Riley Kaminer
Every 40 seconds someone in the United States suffers a stroke, often with life-changing consequences. Despite advances in treatment, access to timely care remains a major barrier, especially outside urban areas.
Miami startup NAVIGANTIS is building an innovative solution to address this need. The company’s VASCO robotic platform aims to revolutionize neurovascular care, and with a new $12 million Series A funding round, it’s poised to make this vision a reality.
Led by Puma Venture Capital, with participation from Cormorant Asset Management and Mirae Asset Capital, the funding will fuel the continued development and testing of the VASCO robot, propelling it towards first-in-human clinical trials.
Navigantis CEO Mol Dayan expressed his excitement and gratitude for the support of such esteemed investors, emphasizing their shared vision of revolutionizing neurovascular care: “We are excited and fortunate to have the support of such esteemed partner investors who share our vision of revolutionizing neurovascular care with robotics,” he said in a statement.
Neurovascular disease is a leading cause of disability. A procedure called mechanical thrombectomy is the gold standard for treating acute ischemic stroke, but timely access to this life-saving procedure is limited. Currently, there is a shortage of trained neurointerventionalists and geographic constraints of care centers mean many patients miss important opportunities for treatment, significantly reducing their chances of recovery.
Amit Hazan, Founder and Managing Partner at Puma Venture Capital, who will join the NAVIGANTIS Board of Directors, expressed his enthusiasm about the potential impact of the VASCO platform: “We are excited to support the NAVIGANTIS team in their mission to further improve stroke care through robotic applications,” he said.
Hazan highlighted the broad impact of the technology, from enabling remote surgery to pioneering new therapies via vascular pathways, including drug delivery and brain implants. Hazan was previously a managing director at Goldman Sachs, where he led the investment bank’s medical technology division.
South Florida is increasingly becoming a medical technology hub, with major industry companies such as Opco Health and Medtronic establishing a strong presence in the region.
The application of robotics in neurovascular surgery not only promises improved precision and outcomes, but also addresses the critical need to reduce radiation exposure for both patients and medical personnel. As fluoroscopically guided endovascular procedures increase, minimizing radiation exposure becomes increasingly important. Robots can provide a safer and more efficient alternative.
The funds raised will be crucial in propelling the VASCO robot into first-in-human clinical trials, marking a significant milestone in the treatment of neurovascular diseases. NAVIGANTIS aims to close the gap in neurovascular care and enable patients to receive advanced care wherever they are.
Founded in 2023 by Amit Hazan and Dr. Vipul Patel, Puma Venture Capital is committed to advancing minimally invasive care through strategic investments in digital surgery, robotics, diagnostics, therapeutics, AI analytics and the digital ecosystem. Patel, a UM graduate, currently serves as medical director of the Global Robotics Institute and the Florida Hospital Urologic Oncology Institute and is a professor of urology at the University of Central Florida.
Photo at top of post: Team members are, from left, co-founder and CTO Hyosig Kang, co-founder and CEO Mor Dayan, and operations manager Marc Camprubi Artal.
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I’m a Miami-based tech researcher and writer passionate about sharing stories about the South Florida tech ecosystem. I especially love learning about GovTech startups, cutting-edge applications of Artificial Intelligence, and innovators leveraging technology to change society for the better. I’m always open to pitches on Twitter @rileywk or at www.RileyKaminer.com.
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