Technology

Optellum, AI Lung Cancer Diagnosis Innovator, Secures $14M Series A Funding to Accelerate Expansion

Published

4 years ago

September 27, 2022

Lead investor Mercia, alongside Intuitive Ventures and Black Opal, invests in Optellum’s pioneering AI-powered lung-health technology

OXFORD, England and HOUSTON, Sept. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Optellum, an Oxford-based medtech company that provides a breakthrough AI platform to diagnose and treat early-stage lung cancer, has raised $14 million in a Series A funding round. The investment will enable Optellum to scale its base, operations, and commercial launches in the UK and USA; accelerate research and development; and expand its platform into personalized therapy decisions by integrating imaging data with molecular data, robotics, and liquid biopsies.

This funding round was led by Mercia, with additional investors Intuitive Ventures (Sunnyvale, CA, USA) and Black Opal Ventures (New York, NY, USA). Existing investors, including St John’s College in the University of Oxford, IQ Capital, and the family office of Sir Martin & Lady Audrey Wood, also participated in this round.

Lung cancer is the most common type of cancer and the leading cause of cancer deaths in the world. Approximately 150,000 people in the United States and 1.8 million people worldwide die from lung cancer each year. The current worldwide five-year survival rate is 20 percent, primarily because most patients are diagnosed after symptoms have appeared and the disease has progressed to an advanced stage (Stage III or IV). In contrast, the survival rate for small tumors treated at Stage 1A is up to 90 percent. This disparity highlights a critical need for diagnosis and treatment at the earliest stage possible.

Optellum is the leader in AI-enabled lung cancer diagnosis, and the first and only medtech company to attain FDA clearance, CE-MDR in the EU, and UKCA in the UK for its software platform Virtual Nodule Clinic. This first-of-a-kind platform can help physicians identify and track at-risk patients, and optimally diagnose the signs of lung cancer early, so treatment can be started sooner for patients with tumors, and invasive procedures such as biopsies on benign lesions can be minimized.

Jason Pesterfield, CEO at Optellum, said: “With this strong support and commitment of highly specialized investors, we are positioned to accelerate commercial deployment in both the UK and the United States to expand our installed base. Following years of research and clinical trials that have shown the impact of our software on the diagnosis of at-risk lung nodules, we’re focused on expanding patient access to this crucial technology and identifying deadly lung cancer faster in more at-risk people. The funding will also boost our research and development with world-leading institutions and partners to progress further innovation.”

Lead investor Mercia brings expertise in software technologies having a significant impact on global health issues and an existing portfolio that includes AI and machine-learning technology.

Investment Director at Mercia, Stephen Johnson, said: “Optellum is the latest in a series of companies to channel research from the UK’s world-leading universities into commercially viable products that can make a difference to the provision of medical care. Having observed Optellum achieve great milestones over the years, we are now excited to become part of their success and apply our experience with scaling up software and deep-tech companies to help accelerate Optellum’s impact on patient lives across the world.”

Intuitive Ventures, the independent venture-capital arm of Intuitive (NASDAQ: ISRG), a world leader in medical robotics, including lung cancer care, was founded in 2020 to accelerate the future of minimally invasive care. The investment team supports Optellum’s ambitions to think and move beyond earlier diagnosis into decision support across the treatment pathway, integrating liquid biopsies, molecular tests, and drug therapies.

“Lung cancer is an urgent public health crisis and Optellum’s groundbreaking approach utilizing AI to accelerate early detection and intervention may fundamentally alter the healthcare community’s approach to combating this disease,” said Oliver Keown, MD, managing director of Intuitive Ventures. “Optellum is uniquely positioned to align and provide considerable value to patients, providers, and payers alike. Intuitive Ventures is thrilled to provide our full arsenal of financial and strategic support to Optellum as we work towards a world of better outcomes for cancer patients.”

Physician-led, female-founded fund Black Opal Ventures has a mission to build better businesses and a better future at the intersection of healthcare and technology. Its expertise in reimbursement and health economics will assist Optellum, which recently announced a New Technology Ambulatory Payment Classification for Medicare patients in the USA.

Founder Tara Bishop, MD, commented: “We value solutions that make medicine more accurate and accessible. The strong validation data that underpins the Optellum solution has demonstrated its ability to make a difference to patients. We share Optellum’s vision of making this available to every doctor in every hospital – and transform the diagnosis and treatment path for lung cancer.”

