Firstkind

What Firstkind does

Firstkind Ltd is a UK-based medical device company and wholly owned subsidiary of Sky Medical Technology Ltd, headquartered in High Wycombe with an additional office in Daresbury. The company designs, manufactures and distributes the geko™ family of wearable neuromuscular electrostimulation devices, which address three clinical pathways: orthopaedic post-operative oedema and pain, VTE prevention (particularly in acute stroke patients and those intolerant of intermittent pneumatic compression), and chronic wound healing (notably venous leg ulcers). Its underlying platform is the proprietary OnPulse™ technology, which stimulates the common peroneal nerve to activate the calf and foot muscle pumps, delivering painless 1Hz contractions that generate intermittent limb compression without external mechanical compression. Reported performance metrics include blood flow equivalent to 60% of walking in deep veins of the calf and a 400% increase in microcirculatory flux.

The geko™ device is a battery-powered, disposable, 10-gram wearable worn at the knee, available in two variants — a Hospital Applications Device (T Series, 11 stimulation settings, 30-hour battery life for in-patient VTE prophylaxis) and a Wound Therapy Applications Device (W Series, 10 settings, up to 24-hour battery life for chronic wound applications). The product is CE-marked, UKCA-marked, FDA 510(k)-cleared, ISO 13485:2016 certified (including MDSAP), and supported by NICE guidance HTG344; it is also registered with Health Canada and the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods, with 2025 approvals in China and Japan. Clinical credibility rests on over 60 published studies, including RCTs demonstrating a doubling of venous leg ulcer healing rates versus compression alone.

Firstkind generates revenue through hardware sales to hospitals and wound care providers, via direct procurement in the UK (NHS Supply Chain since 2024) and through a distributor network covering more than 30 countries across Europe, Africa, Asia Pacific, the Middle East, and the Americas. UK reimbursement secured in 2023 materially de-risked UK adoption, and recent US channel additions (BIOS Strategic Partners for Veterans Affairs, SMS Medical for orthopaedic applications) indicate active international commercial build-out. Pricing is quote-based through institutional procurement and is not publicly disclosed.

Name

Firstkind

Legal name

Firstkind Ltd

Website

https://gekodevices.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Firstkind Ltd is a UK-based medical device company that designs, manufactures and distributes the geko™ wearable neuromuscular electrostimulation device for VTE prevention, post-operative oedema, and chronic wound healing, sold via direct NHS procurement and a global distributor network spanning 30+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Medical Devices

NAICS

Electromedical and Electrotherapeutic Apparatus Manufacturing (334510)

SIC

Electromedical & Electrotherapeutic Apparatus (3845)

akta.pro primary industry

Cardiac Assist & Heart Failure Therapies (Implantables, Neuromodulation) (HLAHAFAL)

Keywords

• Neuromuscular electrostimulation
• VTE prevention devices
• Wound healing therapy
• Medical device manufacturing
• Oedema reduction therapy

Headquarters

HQ city

High Wycombe

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Medical Device Sales: Firstkind generates revenue through the sale of its geko medical devices. The company sells both direct to NHS hospitals in the UK and through a global network of distributor partners. Devices are sold for hospital applications (VTE prevention, oedema reduction) and wound therapy applications. The business model involves repeat prescription usage as adoption grows across healthcare systems.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Firstkind manufactures the geko™ family of wearable, battery-powered neuromuscular electrostimulation (NMES) devices that activate the calf muscle pumps to prevent venous thromboembolism (VTE), reduce oedema, and accelerate wound healing in clinical settings. The flagship geko™ T Series is used in hospitals for VTE prophylaxis where mechanical or pharmacological methods are contraindicated, while the W Series targets chronic wound therapy applications. Devices are sold primarily to NHS hospitals and international healthcare providers under the proprietary OnPulse™ technology platform.

Product overview

Firstkind produces a portfolio of wearable medical devices based on its proprietary OnPulse™ neuromuscular electrostimulation (NMES) technology platform. The core offering consists of two geko™ device variants: the Hospital Applications Device (T Series) for in-patient VTE prevention and oedema management, and the Wound Therapy Applications Device (W Series) for chronic wound healing and venous insufficiency treatment. Both devices share the same OnPulse™ technology foundation—a battery-powered wearable that stimulates the common peroneal nerve at 1 Hz to activate calf and foot muscle pumps, increasing deep vein blood flow to 60% of walking levels. The T device is used in hospital settings by clinical staff, while the W device targets clinic and home care environments. No software platform, API, or add-on modules are offered—all functionality is delivered through the hardware devices.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• OnPulse™: Neuromuscular electrostimulation technology platform developed by Firstkind/Sky Medical Technology
• geko™

Products and services

• geko™ T Series (Hospital Applications Device) Wearable, battery-powered, single-use neuromuscular electrostimulation device applied to the lower leg to activate calf muscle pumps and prevent venous thromboembolism in hospitalised adult patients. Designed for NHS Trusts and international hospital procurement where pharmacological or mechanical prophylaxis is contraindicated or impractical.
• geko™ W Series (Wound Therapy Device) Wearable, single-use NMES device indicated for chronic wound management, increasing microcirculation and venous return to accelerate healing of venous leg ulcers, diabetic foot ulcers, and other chronic wounds. Used by tissue viability nurses, vascular surgeons, and wound care clinics in outpatient and community settings.

