While August may have broken the short summer bull run, last month's batch of venture fundraisings did have one redeeming feature – it recorded the biggest Series A round this year to date, a $50m deal by liquid biopsy company Karius.

Electroceuticals could replace the use of pharmaceuticals in many chronic diseases, offering effective treatments without, perhaps, side effects. Medtechs pioneering these next-gen neuromodulation devices are sparking investor interest.

To stave off the sluggish growth in established markets, multinational medtechs not only are finding new business in countries with booming health care industries, but they’re also forging new ways to serve customers. Device companies now are pushing into services, such as disease management, and angling to compete more aggressively on pricing.