DeepTech VC Empirical Ventures has led a £2.5 million funding round for London-based startup OSSTEC, which has developed a 3D printing technology that provides delivers bone fixation without the drawbacks of cement.

“This funding marks a pivotal moment for OSSTEC, enabling us to bring our groundbreaking technology to market with our team of surgeons and engage in strategic collaborations to improve patient outcomes,” OSSTEC Founder/CEO Max Munford, Ph.D., said. “We are at the exciting intersection of innovative technology, delivering value for surgeons and patients and high-growth markets, all combined to help more people stay active and pain-free for longer. We’re excited to take the next steps in scaling our impact and making a meaningful difference in patients’ lives and the wider healthcare ecosystem.”

Osteoarthritis causes chronic pain for billions of people worldwide, with 1.3 million knee replacement surgeries performed globally each year. About 450,000 of these cases are young patients who face a high risk of failure and revision surgery (35%). The need to treat more patients at reduced costs has led to a marked increase in outpatient surgery. 

Based on 10 years of research at Imperial College London, OSSTEC has developed patented 3D-printing technology to mimic both cartilage articulating surfaces and bone-fixing structures. Its first product has been developed with a team of surgeons and applies this technology in less invasive knee implants to stimulate bone growth. 

“OSSTEC’s 3D printing technology allows efficient manufacturing whilst eliminating mechanisms of failure seen in previous cementless knee replacements. Its cementless partial knee represents a major step forward in unicompartmental knee replacement surgery,” OSSTEC Chief Medical Officer Dr. Alex Liddle, stated. “Cementless partial knee replacement has advantages over cemented techniques with improved efficient workflows, survival and clinical outcomes. This represents an exciting new development in orthopedics that promises improved fixation and reduced risks, providing value for patients, surgeons and the wider healthcare system.”

OSSTEC’s novel hybrid fixation features, combined with a 3D-printed porous lattice that mimics bone’s trabecular structure, ensures stable initial fixation while promoting natural bone ingrowth. This breakthrough design delivers revolutionary fixation without the drawbacks of bone cement, according to the company.

The technology could significantly reduce the risk of implant failure or complications and allow patients to stay active, pain-free, and improve their quality of life. This, in turn, enables healthcare providers to operate more efficiently, saving thousands on treatment costs and treat more patients in a timely manner. This latest funding round advances OSSTEC to launch in the market and scale its impact with strategic partners in the medical field.

“OSSTEC is an excellent example of how scientific discovery can be transformed into real-world impact,” Empirical Ventures General Partner/Co-Founder Johnathan Matlock said. “The company has huge potential to completely reform best practices in this field of healthcare, with an impressive team of scientists pushing the boundaries of engineering and medical research. In backing OSSTEC, we continue to drive forward Empirical Ventures’ own mission of empowering the next generation of innovators to turn their research into impactful solutions.”  

OSSTEC is a London-based startup built on 10 years of Imperial College London research. Its team combines surgeons, experienced engineers and multi-time founders, balancing technical and market expertise with a blend of ambition and expertise gained through years of medical device experience.

Empirical Ventures Fund I is a SEIS and EIS fund that invests in early-stage deep-tech startups and university spin-outs. It supports scientists and innovators to turn research and scientific breakthroughs into commercially viable entities. Co-founded by Drs. Ben Miles and Johnathan Matlock, the pair has extensive experience as scientists, entrepreneurs, and investors and have provided entrepreneurial training to more than 5,000 U.K.-based scientists. With each member of the investment team having earned a Ph.D., Empirical Ventures uses scientific enquiry to identify the most compelling scientific innovations for commercialization, high-risk but high-reward deep tech companies that can demonstrate potential for real-world impact.