What Afon Technology does

Afon Technology Ltd is a UK-based medical device company developing Glucowear™, a non-invasive, wrist-worn continuous blood glucose monitor. Founded by Dr Sabih Chaudhry and headquartered in Caldicot, Monmouthshire, Wales, the company has built a watch-format device that uses RF/microwave technology to analyse spectral variations in low-power radio signals reflected from the wrist to detect glucose levels, without skin penetration, needle insertion, or finger-prick calibration. The signal is transmitted via Bluetooth to a companion smartphone app for real-time display, and the device is designed for a two-year operational lifespan with minimal plastic and recyclable packaging. The underlying technology is protected by a granted patent (registered 2019) on the first real-time non-invasive blood glucose monitor.

The company is pre-commercial and is in clinical trials ahead of an anticipated UK launch in 2026. Manufacturing has been secured through a partnership with Sony UK Technology Centre announced in late 2025. Quality systems are BSI ISO 13485-certified (May 2023), and clinical evidence includes a proof-of-concept study in the Journal of Diabetes Science and Technology (April 2023, with an AI-accuracy pilot study published May 2024), ongoing NHS trials at the Joint Clinical Research Facility at Swansea University, and a real-world trial reporting approximately 75% overall accuracy with median ARD of 22% and mean ARD of 28% in Stage 2 testing.

Afon's business model centres on one-time, up-front hardware sales of the Glucowear device in the UK, with no subscription, membership, or replacement-sensor fees. The product is positioned both as a medical device for people with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes and as a lifestyle accessory for prediabetics and metabolic-health-conscious non-diabetic consumers. To date, the company has been funded primarily through non-dilutive European Innovation Council grants (€2.5M in December 2022, €2.4M in May 2025 via Horizon Europe), a £600,000 confidential investor round in November 2022, and a $25,000 Junkosha Technology Innovator of the Year prize in April 2024; revenue has not yet been disclosed and the company is currently pre-revenue.

Name

Afon Technology

Legal name

Afon Technology Ltd

Website

https://afontechnology.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Afon Technology is a UK-based medical device company developing Glucowear™, a wrist-worn, non-invasive continuous blood glucose monitor using RF/microwave technology. Pre-revenue, it is in clinical trials ahead of a planned 2026 UK launch for people with diabetes and metabolic-health consumers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Continuous Glucose Monitoring Devices

NAICS

Electromedical and Electrotherapeutic Apparatus Manufacturing (334510)

SIC

Electromedical & Electrotherapeutic Apparatus (3845), Surgical & Medical Instruments & Apparatus (3841)

akta.pro primary industry

Blood Glucose Monitoring (BGM) Meters & Test Strips (HLAHAHAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Blood Glucose Monitoring Devices (Consumer CGM & Smart Glucometers) (CRACAQAE)

Keywords

• Non-invasive glucose monitoring
• Continuous glucose monitor
• Wearable medical device
• Blood glucose sensor
• Diabetes monitoring technology

Headquarters

HQ city

Caldicot

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Hardware Device Sales: Afon Technology sells Glucowear, a wearable medical device. The company plans to sell the device in the UK market with plans to begin selling in 2026. The device is described as having no additional running costs or membership fees, just an up-front purchase cost.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Afon Technology develops Glucowear™, a wrist-worn wearable medical device that uses proprietary RF/microwave-based dial resonating sensor technology to continuously and non-invasively measure blood glucose levels in real time through spectral analysis of signals reflected from the wrist, without skin penetration or finger pricks. The device transmits readings via Bluetooth to a companion smartphone application, is designed for a two-year reusable lifespan, and is manufactured by Sony UK Technology Centre ahead of an anticipated 2026 UK commercial launch following NHS-backed clinical trials.

Product overview

Afon Technology offers a single unified product, Glucowear™, which is the world's first non-invasive, real-time continuous blood glucose monitor. This wrist-worn device represents a paradigm shift from traditional invasive CGM systems that require needle sensors inserted under the skin. Glucowear uses ultra-low power microwave/RF signals to detect glucose levels and transmits data via Bluetooth to a companion smartphone app for real-time display. The device targets people with diabetes and prediabetes, as well as non-diabetic users interested in metabolic health monitoring. The company is currently in clinical trials ahead of an anticipated 2026 commercial launch in the UK, with manufacturing handled by Sony UK Technology Centre.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Glucowear™: The world's first non-invasive, real-time and continuous blood glucose sensor. A wrist-worn device that uses RF/microwave technology to monitor glucose levels without penetrating the skin, connecting via Bluetooth to smart devices and apps.