Quantifiable outcome

• Doubles the rate of wound healing in venous leg ulcers versus compression alone
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered strategic, core and minor.

• BIOS Strategic PartnersstrategicChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 23 July 2025BIOS Strategic Partners enables expansion of VA (Veterans Affairs) access to geko device in Western US markets, providing US veterans access to the device for post-surgical recovery and VTE prevention.
• Dr. Indira Natarajan / NHS Royal StokecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 June 2025Dr. Indira Natarajan led a pioneering visit to Saudi Arabia showcasing geko device adoption for positive change to post-stroke clinical practice, demonstrating clinical partnership approach.
• SMS MedicalstrategicChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 11 March 2025Distributor agreement with SMS Medical in the US to offer geko device for the elimination of oedema and blood clot prevention following orthopaedic surgery.
• ABHI UK PavilionminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 28 January 2025Firstkind joined the ABHI UK Pavilion at WHX Dubai 2026, showcasing UK life sciences innovation through this trade association partnership.
• Royal MintcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 November 2024Sky Medical Technology partnered with the Royal Mint to recycle end-of-life electronics, supporting UK circular economy and environmental sustainability goals.
• UK Wound Care CommunitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 November 2023NHS reimbursement secured in the UK for geko device, bringing new hope to patients with long-standing chronic wounds. Represents partnership with NHS reimbursement system and healthcare providers.
• Legs Matter CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 September 2022Firstkind joined the Legs Matter coalition as gold corporate partner, supporting awareness and treatment of leg and wound conditions across the UK healthcare system.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• 3M Health Care: 3M's Health Care division (being separated as Solventum) includes advanced wound care products and compression therapy systems. Comparable to Firstkind as a broad incumbent serving the same chronic wound and post-operative recovery markets with overlapping hospital and community nursing customers.
• Stryker: Stryker is a major orthopaedic medical device company whose products are used in joint replacement and fracture repair - the same surgical procedures driving geko's orthopaedic oedema indication. Comparable as a broad incumbent overlapping the post-surgical orthopaedic pathway.
• DJO Global (Enovis): DJO Global (now part of Enovis) is a major orthopedic and rehabilitation medical device company offering NMES/electrotherapy products (Compex, Chattanooga) and VTE prevention solutions. It is broadly comparable to Firstkind as a much larger incumbent serving overlapping clinical applications in orthopaedic recovery, VTE prevention, and physical rehabilitation.
• Smith+Nephew: Smith+Nephew is a global medical device company with a substantial Advanced Wound Management portfolio (e.g., PICO, ALLEVYN) addressing chronic wound care. Comparable to Firstkind because both target tissue viability nurses, wound care specialists, and community nursing services treating venous leg ulcers and chronic wounds.
• ConvaTec: ConvaTec is a major wound care and ostomy medical device company with products for chronic wound management. Comparable to Firstkind as an established wound care player addressing the same venous leg ulcer and chronic wound patient population that geko W targets.
• Medtronic (formerly Covidien): Medtronic acquired Covidien's Kendall SCD sequential compression system business - one of the most widely deployed mechanical VTE prophylaxis platforms in hospitals. Comparable to Firstkind as a large incumbent addressing the same VTE prevention clinical pathway with overlapping hospital customers.

Direct peers

• Zynex Medical: Zynex Medical is a US-based electrotherapy medical device company producing NMES and TENS devices for pain management and rehabilitation. Comparable to Firstkind as a direct NMES peer using similar electrostimulation modality in clinical and rehabilitation settings.
• Breg: Breg specialises in orthopaedic bracing, cold therapy, and DVT prevention devices used in post-surgical recovery - directly comparable to Firstkind's geko orthopaedic application for post-operative swelling and VTE prevention following knee, hip, foot, and ankle surgery.
• Arjo (Getinge): Arjo is a leading provider of DVT/VTE prevention devices, particularly intermittent pneumatic compression (IPC) systems such as Flowtron, used in the same hospital VTE prophylaxis pathway where geko competes. Arjo's IPC products are the most direct alternative to geko for immobile stroke and post-surgical patients.

Emerging players

• StimX LLC: StimX and similar small NMES-focused developers pursue peripheral nerve stimulation for circulatory indications. They represent emerging players exploring adjacent neurostimulation use cases that could either compete with or validate the OnPulse approach Firstkind has commercialised.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses1 record

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/gekorecovery
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/firstkindltd
• Facebookfacebook.com/gekowoundtherapydevice
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/firstkind-limited

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Firstkind