source: EU-Startups