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27 Feb 2026
We are pleased to confirm that the EverQuest completed its investment into BioCaptiva Limited on 3rd February 2026, as part of the company’s Series A funding round. The raise totalled £1.6 million, with participation from lead investor Archangels, alongside Old College Capital, BBI, Scottish Enterprise, and EverQuest Capital Partners.
Operating at the Frontier of Precision Medicine
BioCaptiva works in one of the most consequential areas of modern oncology: cell-free DNA (cfDNA). Fragments of DNA shed by tumour cells circulate in the bloodstream and can be analysed to detect cancer at its earliest stages, monitor treatment response, and identify minimal residual disease (MRD) — all without invasive biopsies.
The challenge is extraction. cfDNA is present in plasma at extremely low concentrations and its short fragment length makes it notoriously difficult to isolate reliably. Traditional methods require centrifuges, multiple reagents, and skilled handling — introducing variability, slowing throughput, and limiting the sensitivity of downstream analysis.
A Patented Solution That Changes the Equation
BioCaptiva has developed a patented polymer that binds directly to cfDNA, enabling extraction yields more than 50% higher than conventional methods from a single draw — while also enabling faster diagnostic processes. The msX platform eliminates the need for centrifuges or additional reagents, producing higher-quality samples through a workflow that is simpler, faster, and fully automatable.
The practical implications are significant. Greater yield and higher sensitivity mean that cancers can potentially be detected earlier, with greater confidence, and across a broader population of patients. For a field where sample quality directly determines diagnostic accuracy, this is not an incremental improvement — it is a foundational one.
As CEO Jeremy Wheeler has described it:
“Our msX platform has the potential to revolutionise how samples are collected, allowing for larger samples, faster extraction, simpler processing, and fully automatable capabilities. In practice, that means faster, better and deeper iteration and research on cancer, leading to better outcomes for potentially millions of people globally.”
Our Investment Rationale
Three factors made BioCaptiva a compelling fit for the EverQuest EIS Fund:
• A high-growth market with structural tailwinds. cfDNA analysis and liquid biopsy are among the fastest-expanding areas in oncology diagnostics. Demand for non-invasive, early-detection tools is accelerating globally, supported by increasing clinical adoption and healthcare system pressure to catch cancer sooner.
• Technology grounded in deep science. BioCaptiva’s polymer technology was developed from research by a renowned professor and globally recognised leader in molecular diagnostics. The science is not speculative — it is validated, patented, and purpose-built to address a well-understood limitation in the field.
• A leadership team with a proven track record of exits. CEO Jeremy Wheeler previously led a company to a $110 million exit. CTO Alan Schafer brings over 30 years of experience in genetics and molecular diagnostics, including his role as CTO at Inivata, which was acquired by NeoGenomics for $415 million in 2021. This is a team that understands both the science and the path to commercial success.
Alignment with Our Broader Investment Strategy
BioCaptiva also reflects a theme we have been developing across the EverQuest portfolio: backing UK companies with disruptive technologies that address critical bottlenecks in their supply chains. In the current geopolitical climate, the importance of strengthening domestic innovation in high-value sectors — particularly life sciences — has never been clearer.
BioCaptiva is precisely the kind of company we want to back: science-led, commercially focused, and solving a problem that matters — not just for investors, but for patients.
What the Funding Will Achieve
The £1.6 million raise will fund the commercial launch of msX research kits, build a body of clinical evidence across a range of applications, and support R&D investment to expand BioCaptiva’s product range. It arrives at exactly the right moment — as the company transitions from scientific validation to active market entry.