Bioliberty is a University of Edinburgh startup developing soft robotic wearables and AI-assisted therapy tools for clinical rehabilitation.
Its flagship product, Lifeglov, is a soft robotic glove designed to support the recovery of hand motor function, particularly in patients experiencing hand weakness after stroke or other neurological conditions. By combining assisted movement with gamified therapy exercises, Lifeglov enables clinicians to deliver more intensive, data-driven rehabilitation than traditional methods allow.
Hand weakness after stroke: a gap in rehabilitation technology
Stroke is one of the leading causes of long-term disability in the UK. Many survivors are left with lasting hand weakness or impaired motor function that limits independence and reduces quality of life. Effective neurological rehabilitation relies on high-repetition movement, but clinic time is finite, therapist-led manual therapy is resource-intensive, and patient progress can be difficult to measure objectively.
Assistive and rehabilitative technology has historically focused on the lower limbs. Bioliberty identified a significant gap in the market for clinical hand rehabilitation devices that are effective, portable, and evidence-based.
From personal experience to clinical solution
Ross O'Hanlon, a University of Edinburgh graduate, watched a family member with MS struggle with reduced hand strength and was struck by the lack of effective assistive technology available.
Identifying a gap in the market for clinical hand rehabilitation devices, Ross approached his former flatmate and fellow Edinburgh graduate Rowan Armstrong, an MEng graduate in Electronics and Electrical Engineering with Management, along with school friend Shéa Quinn, a recent MEng Mechanical Engineering graduate from Queen’s University Belfast, and Conan Bradley, MEng Product Design Engineer, also from Queen’s University Belfast, to co-found the business.
They established Bioliberty in 2019 with a shared objective: to apply advances in biomedical engineering and AI to rehabilitation, and to build technology that helps patients recover hand function and independence.
Founding Bioliberty was more than just building new technology. It was about giving people a better chance to regain their independence after life-changing events like stroke. Recovery can be a long and often isolating journey, and we wanted to create something that keeps people engaged, motivated, and moving forward, while giving therapists the tools to truly support that progress."
— Ross O’Hanlon, CTO and co-founder.
How Lifehub Clinic works
Bioliberty's Lifehub Clinic system is designed for use in clinical rehabilitation settings. It has three integrated components.
Lifeglov is a soft robotic glove powered by air pressure that gently supports hand movement. It guides the hand through simple movements and exercises, enabling patients to practise these movements repeatedly in a way that supports the brain’s ability to relearn movement. By enabling high‑repetition practice, Lifeglov accelerates neuroplasticity and motor recovery beyond what is typically achievable with manual therapy alone. It can be used by a wide range of patients, from those just starting to regain basic hand movement to those working on building grip strength, control and coordination.
Lifehub is the control and therapy interface. Therapists configure sessions and adjust settings to each patient’s ability level. Patients engage with game‑based exercises through the interface, designed to make high‑repetition hand rehabilitation more engaging rather than passive. The system is lightweight and portable, ensuring it can be used across different settings, from a patient’s bedside to the therapy gym.
Lifemind is the clinician‑facing data dashboard. It centralises therapy data from across sessions, providing therapists with objective metrics on patient recovery. Clinicians can track progress over time and use this evidence to adjust treatment plans. AI‑generated therapy session summaries can be used in patient documentation, helping reduce the administrative burden on therapists.
Lifeglov and Lifehub were FDA registered in December 2024, supporting Bioliberty’s commercial operations in the United States.
Lifehub Clinic has been a breakthrough for individuals with severe tightness or limited hand mobility. Seeing patients’ excitement, especially those who previously experienced discomfort with manual therapy, has been incredible."
— Amber Walter, Clinical Science Director, Sheltering Arms Institute.
Support from Edinburgh Innovations
Edinburgh Innovations supported Ross O'Hanlon and Rowan Armstrong from the early stages of the company's development, providing business advice, access to funding, introductions to relevant networks, and entrepreneurship training.
Bioliberty is headquartered in Edinburgh’s city centre with manufacturing based in Fife. The company opened a US headquarters in Boston in 2025 to support its North American commercial operations.
£7.7m Series A to scale stroke rehabilitation technology in Scotland and the US
In March 2026, Bioliberty secured £7.7m in a Series A investment round led by a £3m commitment from the Scottish National Investment Bank. The round included capital from existing investors Archangels, Eos Advisory, Old College Capital (the University of Edinburgh's in-house venture investment fund), and Hanna Capital SEZC, as well as new investor Conduit Connect.
The funding will support continued product development and manufacturing in Scotland, and accelerate commercial growth in the United States, where Bioliberty's hand rehabilitation technology is already in use at several leading rehabilitation facilities.
Katharine Fox, Head of Investment at Old College Capital, said:
Bioliberty is an example of world‑class engineering from the University of Edinburgh, translating into better patient outcomes. Their AI‑enabled soft‑robotics platform is reshaping rehabilitation by giving clinicians clearer data and patients faster progress, and this funding will scale manufacturing in Scotland while accelerating growth in the U.S.
Old College Capital has backed Bioliberty from the start, and we are proud to continue this support as it grows from a student startup into an international health‑tech company.”
Bioliberty's work sits within the University of Edinburgh's mission to shape the future of health and care, and to harness data, digital and AI for public good. By applying rigorous engineering and clinical evidence to the challenge of post-stroke hand rehabilitation and neurological recovery, the company is demonstrating how university entrepreneurship can translate into meaningful health outcomes at scale.
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