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SBRI HEALTHCARE

Blog: International Women's Day 2026: In conversation with Carolina Bell, Co-founder of NeuroVirt Ltd

06 March 2026

Hi Carolina, please tell us about your career to date, what attracted you to healthtech?

My career began in finance. I’m a Chartered Accountant by background and started out working across major consulting firms such as PwC, as well as smaller companies where I often had the opportunity to work closely with leadership teams.

Early on, I worked with an AI-focused client at a time when AI wasn’t yet the mainstream topic it is today. Being heavily involved in strategic and operational discussions was fascinating and showed me just how quickly technology can transform industries. Over the years I’ve worked with organisations ranging from early-stage start-ups to large listed companies, including within the medtech sector, which gave me a broad perspective on how innovation moves from idea to real-world impact.

"I witnessed first-hand how powerful the technology could be"

What ultimately drew me fully into healthtech was the human side of it. I was initially involved with NeuroVirt in a supporting role, but during one of our early trials I witnessed first-hand how powerful the technology could be. One patient undergoing rehabilitation suddenly began joking and engaging again, almost like his personality had returned. His wife was reduced to tears seeing him like that. In that moment, I realised this was more than technology and that it was something that could genuinely change people’s lives.

How have you seen healthtech change over the years?

Healthtech has evolved enormously over the years, particularly with the rise of AI and digital tools. One of the biggest shifts I’ve seen is clinicians increasingly embracing technology as they realise it isn’t there to replace them, but to support them by freeing up time and enabling them to deliver even higher-quality care to patients. At NeuroVirt, we’re always looking at how to harness the newest technologies to stay ahead of the curve and create meaningful value for both patients and healthcare systems.

Please tell us about your journey with NeuroVirt and scaling it to success

"One thing we are incredibly proud of is that throughout this journey, our product has consistently stood out"

Like most start-ups, our journey with NeuroVirt has been an exciting rollercoaster. Building a company around innovative technology always comes with challenges, whether that’s navigating funding, regulation, or market adoption. One thing we are incredibly proud of is that throughout this journey, our product has consistently stood out. From the beginning, we have placed a huge emphasis on listening carefully to both clinicians and patients. Their needs have shaped how we design and improve our technology.

"We’ve seen strong engagement and positive feedback from clinicians and patients alike, which has reinforced that we’re solving a real problem in rehabilitation"

We’re also very focused on the quality of rehabilitation, not just the number of repetitions a patient completes. Rehabilitation should be engaging, meaningful and clinically effective, and that philosophy has been central to our approach. That focus has really shown since we began commercialising the product. We’ve seen strong engagement and positive feedback from clinicians and patients alike, which has reinforced that we’re solving a real problem in rehabilitation.

"Our preliminary analysis suggests that NeuroVirt could deliver a substantial financial impact alongside better patient outcomes"

That said, there is still significant work to do when it comes to adoption, particularly within the NHS. Healthcare systems understandably move carefully when introducing new technology, but our preliminary analysis suggests that NeuroVirt could deliver a substantial financial impact alongside better patient outcomes. As this evidence continues to build, decision-makers will feel more confident in adopting the technology more widely.

"Internationally, we’re also seeing exciting momentum"

Internationally, we’re also seeing exciting momentum. Our CEO has been based in New York for over a year as part of our commitment to serving clients on the ground, understanding the healthcare landscape in depth, and growing alongside demand. The feedback we’ve received across the Atlantic has been fantastic with our latest commercial trial ending with a 94% adherence rate! We are excited for the prospect of NeuroVirt scaling exponentially and expanding globally.

What are some of NeuroVirt's biggest achievements to date? What are you personally most proud of?

"We saw an adherence rate of 94%, with patients consistently engaging in their rehabilitation every day over a six-month period"

One of NeuroVirt’s most significant achievements so far has been our adherence rates. In our latest commercial pilot, we saw an adherence rate of 94%, with patients consistently engaging in their rehabilitation every day over a six-month period. Rehabilitation can often be repetitive and frustrating, so when NeuroVirt helps patients stay motivated and improves their experience, it can make a real difference to their recovery journey. At the same time, the system required minimal clinician intervention; only around 5% of patients required a short follow-up of roughly 10 minutes. This demonstrates not only that patients are willing to engage with the technology, but also that it can help clinicians support more patients while still maintaining high-quality care.

"Moments when you see a patient reconnect with their personality, humour, or confidence during therapy are incredibly powerful"

Personally, what I’m most proud of is the tangible human impact of what we’re building. Moments when you see a patient reconnect with their personality, humour, or confidence during therapy are incredibly powerful. Those experiences remind us that the work we’re doing goes far beyond technology or business metrics. We are actively helping people regain independence and quality of life.

"I’m very proud of the resilience of our team"

Finally, I’m very proud of the resilience of our team. Building a healthtech company requires persistence, adaptability, and a lot of belief in the mission. Despite the challenges that come with scaling a start-up, the team has remained deeply committed to improving rehabilitation for patients and supporting clinicians in delivering the best possible care.

What advice would you give to female founders about founding a company, scaling and leading a company, and raising investment?

"Understand the needs of customers and remain obsessed with delivering real value"

My first piece of advice would be to stay very close to the problem you are solving. The strongest companies are built by founders who deeply understand the needs of their customers and remain obsessed with delivering real value. When you’re building and scaling a company, there will be constant noise e.g. advice from investors, market pressures, and shifting priorities. Having a very clear understanding of the problem and the impact you want to create helps you stay grounded and make better decisions.

