Samphire's Nettle Headband Targets Menstrual Symptoms with $5M Boost

Samphire Neuroscience has secured $5 million in seed funding to expand its wearable headband, Nettle. The device aims to address menstrual symptoms, a gap often overlooked by standard medical treatments. The company was cofounded by Emilie Radyte, a scientist recognised for her work in women’s health. Emilie Radyte observed that hormonal changes frequently worsen women’s mental health symptoms. Traditional treatments often fail to address these fluctuations effectively. This insight led her to develop Nettle, a headband designed to stimulate brain regions linked to pain, mood, and cognition.

The device is worn for 20 minutes daily, starting five days before menstruation. In the U.K. and EU, Nettle is CE-marked as a medical device for PMS-related pain and mood symptoms. In the U.S., it is marketed as a wellness product under the name Lutea due to regulatory differences.

Samphire Neuroscience previously raised $2.3 million in pre-seed funding in February 2024. The latest $5 million round, secured in June 2024, will support the expansion of Nettle. The company targets the estimated 190 million people worldwide living with chronic menstrual conditions. Radyte, named to Forbes 30 Under 30 in 2021, cofounded the firm to create solutions where existing medical options fall short. The funding will help bring Nettle to more users in the U.K. and EU. Lutea remains available in the U.S. as a non-medical product. Both devices aim to provide relief for those struggling with persistent menstrual symptoms.