Optum Ventures, BlackRock Innovation invest in Caresyntax

Caresyntax, a precision surgery artificial intelligence company, said Thursday it received $180 million in a Series C extension funding round.

The round consists of $80 million in equity and $100 million in debt financing. The company declined to disclose the terms of the debt financing.

Optum Ventures, an arm of UnitedHealth Group subsidiary Optum, participated in the equity round along with BlackRock Innovation Capital, a division of the multinational investment company. Healthcare-focused lender Symbiotic Capital provided the debt funding.

Caresyntax developed a digital surgery platform that analyzes video, audio, images and medical devices, as well as clinical and operational data. The platform provides surgeons with care-related insights designed to reduce the risks of complications during an operation.

"This is a copilot that supports the surgeon and the care team," said Björn von Siemens, Caresyntax's co-founder and chief financial officer. "Before, during and after surgery, you're getting enhanced data analytics, and real-time AI capabilities that are similar to what you would have as the pilot of an airplane."

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The company, which is based in Berlin and San Francisco, took on debt financing because it's profitable in Europe and close to break-even in the U.S., Von Siemens said. He said he expects the U.S. business to turn a profit in the next 12 to 18 months.

Von Siemens declined to disclose the company's revenue.

Caresyntax will use the funds to expand, primarily through acquisitions, von Siemens said. The company is looking acquire surgery software companies that already have products available for the commercial market, he said.

The company sees an opportunity in health systems' increased interest to use AI-enabled robotic surgical devices. It has marketed itself as the “Android” platform for robotic surgery and said it can connect its platform to any operating room technology. Its customers include health systems like King of Prussia, Pennsylvania-based Universal Health Services and Iowa City-based University of Iowa Hospitals.

Caresyntax raised $130 million in its original Series C round in 2021. It has raised $220 million in equity, including this latest investment.