Products and services

• Glucowear™ A wrist-worn, non-invasive, real-time continuous blood glucose monitor that uses proprietary RF/microwave-based dial resonating sensor technology to detect glucose levels through spectral analysis of signals reflected from the wrist, without skin penetration. The device transmits readings via Bluetooth to a companion smartphone app, is designed for a two-year reusable lifespan, works on all skin colours, and is intended for people with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes as well as health-conscious non-diabetics seeking metabolic health insights. Manufacturing is handled by Sony UK Technology Centre ahead of an anticipated 2026 UK commercial launch following NHS clinical trials.

Quantifiable outcome

• ~75% overall accuracy in distinguishing between normal and elevated blood glucose levels in first real-world trial (March 2026)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability4 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Sony UK Technology CentrecoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partner · 18 December 2025Afon Technology partnered with Sony UK Technology Centre to manufacture Glucowear, its non-invasive continuous glucose monitoring device. The partnership was described as a pivotal moment in Afon's history, with Sony's manufacturing capabilities being used to scale production for the 2026 commercial launch in the UK. The agreement was finalized in late 2025 following an initial announcement in October 2025.
• Journal of Diabetes Science and TechnologyminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 April 2023Afon Technology published a clinical proof-of-concept study 'Noninvasive Continuous Glucose Monitoring With a Novel Wearable Dial Resonating Sensor' in the Journal of Diabetes Science and Technology in April 2023. The paper was co-authored with researchers from multiple institutions.
• Joint Clinical Research Facility (JCRF), Swansea UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2023Afon Technology is conducting clinical trials at the Joint Clinical Research Facility (JCRF) at Swansea University, where preliminary results were presented at ATTD Berlin 2023.
• Royal Liverpool HospitalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr Sabih Chaudhry worked with the Royal Liverpool Hospital in 2013 to conduct the first trials on the non-invasive blood glucose monitoring technology, which was the foundational proof-of-concept work for Afon Technology.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Dexcom: Dexcom is the dominant player in continuous glucose monitoring (GCM), with the G6/G7 sensor lines used by hundreds of thousands of people with diabetes. Afon's Glucowear competes for the same end-user (continuous, real-time glucose data) but with a non-invasive watch-form device versus Dexcom's skin-penetrating patch.
• Senseonics (Eversense): Senseonics markets Eversense, an implantable long-term CGM (6-month sensor). It is comparable to Afon because both pursue multi-month/month-long glucose sensing versus the 10-14-day disposable model, though Eversense still requires an under-skin implant.
• Abbott Diabetes Care (FreeStyle Libre): Abbott's FreeStyle Libre is the world's largest-selling CGM, providing real-time interstitial glucose data via a patch sensor. It is the primary incumbent Afon would displace if Glucowear achieves clinical-grade non-invasive accuracy.

Broad incumbents

• Medtronic Diabetes: Medtronic offers the Guardian CGM alongside its insulin pumps and closed-loop systems, targeting people with Type 1 diabetes. As a broad diabetes device incumbent it overlaps with Afon's target use case, though it does not currently address non-invasive or lifestyle segments.
• Ascensia Diabetes Care: Ascensia (CONTOUR range) is a global BGM player serving people with diabetes. It is a comparable incumbent in blood-glucose monitoring but has no non-invasive CGM offering.
• Roche Diabetes Care: Roche Diabetes Care sells Accu-Chek blood glucose meters and insulin delivery systems and is a longstanding incumbent in BGM and insulin dosing. It overlaps with Afon in serving people with diabetes who monitor glucose, but its portfolio remains invasive-test and pump-based.
• LifeScan (OneTouch): LifeScan markets OneTouch blood glucose meters and is a major BGM incumbent. While it has not launched a true CGM, it is a relevant comparable on the blood-glucose-monitoring category targeting people with diabetes.
• Apple (Health / Watch): Apple is widely reported to be working on non-invasive glucose monitoring for Apple Watch. Although it has not shipped a CGM, its installed base of 100M+ Watches and supplier scale make it a credible future head-to-head competitor for Glucowear in the lifestyle/non-diabetic segment.

Emerging players

• Know Labs: Know Labs is developing a non-invasive glucose monitor using radiofrequency/bioimpedance spectroscopy in a wrist-worn form factor. It is the closest emerging competitor to Afon, pursuing a sensor approach in the same 'needle-free CGM' category.
• Verily (Alphabet): Verily (Alphabet subsidiary) has historically pursued non-invasive glucose monitoring, including its now-shelved contact-lens glucose sensing program with Novartis. It is a relevant emerging competitor with deep R&D and platform integration potential (Fitbit, Pixel) versus Afon's wrist-worn sensor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/AfonLtd
• Facebookfacebook.com/AfonTechnologyLTD
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/afon-technology-ltd

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Afon Technology