Medtech startup Toku Eyes aims to raise up to US$20m

When Christchurch firefighter Eric UfiPoa Taule’ale’ausumai suffered a series of strokes at 32, he suddenly found himself fighting to relearn some of life's most basic functions. The former first responder, who helped during the 2011 Christchurch earthquake and Pike River disaster, spent three months in hospital learning how to walk, talk and swallow again. More than a decade later, he is helping develop technology designed to make that recovery easier for others. Taule’ale’ausumai now works for Christchurch-based medical technology company Swallowing Technologies (SwalTech), which has developed a rehabilitation system aimed at helping people with swallowing difficulties recover from stroke, neurological conditions and other illnesses.

NZ Medtech Scene

At the 2026 Velocity Ideas Challenge, Medtech-iQ Tāmaki Makaurau sponsored a prize which was awarded to PulseMap PAD Detector, a project developing a portable device for early detection of peripheral arterial disease using non-invasive vascular screening technology. The concept aims to support earlier identification of disease and improve access to screening.

Start-ups

All over New Zealand, hospital theatres go idle because it’s become so time-consuming to match surgeons, skilled staff and equipment. Patients wait. Lists lengthen.