The latest round has been led by growth capital investor BGF

Cardiff-based medical devices firms IQ Endoscopes has been boosted with a multi-million-pound new equity round to support its commercialisation drive.

The company is developing a single‑use gastrointestinal endoscopy platform designed to improve patient access to endoscopy and help healthcare providers respond to growing demand.

Its latest round of funding led by BGF, which has also seen follow on investment by the Development Bank of Wales, will be used to support IQ Endoscopes’ early commercial rollout in selected UK centres, strengthen manufacturing and supply chain capability, and build a robust commercial pipeline, as the company prepares for future scale‑up in the UK and overseas. The investment will also support further regulatory work and market validation in the US.

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Existing reusable endoscopes create significant time burden and carbon emissions due to complex decontamination and transport processes, contributing to hospital capacity constraints and workflow inefficiencies. IQ Endoscope provides sustainable alternative designed to do the opposite, freeing up beds and physician capacity.

Since being established it has secured key regulatory approvals and commenced production. The company has identified its first customers, received initial orders and is now preparing for early commercial use of its platform. The business currently employs 20.

The exact value of its latest funding round has not been disclosed.

Matt Ginn, IQ Endoscopes chief executive, said: “This investment is a significant step forward as we move into the next phase of our growth. It allows us to begin early commercial rollout in the UK, strengthen our operational foundations and build momentum for future expansion.

“Support from BGF and the Development Bank of Wales has been instrumental in helping us reach this point, and we’re excited to continue to work closely alongside them as we bring our technology into real‑world clinical use.”

Maggy Lau, investor at BGF said: “IQ Endoscopes is addressing a clear challenge facing healthcare systems, with a product that has the potential to make a lasting, positive impact. We’re pleased to continue to support Matt and the team as the business moves into this exciting next stage of growth.”

Tom Davies, investment executive with the Development Bank of Wales said: “We’re proud to continue supporting IQ Endoscopes as it enters its next growth phase. The team’s progress in manufacturing and early clinical use is impressive, and this investment will help accelerate adoption of a technology that could enhance patient access and strengthen endoscopy services across the NHS and beyond.”

The company said its newly launched Bond Provider Platform will allow investors to invest in government securities, PSU bonds and corporate bonds through a dedicated digital interface.

The move comes as the domestic bond market expands and investors increasingly seek predictable returns and capital preservation alongside equity investments.
India’s bond market has grown to nearly USD 3 trillion, making it the third-largest in Asia after Japan and China, and equivalent to roughly 100-110 per cent of India’s GDP, a release said.
“With Indian households increasingly allocating savings to financial assets and the inclusion of Indian government bonds in global indices expected to bring strong foreign inflows, the opportunity in fixed income is becoming more compelling,” said Ajay Menon, managing director and chief executive officer of wealth management at Motilal Oswal Financial Services.

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The new bond platform comes at a time of heightened geopolitical tensions and global market uncertainty that have increased volatility in equity markets, prompting investors, particularly high-net-worth individuals, to increase allocations to fixed income, the company said.
Ashish Malaviya, head of distribution at Motilal Oswal Wealth Management, said that amid rising equity market volatility driven by global developments, investors, particularly HNIs, are increasingly seeking capital protection, predictable income, and portfolio stability.

The County Durham offshore engineering group says it is seeing positive signs

Offshore energy group Tekmar says it is encouraged by its latest results, despite seeing a drop in revenues and another year of losses.

The County Durham-based firm, which provides asset protection technology and offshore en­­ergy services, has released results for the year ending September 30 2025.

They show turnover falling slightly to £28.7m, while gross profit fell to £9.8m. After taking into account exceptional items, depreciation and other costs, Tekmar reported an overall loss for the year of £3.9m, though this was less than last year’s losses.

But Tekmar said that £43m of new orders since last July and currently had a record order book. It said its balance sheet had been strengthened, including by the sale of its former Innovation House building for £2.8m.

The company said its Project Aurora plan to scale the business through both organic growth and acquisitions, and to improve its financial strength, was progressing well.

CEO Richard Turner said: “FY25 has been a pivotal and highly productive year for Tekmar as we launched and started to execute on Project Aurora. The group delivered results in line with market expectations, alongside a material improvement in profitability in the second half.

“We are pleased to have been able to maintain our momentum post period end – in the first four months of FY26 we have delivered a record order book, with multi-year visibility and have unlocked further growth potential by significantly strengthening our balance sheet.

“We are encouraged by the strong start to the new financial year and healthy pipeline we see ahead of us and are focused on delivering sustained, profitable growth and enhanced value for shareholders.”