Coroflo, a pioneering medtech start-up based in Dublin, announced today the successful closure of a €2.8 million equity funding round, bringing its total equity funding to €4.2 million. The funding will facilitate the market launch of their revolutionary breastfeeding monitor, Coro, set to empower mothers by providing real-time data on their baby’s breastmilk consumption.
Founded in 2017 by Jamie Travers and Dr Helen Barry, Coroflo’s Coro utilizes a standard silicone nipple shield embedded with a patented microflow meter. This groundbreaking technology enables mothers to accurately track the volume of breastmilk their baby is receiving, addressing a common concern among breastfeeding mothers and potentially increasing breastfeeding rates.
Rosanne Longmore, CEO of Coroflo, expressed enthusiasm about the funding round, stating, “Coro is groundbreaking, in terms of its core technology and how it will help mothers achieve their own breastfeeding goals. Any positive increase in breastfeeding rates has a hugely significant knock-on effect on the wider health population outcomes for society as a whole.”
The latest funding round saw participation from prominent investors, including Brian Caulfield of Scale Ireland, Shemas Eivers of the Boole Syndicate, and several private investors who previously supported the company’s seed round.
Coroflo, recognized as a high-potential start-up by Enterprise Ireland, has received support from the European Innovation Council through its Horizon 2020 programme. The company faced challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, with disruptions to clinical studies, but credits the support from the European Commission, Enterprise Ireland, and investors for their continued progress.
Coro has already secured commercial contracts with Irish pharmacy chains McCabe and McCauley’s, with plans to make the product available in stores in the second half of 2024. The company is also eyeing expansion into the US, UK, and European markets.
Mary Harney, former Tánaiste and newly appointed Coroflo board member, commented, “I am delighted to see such a truly groundbreaking innovation being developed, proven, and marketed by a highly talented group of young Irish engineers and entrepreneurs. This has the potential to improve the health and welfare of mothers and babies worldwide.”
Coroflo plans to use the latest investment to launch the product, build production capacity, and move to larger offices in the DCU Alpha campus. The company is set to double its staff numbers and continue its mission to positively impact maternal and infant health globally.