novosound

# High-Level Overview

Novosound is a Scottish technology company that develops advanced ultrasound sensors using proprietary thin-film manufacturing technology.[1] Founded in 2018 as the University of the West of Scotland's first spin-out, the company creates printable, flexible ultrasound sensors that serve industrial, medical, and wearable applications.[1][3] Rather than building end-user products, Novosound operates as a technology enabler and licensing partner, providing sensor solutions and platforms to larger enterprises and medical device manufacturers.

The company addresses a fundamental limitation of conventional ultrasound technology: the cost, rigidity, and complexity of traditional piezoelectric sensors. Novosound's thin-film approach enables gel-free, high-resolution imaging in flexible, wearable, and embedded form factors, opening applications previously impossible with legacy ultrasound hardware.[2][4] Its primary markets span non-destructive testing (oil and gas, aerospace, semiconductors), medical imaging, and consumer wearables—collectively representing a $44.76 billion addressable market.[3]

# Origin Story

Novosound emerged from academic research at the University of the West of Scotland, with Dave Hughes serving as CEO and co-founder.[4] The company launched in 2018 with £1.5 million in private equity seed funding, followed by a £3.3 million investment round in 2019 led by Foresight Williams Technology EIS Fund, with additional backing from Par Equity, Kelvin Capital, Gabriel Investments, and the Scottish Investment Bank.[4] The company also received an initial £500,000 from Scottish Enterprise's High Growth spin-out program.[3]

A pivotal moment came in 2022 when Novosound partnered with PAVmed Inc. (Nasdaq: PAVM), a commercial-stage medical technology company, to develop next-generation intravascular ultrasound imaging technology.[6] This partnership validated Novosound's core technology for high-stakes medical applications. In 2023, the company hired David Jolliffe, a former Intel executive, signaling a shift toward scaling operations and commercialization.[4] Most recently, in 2024, Novosound completed a $2.6 million funding round led by Par Equity, demonstrating sustained investor confidence as the company accelerates international expansion.[5]

# Core Differentiators

• Proprietary thin-film manufacturing: Novosound's breakthrough involves lithographically "printing" piezoelectric material onto flexible substrates, dramatically reducing cost and enabling mass production compared to traditional sensor fabrication.[6]

• Flexible and wearable-ready design: Unlike rigid conventional ultrasound probes, Novosound's sensors are lightweight, temperature-resistant, and compact—enabling integration into smartwatches, smart rings, and embedded industrial systems.[3]

• Multi-market applicability: The same core technology serves industrial non-destructive testing (wind turbine blades, aircraft wings), high-temperature asset monitoring, medical imaging, and consumer health wearables—reducing R&D fragmentation.

• Gel-free operation: Novosound's sensors eliminate the need for acoustic coupling gel, a major friction point in traditional ultrasound workflows.[4]

• Demonstrated real-world validation: Unlike academic competitors, Novosound has moved beyond laboratory prototypes to field-tested systems, including public demonstrations of its blood pressure monitoring platform.[5]

• Strategic partnerships with established players: Collaborations with PAVmed (medical imaging) and unnamed "world's largest corporate brands" provide distribution channels and credibility.[5]

# Role in the Broader Tech Landscape

Novosound sits at the intersection of three major technology trends: miniaturization of medical devices, the rise of continuous health monitoring wearables, and Industry 4.0's demand for embedded sensing.[1][3] The company's timing is particularly favorable given the global burden of cardiovascular disease—over half a billion people affected worldwide—creating urgent demand for accessible, continuous blood pressure monitoring.[5]

The broader ultrasound sensor market is experiencing a shift from centralized, expensive imaging equipment toward distributed, low-cost sensing. Novosound's thin-film approach aligns with this decentralization, similar to how semiconductor manufacturing moved from monolithic fabs to specialized foundries. The company's success could accelerate adoption of ultrasound in wearables, where optical and electrical sensors currently dominate but lack the tissue-penetration capabilities of ultrasound.[4]

Additionally, Novosound represents Scotland's growing strength in deep-tech commercialization, positioning Glasgow as a hub for sensor innovation and attracting international partnerships and talent.[3]

# Quick Take & Future Outlook

Novosound is poised to become a critical infrastructure provider in the wearable health and industrial sensing ecosystems rather than a direct-to-consumer brand. The company's recent focus on blood pressure monitoring—demonstrated at CES 2025 and validated at IEEE conferences—suggests it is moving from proof-of-concept to commercial traction.[5] Future growth will likely depend on:

• Licensing velocity: How quickly smartwatch manufacturers (Apple, Samsung, Garmin) and medical device OEMs integrate Novosound's platform
• Regulatory clearance: FDA approval for medical-grade blood pressure monitoring could unlock the $10+ billion medical imaging market
• Cost scaling: Whether thin-film manufacturing can achieve the unit economics needed for mass-market wearables

The company's $2.6 million recent funding and hiring of Intel talent suggest management is preparing for rapid scaling. If Novosound successfully licenses its technology to tier-one consumer electronics and medical device companies, it could become a foundational layer in next-generation wearable health monitoring—much as Qualcomm's chips power mobile devices. Conversely, if larger players develop competing thin-film approaches in-house, Novosound's leverage diminishes. The next 18–24 months will be critical in determining whether Novosound remains an independent technology provider or becomes an acquisition target for a larger medical device or consumer electronics conglomerate.