Potsdam and Stuttgart, Germany, January 4, 2016 / B3C newswire / -- Emperra, a German start-up that has created a digital diabetes management solution consisting of smart hardware and software, has completed a Series B financing round of USD 3.1 million, with Robert Bosch Venture Capital GmbH (RBVC), a corporate venture capital company of the Bosch Group, joining the existing investors Peppermint VenturePartners and Investitionsbank des Landes Brandenburg. CEO Dr. Krey and CTO Dr. Schildt, management of Emperra, also participated in the round. The funds will be used for further product development and to accelerate international growth, predominantly in the United States and Europe.
With its flagship product ESYSTA®, Emperra has debuted the first ever fully integrated digital diabetes management system. In it, key innovations such as smart insulin pens (usable with all major insulin brands), wireless blood glucose meters, and CE-certified software work together seamlessly. The therapy data can be shared among all stakeholders (patient, physicians, nurses, care givers including relatives) and displayed via multiple channels, including a web-based portal, smart TV, and apps.
“ESYSTA® provided us with compelling evidence of medical benefit in a study involving more than 200 patients,” says Dr. Dieter Kraft, an investment partner of Robert Bosch Venture Capital GmbH. “It was shown that mean glucose levels (measured as HbA1c) were significant lowered without increasing the potentially life-threatening risk of hypoglycemia”.
In Germany, ESYSTA® has already received reimbursement status from German health insurers, which means ESYSTA hardware and software is now available on prescription for any patient with diabetes. Initial success in the German market confirms the effectiveness of this fully integrated diabetes care management.
“Digital health is poised to transform healthcare. With its data-driven therapy management, Emperra is excellently positioned to contribute to this transformation in the field of diabetes care,” says Gitte Bedford, vice president of Robert Bosch Venture Capital.
“Involving high-quality investors such as Bosch demonstrates the potential in our unique approach to diabetes care,” says Dr. Christian Krey, the CEO of Emperra. “In particular, having Bosch as a strategic investor means we have access to its global expertise in software automation, connected communities, and sensor technologies.”
Dr. Klaus Stoeckemann, the co-founder and managing partner of Peppermint VenturePartner and acting chairman of the Emperra board, says: “As one of the lead investors of the Series A round, we continued to support Emperra by participating in the B round. We are pleased to add RBVC to our syndicate, and hope it will accelerate Emperra’s expansion into international markets”.
"With our first evidence of the medical benefits and a proven telemedicine approach, we have set the foundation to win RBVC as a strategic partner. As existing investor it is an excellent proof that we are on the right track with Emperra," said Martin Laub, member of the Emperra board and senior investment manager ILB.
About EMPERRA® E-Health Technologies
Emperra® has developed a comprehensive digital diabetes management system, ESYSTA. ESYSTA® provides for the first time a full integration of all product components required to guide and monitor the patients like smart insulin pens (usable with all major insulin brands), blood glucose meter and corresponding CE-marked software like web-based portal and apps. The therapy data can be shared among all stakeholders (patient, physicians, nurses, care givers including relatives). With the increasing acceptance of electronic communication and e-health management among all stakeholders, the ESYSTA® system will decisively contribute to improved treatment and patient guidance. A clinical trial with more than 200 patients has shown a distinct clinical benefit. As a result patients’ compliance and self-empowerment is increasing and positive effects on healthcare cost containment will become evident.
About Robert Bosch Venture Capital GmbH (RBVC)
Robert Bosch Venture Capital GmbH (RBVC) is the corporate venture company of the Bosch Group, a leading global supplier of technology and services. RBVC invests worldwide in innovative start-up companies at all stages of their development. Its investment activities focus on technology companies working in areas of business of current and future relevance for Bosch, above all, automation and electrification, energy efficiency, enabling technologies, and healthcare systems. RBVC also invests in services and business models as well as new materials that are relevant to the above-mentioned areas of business.
About Peppermint VenturePartners (PVP)
PVP is a private venture capital firm based in Berlin specialized in investing in early-stage healthcare companies. The main focus involves innovative companies in the field of medical technology and "digital health", as well as select pharma projects in Europe that have already been able to demonstrate an initial “proof-of-concept” for their technologies or products. At the end of 2010, PVP, in cooperation with the Charité Foundation, launched the Peppermint Charité Biomedical Fund (CBF). Within the scope of its partnership with the Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, PVP has special access to a unique network and to the medical expertise of one of Europe's largest and most renowned university clinics.
About Investitionsbank des Landes Brandenburg (ILB)
Investitionsbank des Landes Brandenburg (ILB) manages various venture capital funds which finance growth and innovation orientated enterprises with their registered office and/or a facility in Brandenburg. Funding is currently made available by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), by the Ministry of Economics and Energy of the Federal State of Brandenburg as well as by ILB.
Contact
EMPERRA® GmbH E-Health Technologies
Dr. Christian Krey, CEO
Friedrich-Ebert-Straße 33
D-14469 Potsdam, Germany
Phone: +49 331 979 34 800
Mobile: +49 152 534 64 600
Email: c.krey@emperra.com This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Homepage: www.emperra.com
