Sava's $36M Raise: The Tiny Sensor That Could End Finger Pricks

Jan de Vries · 2026-10-09

London-based Sava Technologies just raised $36 million to bring its game-changing glucose microsensor to Europe. Here's why this matters for anyone tired of finger pricks. If you or someone you love has diabetes, you know the drill: finger pricks, constant monitoring, and the never-ending search for a better way. Well, Sava Technologies might just have the answer. The London-based HealthTech company just announced a €32.08 million ($36 million) Series B round to scale up manufacturing and get its wearable biosensor ready for the masses. ### A Sensor That's 10x Shorter – And Way Less Painful Sava's microsensor is roughly ten times shorter than the filament in traditional continuous glucose monitors (CGMs). That means less disruption to your skin while still reaching the interstitial fluid where glucose lives. It's a small change with a huge impact: less pain, more comfort, and better wearability. But here's the kicker: this platform isn't just about glucose. It's designed to track other biomarkers too, opening the door to continuous sensing far beyond diabetes. Think of it as a tiny window into your body's chemistry. ### Ascensia Partnership: A Match Made in Diabetes Care The round was led by Ascensia, a subsidiary of PHC Holdings Corporation and a global powerhouse in diabetes care. Ascensia isn't just an investor; they're also Sava's new commercialization and distribution partner, starting in Europe. "For decades, continuous monitoring has been held back by the same legacy technology," said Renato Circi, co-founder and Co-CEO of Sava. "This is about to change. We're thrilled to be partnering with Ascensia to deliver something radically better to millions of people with diabetes." Ascensia, based in Basel, was formed in 2016 when PHC Holdings acquired Bayer Diabetes Care. They sell products in over 90 countries and have direct operations in 29 markets. Their CONTOUR line of blood glucose monitors is widely used, so they know a thing or two about getting devices into the hands of people who need them. ### From Stealth to Spotlight: Sava's Journey Founded in 2019 by Imperial College London bioengineers Renato Circi and Rafaël Michali, Sava spent five years in stealth before emerging in June 2024. They'd already raised over €7.4 million in seed funding led by Balderton Capital and Exor Ventures. Then in July 2025, they added a €16.6 million Series A round, also led by Balderton and Pentland Ventures. This latest round brings total funding to €60.6 million ($68 million). Not bad for a company that's still pre-revenue. ### What's Next: Clinical Trials and CE Approval Sava is planning a pivotal clinical study this year and is targeting CE approval for non-adjunctive use. In plain English: they want their device to be approved for making insulin dosing decisions without routine fingerstick confirmation. That's the gold standard for a CGM to replace, not just supplement, blood glucose testing. If they get CE approval, Ascensia will lead the commercial launch in Europe. The capital from this round will fund manufacturing scale-up and commercial readiness. ### Why This Matters for You If you're one of the millions of people with diabetes, this could mean a future with fewer finger pricks and more freedom. If you're an investor, it's a sign that European HealthTech is heating up. And if you're just someone who cares about innovation, it's a reminder that small sensors can make a big difference. Sava's technology was designed from the outset for high-volume manufacturing, so it's built to reach people at scale. With Ascensia's commercial muscle behind it, that scale might come sooner than we think. So keep an eye on this one. The next generation of glucose monitoring might be tiny, wearable, and a whole lot less painful.