Custom Surgical Raises €3.5M for AI on Medical Hardware
German-based medtech startup Custom Surgical has raised €3.5 million to expand its platform that retrofits analog medical devices with AI-powered data capabilities. The company's technology turns standard ophthalmology equipment, like slit lamps, into digital data hubs. This funding highlights investor interest in solutions that upgrade the existing installed base of medical hardware in clinics and hospitals.
- The pre-series A financing was led by European VC firm Ventech, with strategic participation from global optics and medical technology leader ZEISS, bringing the company's total funds raised to €6 million. - Founded in 2018 by CEO Federico Acosta and CTO Fernando Benito, the Munich-based company aims to first build a foundational data layer before deploying AI-driven applications, a strategy intended to lower adoption barriers for clinics. - The company's core hardware product, MicroREC, is an adapter with German-made optics that allows clinicians to connect any smartphone to existing microscopes and slit lamps, making it compatible with over 95% of such devices currently in use. - Data captured via the hardware is managed through MicroREC Connect, a cloud-based platform designed to store, structure, and share ophthalmic images and videos, creating a unified digital workflow. - With the new capital, Custom Surgical plans to expand its sales and marketing efforts across Europe and the United States and invest in further AI-enabled clinical support solutions. - The company's approach targets a significant market inefficiency, as an estimated 90% of eye-care consultation data currently remains in the analog world. - The strategic investment by ZEISS Ventures provides Custom Surgical not only with capital but also with deep industry expertise and potential for global market access. - The global market for AI-powered medical devices is projected to expand significantly, with market size estimates reaching over $250 billion by 2033, indicating a strong tailwind for companies digitizing clinical data.