Optellum’s platform was developed and clinically validated in partnership with leading universities and healthcare systems around the world. Optellum also has strategic collaborations with GE Healthcare and the Lung Cancer Initiative at Johnson & Johnson to accelerate clinical deployments and continue the advancement of the platform. In the UK, Optellum’s solution is being used to predict at-risk lung nodules in a multi-center study with NHS Trusts as part of a major investment in AI for healthcare.

About Optellum

Optellum is a commercial-stage lung health company providing artificial intelligence decision-support software that assists physicians in early diagnosis and optimal treatment for their patients. The company was founded so that every lung disease patient is diagnosed and treated at the earliest possible stage, when the probability of better health outcomes is highest. In 2021, the Oxford-based medtech company achieved FDA 510(k) clearance for the application of AI decision-support software in lung cancer diagnosis, and has since announced strategic partnerships in the USA with GE Healthcare and the Lung Cancer Initiative at Johnson & Johnson, while the Virtual Nodule Clinic has been implemented in leading healthcare systems across the USA. Optellum has headquarters at the Oxford Centre for Innovation in Oxford, United Kingdom and a U.S. office at the Texas Medical Center in Houston, Texas. For more information, visit optellum.com or follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Tim Cox | CubanEight for Optellum | timcox@cubaneight.com

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SOURCE Optellum

Technology

BrightParent Introduces Personalized Parenting App for Parents of Kids Ages 5 to 17

Published

2 hours ago

April 19, 2026

BrightParent gives parents personalized support, in-the-moment guidance, and 7-day programs for everyday challenges like bedtime battles, homework conflict, big emotions, and sibling tension.

MONTREAL, April 19, 2026 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — BrightParent, a new parenting app for iPhone and iPad, is now available on the App Store.

“BrightParent was created as a parenting tool that can not only help in the moment, but also support families as they work through patterns that come up again and again.”

Designed for parents of children ages 5 to 17, BrightParent was created to address a gap many families run into every day: parenting advice often sounds good in theory but can feel too generic, too idealized, or too hard to use when real situations are unfolding at home.

“Parents are often trying to respond well in moments that are messy, emotional, and moving fast,” said Claire Bennett, media contact for BrightParent. “What is missing in a lot of existing advice is something that feels calm, practical, and specific enough to help with the child and situation right in front of you.”

BrightParent focuses on common parenting situations such as bedtime resistance, homework struggles, emotional outbursts, sibling conflict, screen time transitions, difficult mornings, and everyday boundary issues.

The app begins with a detailed onboarding process that helps parents build a fuller picture of their child and family context. That information helps shape the support BrightParent provides, so the guidance reflects the child’s age, the situation the parent describes, and the broader family context.

Parents can type in what is happening and receive practical guidance along with simple, natural scripts they can use with their child. For families working through recurring challenges, BrightParent also offers structured 7-day programs, including custom programs parents can create around the specific issues they want help addressing over time.

“The goal was not to build another general-purpose chatbot,” Bennett said. “BrightParent was created as a parenting tool that can not only help in the moment, but also support families as they work through patterns that come up again and again.”

BrightParent is built specifically for everyday parenting support. It is not a general purpose chatbot and does not provide medical, clinical, therapeutic, diagnostic, or crisis services.

BrightParent is available now on the App Store for iPhone and iPad.

Website: https://www.brightparent.app/

App Store: https://apps.apple.com/app/id6759067566

Media page: https://www.brightparent.app/media /

About BrightParent

BrightParent is a parenting app for iPhone and iPad designed for parents of children ages 5 to 17. It offers age-appropriate guidance, practical scripts, and structured support for everyday parenting situations, with personalization informed by the child and family context shared during setup.

Media Contact

Claire Bennett, BrightParent, 1 514-558-4664, media@brightparent.app, https://www.brightparent.app/

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SOURCE BrightParent

Technology

Cloverleaf Analytics Unveils 2026 Insurance Decision Intelligence Platform

Published

2 hours ago

April 19, 2026

Pearl Holding Group Goes Live, and Company and CEO Earn Industry Accolades

HOLLYWOOD, Fla., April 19, 2026 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Cloverleaf Analytics, a leader in insurance intelligence decisioning, today proudly announces the launch of its 2026 Insurance Decision Intelligence Platform. This purpose-built solution is designed to optimize data processing and analytics operations for the insurance industry, delivering an end-to-end automated data pipeline from source ingestion to Snowflake, powered by advanced artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities.

