MD One Ventures, the first European national security–focused venture capital firm, and Randox, the UK- and Ireland-based global diagnostics and healthcare company, have announced the launch of Randox for Builders, a new incubator and accelerator designed to support early-stage companies operating at the intersection of national security, biotechnology, and public health.
Strengthening National and Allied Resilience
The program is focused on building stronger national defence capabilities in the UK and allied countries through the rapid development, testing, and deployment of technologies addressing emerging security and health threats. By combining venture capital investment with direct access to Randox’s advanced scientific and commercial infrastructure, Randox for Builders aims to significantly reduce the time required to translate breakthrough innovation into real-world application.
A Strategic Alternative to Traditional Accelerators
Unlike conventional accelerators, Randox for Builders operates as a long-term strategic partnership. The initiative seeks to remove structural barriers that often slow early-stage companies, particularly in heavily regulated sectors such as diagnostics, biotechnology, and health security. This approach is intended to help founders scale more quickly while reducing technical, regulatory, and commercial risk.
Unmatched Access to Infrastructure and Expertise
Participating startups will gain access to resources rarely available at an early stage, including state-of-the-art laboratories and manufacturing facilities, clinical trials and validation pathways, regulatory guidance, intellectual property and research support, and established routes to market across both B2B and B2C channels. The program also offers access to commercial partnerships and global distribution networks, enabling faster deployment and earlier revenue opportunities.
An Embedded Ecosystem for Rapid Scale-Up
Beyond funding, founders will be integrated into an established ecosystem of scientific experts, R&D specialists, and commercial leaders. This hands-on environment is designed to ensure that promising technologies are not only developed, but also rapidly validated and operationalised at scale.
National Security Expertise from MD One Ventures
MD One Ventures brings a strong national security perspective to the initiative. Co-founder Will McManners spent ten years in the British Army, serving as an officer in a Specialist Military Unit as well as in Commando and Joint Terminal Attack Controller (JTAC) roles. He later worked across finance and technology at BlackRock, Investbridge Capital, and Palantir, shaping MD One’s focus on technologies that strengthen critical infrastructure, healthcare systems, and national security.
Scientific Leadership from Randox
Strategic guidance for the accelerator is provided by Dr. Cecilia Fortugno, Vice President and Chief Operations Officer at Randox Biosciences and Senior Technical Advisor to Randox for Builders. With extensive experience in diagnostics and scaling complex operations, Dr. Fortugno will support participating companies as they navigate demanding scientific and regulatory environments.
Leadership Perspectives on the Initiative
McManners described the program as a deliberate departure from standard accelerator models, emphasizing its role in de-risking and accelerating solutions to national security and public health challenges. Dr. Fortugno highlighted Randox’s four-decade commitment to R&D, describing the initiative as a natural extension of the company’s mission to advance diagnostic and preventative healthcare.
Early Investments and Portfolio Companies
The incubator has already begun investing, with initial portfolio companies including Untap Health, which develops automated wastewater-based diagnostics for early detection of population-level health threats, and Airfinity, a health intelligence and bio-risk forecasting platform using AI-driven simulations to support decision-making.
Positioning the UK as a Future Innovation Hub
Through Randox for Builders, MD One Ventures and Randox aim to position the UK as a leading hub for next-generation security and biotech innovation, creating a clear pathway for critical technologies to reach scale at a time when resilience and preparedness are becoming central to national and allied security strategies.
