Medcotec, a startup developing powder transfer valves for pharmaceutical and other manufacturers, has raised over £2.4m in a seed round from Mercia Ventures, LYVA Labs, the Liverpool City Region Seed Fund and private investors. Mercia Ventures manages the NPIF II – Mercia Equity Finance as part of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II, while the Liverpool City Region Seed Fund is managed by AXM Venture Capital. Funding enables Medcotec to carry out further trials of its technology and build its team.
Medcotec’s first product, the Helyx valve, is designed as a safer and more cost-effective alternative to existing powder transfer systems, particularly for shorter production runs. Production failures are estimated to cost the global pharmaceutical industry £9 billion a year, with powder transfer systems cited as a key factor. Split-butterfly valves currently used in the industry contain a disk in the centre where powder can build up, creating the risk of blockages and contamination. By contrast, the Helyx is a full bore valve with nothing to constrain the flow, and its design keeps powder contained within the valve. As a single-use valve, Helyx removes the time and cost involved in cleaning stainless steel systems, and unlike some existing full-bore systems, it can withstand high pressure.
Medcotec is already working with a leading pharmaceutical company as well as other manufacturers that use powder systems. The business currently employs four people and expects to create four new jobs in the next 12 months. Medcotec focuses on addressing contamination risks that increase as pharmaceutical ingredients become more potent and on reducing costly production outages caused by blockages and cleaning requirements.
Medcotec was founded by Emerson Mulvaney and serial entrepreneur Mike Taitt. Mulvaney has over 20 years’ experience in senior leadership roles in medical, bioscience and technology companies. Taitt is the co-founder and former CEO of EZE Talk and Money Saver Telecom Group. LYVA Labs previously provided pre-seed investment in June 2025 and Medcotec has engaged in LYVA Labs’ Incubator and Accelerate programmes to further develop its prototype and commercial plans.
Current powder transfer systems are often based on 20-year-old technology. It is almost impossible to avoid some level of contamination and as ingredients become more potent, the risks grow. Blockages and contamination can also cause costly production outages. With its unique design, our valve could be a gamechanger for the industry. The funding will allow us to bring it to market.
The pharmaceutical landscape is changing - the rules on contamination are tightening, and companies are increasingly doing shorter production runs. Medcotec solves some of their key pain points. We believe it has the potential to become the leading provider of single-use powder transfer systems and are pleased to support it on its journey.
Medcotec received pre-seed investment from LYVA Labs in June 2025 and engaged in both our Incubator and Accelerate programmes to further develop their prototype and commercial plans. This investment, led by Mercia Ventures, will enable them to take their product to market and grow their business in Liverpool City Region.
Medcotec is a great example of advanced manufacturing in the Liverpool City Region. We are delighted to back a team with deep domain knowledge, strong industry relationships and a laser-focus on improving powder transfer.