“Its implementation will free up our team to focus on strategic initiatives and better customer interactions rather than antiquated technology and business operations,” said Mike Mobley, VP of Operations at Pearl Holding Group.

This product announcement represents a significant advancement in insurance technology, transforming processes that previously took days to generate meaningful insights into mere minutes.

In addition to the platform launch, Cloverleaf Analytics has been recognized as one of the Top 50 Insurtech Providers by Everest Group, solidifying its position as an industry leader. Furthermore, Cloverleaf’s Founder and CEO, Robert Clark, has been named a finalist for Thought Leader of the Year in the PropertyCasualty360 Insurance Luminaries awards in the vendor category, highlighting his contributions to advancing the insurance industry.

“Cloverleaf Analytics has been listed in Everest Group’s Top 50™ Property and Casualty (P&C) Insurance Technology Providers 2026 research. This recognition is attributed to its coverage across major P&C lines of business and key value-chain functions, along with its continued growth in North America,” says Aurindum Mukherjee, Practice Director at Everest Group. “Its strategic investments in GenBI, conversational analytics, and AI-driven data integration within its Intelligent Insurance Platform, supported by an expanding partner ecosystem, underscore its focus on AI-led decision intelligence for P&C insurers.”

After recently announcing Oklahoma Farm Bureau Insurance as its newest customer, Cloverleaf continues to build momentum with Pearl Holding Group now live on Cloverleaf Analytics for Guidewire InsuranceNow claims. Cloverleaf is also supporting Pearl’s transition from legacy systems, with Policy operations currently being implemented.

This phased approach enables Pearl Holding Group to modernize its data infrastructure while laying the foundation for broader adoption of Cloverleaf’s Insurance Decision Intelligence capabilities.

“We are excited to benefit from the streamlined claims operations and enhanced data integrity that Cloverleaf Analytics provides,” said Mike Mobley, VP of Operations at Pearl Holding Group. “Its implementation will free up our team to focus on strategic initiatives and better customer interactions rather than antiquated technology and business operations.”

More About the 2026 Platform Launch

The Cloverleaf Analytics Insurance Decision Intelligence Platform is designed to transform how insurance organizations handle data and decision-making processes. With built-in features such as intelligent field matching, a visual rule builder, and automated ETL script generation, the platform allows companies to reduce mapping time from hours to minutes, reducing human error and standardizing transformation logic across operations.

Benefits for Customers:

Reduced Time and Resources: Transforms data processing tasks that previously took days into minutes.Enhanced Data Quality: Built-in business rules and validation mechanisms protect data integrity from the start.Increased Autonomy: Business users can manage validation logic without relying solely on IT.

Additional Key Features of the Cloverleaf Analytics Platform:

AI-Powered Transformation Suggestions: Automatically generates SQL expressions for improved data manipulation.Visual Canvas for Multi-Source Joins: Intuitive drag-and-drop interface for merging various data sources.Automated Glue Script Generation: Seamlessly create production-ready ETL scripts, removing the burden from data engineers.

“The 2026 edition of our Insurance Decision Intelligence Platform isn’t just an upgrade, it’s a paradigm shift for how the insurance industry leverages data,” said Michael Schwabrow, EVP of Sales and Marketing of Cloverleaf Analytics. “We’re moving beyond basic analytics to empower carriers with real-time, actionable intelligence that transforms decision-making, significantly reduces operational burden, and ultimately builds greater trust and efficiency across the ecosystem. This is about delivering unprecedented clarity and agility to our customers.”

Cloverleaf Analytics is proud to be a Gold and Wi-Fi sponsor at the AAIS Main Event conference taking place from April 19-21 at the Margaritaville Hollywood Beach Resort. Insurers interested in seeing how they can make better, faster decisions using Cloverleaf’s Insurance Decision Intelligence platform can sign up for a 10-minute demo in advance of the event here. Cloverleaf Founder and CEO Robert Clark will also speak on April 21 in a session titled “Advancing the Industry Through Data Contribution and openIDS,” alongside Josh Hershman of the Connecticut Insurance Department and Michael Payne of AAIS.

About Cloverleaf Analytics

Cloverleaf Analytics is a leader in Insurance Decision Intelligence for P&C insurers, helping mid-to-large carriers turn complex insurance data into faster, better underwriting, claims, and operational decisions. The Cloverleaf Insurance Decision Intelligence platform is purpose-built to help carriers easily migrate disparate data from legacy, multi-core, Guidewire and other sources into an Insurance Decisioning Intelligence data lake, regardless of where the data lives. All insurance data in Cloverleaf supports the openIDS standard format. Learn more at www.cloverleafanalytics.com.

