Munich, July 2025
Samphire Neuroscience is a UK-based startup focused on improving women’s health through neuroscience-driven, non-invasive solutions. Their flagship product, Nettle™, is a wearable neurostimulation device designed to relieve menstrual pain and mood symptoms without drugs or hormones. Samphire Neuroscience secured first place at the 16th Healthcare Innovation World Cup®.
We had an insightful discussion with the Samphire Neuroscience team. Let’s take a look at their journey and the steps they followed to reach this remarkable milestone.
1. HOW DID IT ALL START?
- Samphire Neuroscience was born out of a frustration shared by millions: the lack of effective, side-effect-free options for managing PMS and menstrual pain. While completing my PhD in Psychiatry and Engineering at Oxford, I was researching how neurostimulation could be used to treat mental health conditions. I began wondering: why aren’t we using this same science to help with hormonal symptoms, especially as we know that many pain and mood processing challenges arise because of the brain’s response to hormones? That idea led to the creation of Nettle™- a wearable headband that uses transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) to target the brain regions involved in pain, mood, and cognition. We officially founded the company in 2021, and named it Samphire as a nod to resilience and regeneration – samphire is a plant that thrives in tough environments, just like the women we’re building for.
2. WHAT ARE THE KEY MILESTONES YOU HAVE REACHED SO FAR? - Our flagship product Nettle is now CE-marked and available in the UK and EU, with FDA clearance underway. We’ve launched multiple clinical trials in collaboration with leading institutions including UCL, Monash, and Stanford-affiliated sites. Since launch, we’ve sold devices in over 25 countries and built a deeply engaged global community. We’ve completed two rounds of funding, including a $5M Series A backed by leading investors in healthtech and consumer neurotech.
We’ve also grown our team across neuroscience, product, marketing, and clinical operations – expanding our London HQ and onboarding partners across Europe and North America.
3. WHAT WERE THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES YOU HAVE FACED?
- Building a first-of-its-kind product in a regulated space is always tough. We had to pioneer everything from category definition to new regulatory frameworks, while also building public trust around a brain-based wearable for periods. If I could do one thing differently, I would have built in public earlier – sharing more of our progress and process. One thing I’d never change is our commitment to user-led design. Listening to our community shaped Nettle in ways no clinical brief ever could.
4. WHAT IS COMING IN THE NEAR FUTURE?
- We’re expanding into the US and Canada under our Discovery Programme while we complete FDA clearance. We’re also running a series of clinical trials for PMDD, menopause, and endometriosis-related pain. On the tech side, we’re working on personalised stimulation protocols and deeper app integrations. Long-term, our goal is to build a new category of women’s brain health tools, combining rigorous science, thoughtful design, and accessibility.
5. DESCRIBE YOUR JOURNEY IN THE SMART BUILDING / SMART CONSTRUCTION INNOVATION WORLD CUP® AND BEING THE TOP TECHPRENEUR?
- It’s been an incredible experience to have our work recognised in a field that traditionally doesn’t put women’s health front and centre. I was most impressed by the calibre of fellow finalists and the genuine interest in breakthrough innovation across verticals. Being selected validated that our work sits not just in femtech, but in the broader future of neurotechnology and digital therapeutics. The platform has helped us reach new audiences and connect with a wider network of investors, collaborators, and supporters.
6. YOUR THREE TIPS FOR UP-COMING STARTUPS
- Talk to your users weekly. There’s no substitute for real-world feedback.
- Be obsessed with clarity: in your pitch, in your roadmap, in your purpose.
- Don’t just raise capital, raise champions. The right investors will amplify you far beyond funding.
”We joined the Innovation World Cup because we believe women’s health deserves to be part of every conversation about the future of technology. The experience has opened doors, challenged us to refine our story, and introduced us to a brilliant community of fellow innovators.”
Emilė Radytė, PhD.
Co-Founder & CEO
Thank you for sharing these valuable insights. We look forward to following your future endeavours and the exciting milestones you will achieve moving forward!
Visit Samphire Neuroscience and learn about their innovative approach to improve women’s health through neuroscience-driven.
Are you ready to write your own success story? The 17TH HEALTHCARE INNOVATION WORLD CUP® is open for submissions. Participation is free of charge.
