Skin relief startup lands US backing

A UK health technology business is set to accelerate its global growth after securing investment from an American startup competition.

Cosi Care has received $1 million after being named one of five winners of the 43North programme in Buffalo, New York, which attracts thousands of applicants worldwide. 

Founded in 2018 by Swansea entrepreneur Lauren Bell, the company developed the world’s first safe-scratching medical devices to offer instant cooling and itch relief for people with eczema and other chronic skin conditions.

The brand, inspired by Lauren’s family experience of severe eczema, now has more than 50,000 UK customers and has generated over £3 million in revenue to date. 

Its technology delivers targeted cooling sensations to help reduce scratching, preventing infection and long-term skin damage.

Winning the competition will support Cosi Care’s expansion into the US market, with the company also securing an additional $25,000 through the People’s Choice Award. 

Lauren said: “We are so proud to have received the recent funding from 43North, and to have also been recognised by the Buffalo community for the People’s Choice Award. 

“Receiving this investment is a true testament to how universal our solution is - everyone knows someone with itchy skin. 

“The response from our customers in the UK has been incredible, and we couldn't be more excited to launch Cosi Care in the US.

“Our mission is to offer relief and support to families raising children with eczema, and we believe everyone deserves to feel comfortable and confident in their skin – but that requires having access to products that really help. 

“We are on a mission to outmatch the scratch globally!”

Co-founder and chief financial officer Sandip Leihal, who is based in Nottingham, added: “This is a major milestone for Cosi Care and for UK healthtech proving it can scale globally. 

“We have built a medical grade device with real demand, strong unit economics and a model that can grow across markets.

“Securing US investment allows us to take a British innovation into one of the biggest healthcare markets in the world and build a category defining brand in a space that has seen little change for decades.”

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