French HealthTech company DESKi raises €5.2 million for its cardiac imaging software
Bordeaux-based DESKi, a HealthTech company developing AI-powered diagnostic tools, today announced the close of a €5.2 million Seed round to support the U.S. and global market launch of its FDA-approved cardiac imaging software, HeartFocus. The Seed round was led by Racine2, an impact-focused fund managed by Serena and Makesense, with participation from BNP Paribas Développement, […] The post French HealthTech company DESKi raises €5.2 million for its cardiac imaging software appeared first on EU-Startups.
Bordeaux-based DESKi, a HealthTech company developing AI-powered diagnostic tools, today announced the close of a €5.2 million Seed round to support the U.S. and global market launch of its FDA-approved cardiac imaging software, HeartFocus.
The Seed round was led by Racine2, an impact-focused fund managed by Serena and Makesense, with participation from BNP Paribas Développement, Épopée Gestion, Good Only Ventures, Better Angle, and NACO, the Nouvelle-Aquitaine regional fund advised by M Capital.
“This funding moves us one step closer to a world where early heart disease detection is possible at any point of care,” said Dr Bertrand Moal, MD, PhD, CEO and Co-founder of DESKi. “It allows us to continue improving HeartFocus and ensures that more providers can access the tools they need to deliver life-saving diagnoses.”
Founded in 2016, DESKi is a provider of innovative AI products developed in conjunction with medical practitioners and researchers, products such as HeartFocus. Created in 2023 by French brothers Bertrand Moal and Olivier Moal, HeartFocus leverages proprietary algorithms trained on over 10 million data points and validated through clinical trials.
Bertrand, a Medical Doctor with a PhD in biomechanical engineering, and Olivier, a Berkeley and EPFL engineering alum, were moved by the impact of cardiovascular disease exacerbated by overburdened healthcare systems. Heartfocus is currently partnered with several US and European app platforms and Software Development Kit providers to bring the technology to healthcare providers globally.
“With Heartfocus, DESKi is tackling one of the most urgent challenges in healthcare: how to make life-saving diagnostics available far beyond the walls of a hospital,” said Léa Zaslavsky, Partner at Racine2. “We are proud to lead this round and support the company’s evolution from clinical validation to real-world impact.”
This milestone builds on growing momentum for HeartFocus, which recently received FDA clearance, along with a Predetermined Change Control Plan (PCCP) that makes it easier to update and expand the software over time. Clinical studies reportedly showed that even first-time users, guided by HeartFocus AI, can capture diagnostic-quality heart scans.
“We invest in solutions that improve the patient journey for better care at better costs,” said Sophie Pierrin Lepinard, Director of Partnerships at BNP Paribas Développement. “We believe HeartFocus is uniquely positioned to transform how cardiovascular disease is detected and managed worldwide, with faster access, and we’re excited to continue supporting the team as they bring innovation to a variety of care settings.”
According to DESKi, Heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the U.S. and around the world, yet access to echocardiography is often limited by a shortage of trained specialists.
HeartFocus looks to bridge this gap with real-time AI guidance that enables any healthcare professional to perform cardiac ultrasounds after just a few hours of training, making early diagnosis possible even in primary care, rural clinics, and other resource-limited settings.
“Épopée is honored to support this milestone and contribute to the international expansion of a high-impact ultrasound solution” said Camille Le Roux Larsabal, VC Partner at Épopée Gestion.
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