Cera Secures $150M to Enhance AI-Powered Home Healthcare Services in the UK
As public healthcare systems worldwide continue to face challenges in the aftermath of the pandemic, Western nations with aging populations are feeling the strain acutely. In the United Kingdom, headlines about the “NHS in crisis” have become a common occurrence, highlighting the pressure on public services. Amid this backdrop, private companies with technology-driven solutions are stepping in to fill the gaps. One such company, Cera, has raised $150 million through a combination of debt and equity to scale its AI-driven home healthcare platform. While the company confirmed that the majority of this amount is debt, it declined to disclose specific figures or its current valuation.

The funding round was led by BDT & MSD Partners and Schroders Capital, with the aim of further developing Cera’s proprietary platform. The company relies heavily on its AI-powered systems, which integrate its own data-driven models while also utilizing elements of Google’s Gemini AI and Microsoft’s ChatGPT technology.
This is not the first major funding milestone for Cera. In 2022, the company raised $320 million in a funding round split evenly between debt and equity. Over time, Cera has attracted 14 investors, including notable names like Earlymarket, Guinness Ventures, DigitalHealth.London Accelerator, and Robin Klein, a prominent UK-based investor.
A company spokesperson highlighted that Cera became EBITDA-positive in 2023 and achieved free cash flow positivity in 2024, though these results are yet to be reflected in publicly filed accounts. According to the spokesperson, this financial stability has positioned Cera to take on a debt-heavy funding strategy.
Speaking to agencies, Dr. Ben Maruthappu, the CEO and founder of Cera, emphasized the company's focus on expanding its AI-powered healthcare model. “We’re taking pressure off the NHS and supporting it having more capacity to look after other patients. We’ve also expanded into other service lines such as nursing services, physiotherapy, learning disabilities, physical disabilities, and providing mental health services in the home as well,” he said.
Cera's platform allows caregivers to plan their schedules and document patient symptoms using an app. Its AI system analyzes this unstructured data—such as a note indicating a “patient had a fall in the night”—to predict health risks and recommend preventive measures. According to the company, this technology has significantly reduced hospitalization rates by up to 70%, decreased patient falls by 20%, and accelerated hospital discharge processes fivefold.
Currently, Cera stands as the largest non-NHS healthcare provider in the UK, serving around 30 million people through a network of 10,000 caregivers and nurses. The company collaborates with over 150 local governments and two-thirds of the NHS Integrated Care Systems. Independent research conducted by Faculty, a UK-based consultancy, claims that Cera’s AI-driven home healthcare model saves the UK healthcare system approximately £1 million daily.
In a statement, Rob Platek, partner and global head of credit at BDT & MSD, commented on Cera’s achievements, noting, “Cera has achieved strong growth through a demonstrated ability to leverage technology to deliver exceptional care. We believe Cera is well positioned to further scale its business.”
Dr. Maruthappu also highlighted the power of the company’s AI capabilities, stating, “We can predict over 80% of falls a week before they happen. That’s statistically significant… So we actually reduce falls by over 20% because of our AI algorithm… We can also predict around 83% of hospitalizations again a week before they happen… reducing hospitalizations by up to 70%.”
Despite its rapid growth, Cera is careful to avoid the pitfalls that have plagued other healthcare startups. Companies like Babylon Health, which relied on chatbot-based healthcare solutions, faced significant challenges and eventual bankruptcy. Cera’s approach of leveraging robust AI models and vast healthcare datasets distinguishes it in an increasingly competitive market.
With this latest funding, Cera is poised to continue its mission of transforming home healthcare services, providing vital support to the UK’s overburdened public healthcare system, and paving the way for a more sustainable model of patient care.