Matresa raises £315k for maternal health platform

Matresa has raised £315k in pre-seed funding to build a maternal health platform offering personalised screening and support in the UK.

The funding comes as maternal deaths in the UK are at their highest level in more than 20 years, according to the company.

Founded by former nurse Mari-Carmen Sanchez-Morris, Matresa is developing a platform that combines clinical expertise, behavioural science and AI insights to support women through matrescence, the transition from pregnancy into early parenthood.

Sanchez-Morris launched the company after working in a paediatric intensive care unit, where she saw gaps in support for mothers before and after birth.

Sanchez-Morris said: “Poor maternal healthcare isn’t just happening in a vacuum: it affects other areas of healthcare, and stunts women’s career growth, which in turn impacts businesses and the wider economy.

“Tailored care isn’t a privilege – it’s a right. Women and mothers deserve to feel safe and supported, and we need to do more to tackle this crisis.”

One in five women experience maternal mental health disorders or serious complications after childbirth, according to the company.

It says earlier intervention could prevent many of these outcomes, yet gaps in services persist. Preventable maternal health issues are estimated to cost the economy between £13bn and £15bn a year.

The platform also targets employers by offering visibility and insight during maternity leave. Currently, one in three mothers leave the workforce within a year of childbirth, with replacement costs for skilled employees ranging from £30k to £150k.

The pre-seed round was led by SFC Capital.

Edward Stevenson, fund principal at SFC Capital, said: “SFC Capital was delighted to lead this investment round in Matresa.

“We made this investment given the talent and strength of Mari-Carmen and the growing problem that the company is solving. She has demonstrated to us tenacity and determination in all our interactions, all of which suggest to us that she is 100 per cent committed to improving maternal health for women everywhere.”

Matresa is set to launch this summer.