For a surgeon learning to operate a multi-million-pound robotic system, practice time is a precious and fragmented commodity. Training is typically locked to the specific manufacturer's hardware, creating a bottleneck that can delay skill acquisition and limit a hospital's flexibility. Surghive, a UK healthtech startup founded in 2022, is betting that the key to unlocking this access isn't a new robot, but a virtual reality headset.
The company is developing an immersive VR, AR, and mobile training platform designed to work across different robotic surgery systems, from Intuitive Surgical's da Vinci to competitors like Medtronic's Hugo. The goal is pragmatic: let surgeons and their teams build procedural muscle memory and team coordination in simulation, independent of the physical hardware they will eventually use. For the NHS, where resource constraints are a daily reality, the potential to decouple training from scarce, expensive equipment is a compelling proposition.
The clinical wedge
Surghive's differentiation hinges on a single, surgeon-identified problem: platform fragmentation. "Manufacturer-independent" is more than a buzzword here; it's a direct response to a workflow inefficiency that slows down clinical teams. The company's software layer aims to provide a consistent training environment where a surgeon can learn core robotic skills and specific procedures, with progress tracked through a companion app [PERPLEXITY SONAR PRO BRIEF].
The founding team is steeped in the clinical reality they are trying to change. CEO Dr. Rachael Coates is a robotic colorectal surgeon who took a sabbatical from clinical practice to build the company, while Chief Medical Officer Professor Deena Pravin Harji is a consultant colorectal surgeon and academic [PERPLEXITY SONAR PRO BRIEF]. This frontline perspective informs the product's focus on competency requirements and skills-gap checks, moving beyond simple simulation towards structured credentialing.
Funding and the path to 2027
Surghive has secured early backing to translate its clinical insight into a commercial product. In October 2026, the company closed a seed investment from SFC Capital and the Chadda Family, though the amount was not disclosed [Entrepreneurs’ Forum, October 2026]. This followed a £40,000 Tees Valley Innovation Voucher in September 2026, aimed at accelerating development of its digital learning ecosystem [The Northern Echo, September 2026].
The capital is fueling a critical milestone: a national pilot program. The company reported in June 2026 that it had secured commitments from more than 100 surgeons to participate in a pilot beginning that August, with a commercial product targeted for 2027 [Tees Business, June 2026]. To steer this scale-up phase, Surghive appointed technology entrepreneur Andy Wood as Chairman in October 2026 to strengthen commercial strategy and partnerships [Medilink, October 2026].
| Role | Name | Background |
|---|---|---|
| Co-Founder & CEO | Dr. Rachael Coates | Robotic colorectal surgeon (on sabbatical) |
| Co-Founder & CMO | Prof. Deena Pravin Harji | Consultant colorectal surgeon and academic |
| Co-Founder & COO/CFO | Christi Anderson | Former PwC director, 20+ years in financial services |
| Chairman | Andy Wood | British technology entrepreneur |
The competitive landscape and inherent risks
Surghive is not operating in a vacuum. The surgical simulation space includes established players like Mimic Technologies, which offers training for the da Vinci system, and Proximie, which focuses on augmented reality for tele-mentoring and collaboration rather than procedural VR training. The risk for any new entrant is twofold: proving clinical efficacy and navigating procurement.
- Clinical validation. While the pilot with 100 surgeons is a significant engagement signal, peer-reviewed data on skill transfer and improved patient outcomes will be essential for widespread NHS adoption. The company is still in the evidence-building phase [Entrepreneurs’ Forum, October 2026].
- Commercial traction. A 2027 target for a commercial product is ambitious. Success will depend not only on the pilot's outcomes but also on securing formal partnerships with NHS trusts and potentially the robotic manufacturers themselves, who control their own training ecosystems.
The company's most plausible answer to these challenges is its clinical DNA. Having founders who are practicing surgeons provides inherent credibility with the target user and a deep understanding of the regulatory and evidence hurdles in medical technology.
What to watch in the next twelve months
The coming year is a make-or-break validation window for Surghive. The national pilot, now underway, will generate the first real-world feedback on usability, engagement, and perceived skill improvement. The company's participation in the Aquis IPO Academy, a public markets readiness programme, suggests a longer-term ambition for scale that extends beyond the initial NHS focus [Fraser Sutherland, Retrieved 2026].
Key milestones to track will be the publication of any pilot results, the announcement of a first named NHS trust or manufacturer partnership, and the specifics of the 2027 commercial launch plan. The undisclosed seed round likely provides an 18-24 month runway, making this execution period critical.
For patients awaiting robotic surgery, the bottleneck is often the availability of a proficient surgical team. The current standard of care involves a mix of manufacturer-run courses, limited time on actual hospital systems, and observational learning,a process that can be slow and inconsistent. Surghive's bet is that by making high-fidelity, accessible training a software problem, they can help shorten the path to competency for surgeons treating conditions from colorectal cancer to prostatectomies, ultimately improving access to minimally invasive techniques. The next year will determine if their virtual reality can create a very real impact.
Sources
- [Entrepreneurs’ Forum, October 2026] Robotic surgery training company set to scale with new investment | https://entrepreneursforum.net/news/member-news/robotic-surgery-training-company-set-to-scale-with-new-investment/
- [Tees Business, June 2026] Pitch perfect Surghive clinches Tech Start-Up prize | https://teesbusiness.co.uk/2026/06/16/pitch-perfect-surghive-clinches-tech-start-up-prize/
- [The Northern Echo, September 2026] £1.5m scheme to boost Tees Valley digital and creative firms | https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/26559517.1-5m-scheme-boost-tees-valley-digital-creative-firms/
- [Medilink, October 2026] Surgery Training Company SURGHIVE Appoints Andy Wood as Chairman | https://medilink.co.uk/news-surghive-andy-woods/
- [PERPLEXITY SONAR PRO BRIEF] Company, product, and team overview
- [Fraser Sutherland, Retrieved 2026] LinkedIn post noting Surghive's participation in Aquis IPO Academy