Medcotec, a UK-based life sciences manufacturing technology startup, has raised over £2.4 million in seed funding led by Mercia Ventures to commercialise its powder transfer valve technology for pharmaceutical and industrial manufacturers.
The investment came from NPIF II – Mercia Equity Finance, managed by Mercia Ventures under the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II, alongside LYVA Labs, the Liverpool City Region Seed Fund, managed by AXM Venture Capital, and private investors.
Based in Daresbury, England, Medcotec was founded by Emerson Mulvaney and Mike Taitt. The company develops engineered containment systems designed to make powder handling safer and more efficient in pharmaceutical and industrial manufacturing environments.
Its first product, the Helyx valve, uses a single-use, full-bore design intended to reduce powder blockages and contamination risks during material transfers. Unlike conventional split-butterfly valves, which contain a central disc that can restrict powder movement, Helyx is designed to provide an unobstructed flow path while keeping materials contained.
The valve is also engineered to withstand high-pressure manufacturing conditions. Its single-use design aims to reduce the cleaning requirements, downtime and associated costs of reusable stainless-steel systems.
Medcotec is working with a pharmaceutical company and other manufacturers using powder transfer systems. The new funding will support additional product trials, commercialisation activities and team expansion.
The company currently employs four people and plans to create four additional positions over the next 12 months.
Before this round, Medcotec received pre-seed investment from LYVA Labs in June 2025. It also participated in LYVA Labs’ Incubator and Accelerate programmes, which supported its prototype development and commercial planning.