Media Contact

Michael Schwabrow, Cloverleaf Analytics, 1 (512) 361-7173 2121, mschwabrow@cloverleafanalytics.com, www.cloverleafanalytics.com

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SOURCE Cloverleaf Analytics

Technology

SIRUI Wins “Best of Show”, Unveils New Cine Lenses at NAB Show 2026

Published

4 hours ago

April 19, 2026

LAS VEGAS, April 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — SIRUI today received a “Best of Show” award for its Vision Prime T1.4 Full-Frame Cine Lens Series, while also introducing new focal lengths for both the Vision Prime and IronStar lens families at the 2026 NAB Show. The expanded lineups give filmmakers a more complete range of creative options, from ultra-wide to telephoto, backed by flexible mount systems.

“Winning the ‘Best of Show’ award is a strong recognition of our commitment to optical innovation,” said Lijie, CEO of SIRUI. The Vision Prime Series is SIRUI’s first cine lens lineup featuring an interchangeable mount system. This design delivers outstanding compatibility, allowing users to effortlessly switch between different camera mounts as needed and seamlessly adapt to various systems.

Enhancing cost-effectiveness and shooting flexibility

Vision Prime Series – 15mm, 75mm, and 150mm

The Vision Prime Series is a full-frame, large-aperture, compact cine lens lineup. Following the existing 24mm, 35mm, and 50mm focal lengths, the series now adds a 15mm wide-angle, along with 75mm and 150mm medium-telephoto lenses, delivering a more complete focal range. With exceptional bokeh, outstanding low-light performance, and superior optical quality, the Vision Prime Series is ideal for both content creation and professional cinematography.

The Vision Prime Series come with a variety of interchangeable mount modules, allowing one lens to work across multiple camera systems — significantly enhancing cost-effectiveness and operational flexibility.

15mm – Optimized for wide-angle imaging, perfect for landscape photography.75mm – Delivers natural compression and pleasing subject‑background separation, perfect for portraits and medium telephoto shots.150mm – Designed for close-up and telephoto shooting, ideal for detailed and macro-style photography.

Cinematic widescreen, made simple.

IronStar Series – 75mm, 100mm, and 135mm

The IronStar series delivers widescreen imagery with vintage characters and modern optical performance. With a constant 1.5X squeeze ratio, it offers filmmakers consistent, high-value tools for films, ads, documentaries, and more.

The initial set includes three lenses—35mm, 45mm, and 60mm—covering wide-angle to medium focal lengths to meet essential framing needs. The introduction of 75mm, 100mm, and 135mm lenses completes the system, forming a fully expanded ecosystem that provides comprehensive support for both commercial and artistic cinematography.

75mm – Suitable for dialogue scenes and storytelling shots, offering a natural and balanced perspective. Ideal for portraits and close-ups with pleasing compression100mm – Ideal for macro and close-up shots, capturing fine details, textures, and product features with strong subject isolation. Suited for food, jewelry and product commercials, combining close-focus capability with a cinematic perspective.135mm – Ideal for tight portraits and close-ups, delivering strong compression and excellent subject separation. Suited for isolating details and subjects from busy backgrounds in narrative films.

The new Vision Prime and IronStar focal length lenses are expected to be officially available in the second half of 2026. For further details, please stay tuned to SIRUI’s official store.

Capture Your Imagination

The NAB Show runs through April 22. SIRUI will host a series of speeches and live social media streams with filmmaking experts and talented content creators at booth C4539. The new Vision Prime and IronStar focal lengths empower filmmakers with greater creative freedom — and SIRUI continues to drive professional lens innovation for creators worldwide.

About SIRUI

SIRUI, the world’s leading anamorphic lens, lighting equipment, and camera support brand, has long been dedicated to providing filmmakers with the ultimate shooting experience. SIRUI products, known for their high performance at an affordable price, have been widely recognized and highly commended by budding filmmakers and professionals worldwide. So far, SIRUI has established an impressive customer service network around the world, as well as over 300 sales outlets and terminal showrooms.

For more information, please visit:
Official Website: store.sirui.com
Instagram: @siruiimaging
YouTube: @SIRUIImaging
TikTok: @sirui.optical
Facebook: SIRUIImaging

Contacts:
marketing@sirui.com

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SOURCE SIRUI