SleepCogni Strengthens Leadership Team and Secures Additional Funding Ahead of International Expansion and Upcoming Investment Round
SleepCogni, the pioneering Sheffield based MedTech company transforming insomnia care, is thrilled to announce significant developments within its leadership team and funding milestones. The company has successfully raised a £300k EIS pre-approved bridging round, supported by existing investors and grants, bringing total funding to £3.9 million ($5 million). This infusion of capital extends SleepCogni’s runway through to a larger funding round planned for 2025, enabling the company to achieve major milestones including CE and FCC approvals and commercialising into the £35bn global sleep tech market.
The continued support from investors highlights their confidence in SleepCogni’s mission and team. Long-term investor Mark Milton-Edwards has reinvested in this round and joined the team as a Non-Executive Director (NED) to support global commercialisation. Additionally, Joseph Hawkins has been promoted to Chief Operating Officer, marking a significant milestone in the company’s scale-up journey.
Mark Milton-Edwards, formerly Head of Product & Health Solutions – Digital Health at Teva Pharmaceuticals, brings over 30 years of experience in pharma and healthcare technology. Prior to Teva, he spent 16 years at AstraZeneca. His achievements include creation of Digihaler®, the first FDA- and MHRA-approved fully integrated digital inhaler. With expertise in global product launches, predictive AI/ML for healthcare, and reimbursement strategies for the US and NHS, Mark’s strategic insights will play a key role in driving SleepCogni’s international expansion and amplifying its global impact.
Joseph Hawkins joined SleepCogni after collaborating on his award-winning dissertation at the University of Sheffield, where he successfully used machine learning to predict sleep onset, which is now used to personalise SleepCogni’s therapy. Over the last six years, he has driven NHS collaborations, led UK and US sales, and secured £2m in funding. Alongside his role, he earned an MBA with Distinction, blending technical and strategic leadership. Now promoted to Chief Operating Officer, Joseph continues to play a pivotal role in SleepCogni’s growth and success.
“I am delighted to strengthen our commercial team and announce this additional funding. The continued support from our investors is a testament to their confidence in our mission and the team’s ability to deliver. With a well-rounded executive team featuring experience from global leaders in pharmaceuticals like Teva, healthcare insurance giants such as Aetna, and consumer retail leaders like Apple, we are well-positioned to drive the business forward.
Richard Mills, CEO of SleepCogni
We welcome Mark Milton-Edwards to the team and celebrate Joseph Hawkins’ well-deserved appointment as COO. Mark’s unparalleled expertise in digital health innovation, combined with Joseph’s energy, vision, and determination, will be instrumental as we prepare to scale rapidly and for international growth. Together, they reinforce our mission to revolutionise sleep health and position SleepCogni as a global leader in insomnia care.”
“I’m excited to join SleepCogni at such a pivotal stage in its journey. The team, led by Richard, has already achieved remarkable success, with their therapy demonstrating significant improvements vs. sham control in a randomised clinical trial setting. The opportunity in sleep is immense, and I believe SleepCogni’s technology has the potential to address a critical global need, changing millions of lives through better sleep. I look forward to contributing my experience in digital health innovation to help unlock the company’s potential for worldwide impact.”
Mark Milton-Edwards
“This next chapter for SleepCogni is incredibly exciting, and I’m honoured to step into the role of COO during this critical phase. Leading our scale-up efforts alongside such talented individuals is a privilege, and I look forward to building something truly impactful. Together, we’re ready to take SleepCogni to new heights and transform sleep health on a global scale.”
Joseph Hawkins, COO of SleepCogni
These leadership appointments underscore SleepCogni’s ambition to revolutionise global sleep health, leveraging cutting-edge technology and a world-class team to address the growing sleep health crisis.