"Surrounding yourself with a strong team and trusted advisors who believe in you makes a huge difference"

Secondly, resilience is absolutely essential. Building a company is rarely a straight line; it’s a series of highs and lows. There will be moments when things take longer than expected, when funding is difficult, or when a strategy needs to change. What matters most is the ability to adapt, learn quickly, and keep moving forward. Surrounding yourself with a strong team and trusted advisors who believe in you makes a huge difference in navigating those challenges.

"Don’t be afraid to talk about your achievements, talk about your product with the confidence you have around your team"

When it comes to raising investment, confidence in yourself and in what you are building is incredibly important. Many women are often brought up to be more conservative, to underplay their achievements, and sometimes to question themselves when challenged. Don’t be afraid to talk about your achievements, talk about your product with the confidence you have around your team.

"Don’t feel pressured to fit into a particular leadership mould"

Finally, don’t feel pressured to fit into a particular leadership mould. Authentic leadership and leading with clarity, empathy, and conviction is incredibly powerful. Building a company is about creating something meaningful, and the diversity of perspectives that female founders bring to entrepreneurship is one of the sector’s greatest strengths.

"The diversity of perspectives that female founders bring to entrepreneurship is one of the sector’s greatest strengths"

Are there any networks or people that have particularly helped you in your career and journey with NeuroVirt?

"Watching her lead with confidence and clarity gave me the reassurance that I could do the same"

There have been many people and organisations who have supported me throughout my career and during the journey with NeuroVirt including advisors and investors. Someone who has had a particularly strong influence on me personally is a female investor we work closely with. She is incredibly dynamic, decisive, and successful, and seeing how she operates has been very inspiring. Watching her lead with confidence and clarity gave me the reassurance that I could do the same. Sometimes simply seeing another woman succeed at that level helps break down the internal barriers you might place on yourself and reminds you that there is absolutely space for you at the table.

"Funding bodies have also been hugely supportive"

Beyond investors and advisors, organisations such as SBRI Healthcare, NIHR and other funding bodies have also been hugely supportive. They evaluated the technology based on its clinical value and potential impact, which is exactly how innovation in healthcare should be assessed. Their support helped validate the product and gave us the opportunity to continue developing and scaling NeuroVirt.

"Most importantly, however, it has been my co-founder Eve"

Most importantly, however, it has been my co-founder Eve. They are an incredible leader with a clear vision and an extremely innovative mind. Eve leads with fairness and integrity, treating everyone equally. They care deeply about doing things the right way: building a product that truly works, supporting our partners, and delivering meaningful value to the patients and clinicians we serve. We work in a very fluid partnership and complement each other well, and I truly believe that together we have the foundation to build something transformative that can positively impact rehabilitation and the lives of millions of patients around the world.

"Together we have the foundation to build something transformative"

What’s next for you and for Neurovirt?

The next phase for NeuroVirt is focused on scaling our impact and continuing to build strong clinical and commercial foundations. We are working to expand adoption of our technology, particularly within healthcare systems like the NHS, where we believe NeuroVirt has the potential to deliver both meaningful patient outcomes and significant value to the system.

"The traction we are seeing gives us strong confidence that the US will be a key driver of NeuroVirt’s growth"

As we continue to generate more clinical and economic evidence, our goal is to help decision-makers see how technology like ours can support clinicians, improve rehabilitation engagement, and ultimately lead to better long-term recovery for patients. International growth is also a major focus, particularly in the United States. With our CEO based in New York for over a year, we have already crossed a number of important milestones. We have built strong partnerships, engaged with leading rehabilitation providers, and established a growing presence in the market. Being on the ground has allowed us to deeply understand the healthcare landscape and respond quickly to demand. The feedback we’ve received from clinicians and partners has been extremely positive, and the traction we are seeing gives us strong confidence that the US will be a key driver of NeuroVirt’s growth.

"We will continue pushing the boundaries of what rehabilitation technology can do"

More broadly, we will continue pushing the boundaries of what rehabilitation technology can do. Advances in AI, data, and digital health are opening up new possibilities, and at NeuroVirt we are committed to staying at the forefront of that innovation. Ultimately, our goal is simple but ambitious: to make high-quality rehabilitation more accessible, engaging, and effective for patients everywhere.

What is your message for International Women's Day?

"Increasing support for women founders isn’t just about fairness or representation, it also makes strong economic sense"

For International Women’s Day, it’s important to recognise both the progress that has been made and the work that still lies ahead. Women remain underrepresented in entrepreneurship and venture funding, yet the data consistently shows that women-led businesses perform exceptionally well.

Studies have found that female founders are often more capital efficient and, in many cases, generate higher revenue per dollar invested compared to their male counterparts. Despite receiving a much smaller share of venture capital funding globally, women-led companies frequently meet or exceed their business goals and deliver strong returns. This highlights an important point: increasing support for women founders isn’t just about fairness or representation, it also makes strong economic sense. When more women are given the opportunity to build and scale companies, the entire innovation ecosystem benefits.

"International Women’s Day is a moment to celebrate achievements, but also to continue encouraging environments where talent, ambition, and ideas are recognised regardless of gender"

At the same time, visibility and confidence are incredibly important. When women see other women founding companies, leading organisations, and shaping industries, it helps break down perceived barriers and makes those paths feel more achievable. International Women’s Day is a moment to celebrate achievements, but also to continue encouraging environments where talent, ambition, and ideas are recognised regardless of gender. The more diverse the voices building the future (particularly in areas like healthcare and technology) the better the solutions will be for the people they are designed to serve.

Thank you Carolina!

NeuroVirt: Website: neurovirt.io | LinkedIn

Read more about NeuroVirt on the Case Studies page

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