By Riley Kaminer
Every 40 seconds, someone in the U.S. suffers a stroke, often with life-altering consequences. Despite advances in treatment, timely access to care remains a significant barrier, particularly outside urban areas.
Miami startup NAVIGANTIS is stepping up to address this need, having built an innovative solution. Its VASCO robotic platform aims to revolutionize neurovascular care, and with a newly secured $12 million Series A financing round, the company is poised to bring this vision to life.
Led by Puma Venture Capital, with participation from Cormorant Asset Management and Mirae Asset Capital, the financing will drive the ongoing development and testing of the VASCO robot, propelling it towards first-in-human clinical trials.
NAVIGANTIS CEO Mor Dayan expressed the company’s excitement and gratitude for the backing of such esteemed investors, emphasizing the shared vision for revolutionizing neurovascular care. “We are thrilled and fortunate to have the support of such esteemed partner investors who share our vision for revolutionizing neurovascular care with robotics,” he said in a statement.
Neurovascular diseases are a leading cause of disability. While a procedure called mechanical thrombectomy has become the gold standard for treating acute ischemic stroke, timely access to this life-saving procedure remains limited. The current shortage of trained neurointerventionalists and the geographic constraints of care centers mean that many patients miss the crucial window for treatment, which drastically reduces their chances of recovery.
Amit Hazan, founder and managing partner at Puma Venture Capital, who will now join the NAVIGANTIS Board of Directors, shared his enthusiasm for the potential impact of the VASCO platform. “We are incredibly excited to support the NAVIGANTIS team in their mission to further improve stroke care via robotic applications,” he said.
Hazan highlighted the broader implications of this technology, from enabling telesurgery to pioneering new treatments through the vascular route, such as drug delivery and brain implants. Previously, Hazan was a Managing Director at Goldman Sachs, leading the investment bank’s medical technology practice.
South Florida is increasingly becoming a hub for medical technologies, with major industry players such as Opko Health and Medtronic establishing a strong presence in the region.
The application of robotics in neurovascular procedures not only promises to enhance precision and outcomes but also addresses a critical need to reduce radiation exposure for both patients and medical personnel. As fluoroscopy-guided endovascular procedures increase, minimizing radiation exposure becomes increasingly vital. Robotics can provide a safer, more efficient alternative.
The funds raised will be pivotal in propelling the VASCO robot towards its first-in-human clinical trials, a milestone that signifies a critical step forward in the treatment of neurovascular conditions. NAVIGANTIS aims to bridge the gap in neurovascular care, making advanced treatments more accessible to patients, irrespective of their location.
Founded in 2023 by Amit Hazan and Dr. Vipul Patel, Puma Venture Capital is dedicated to advancing minimally invasive care through strategic investments in digital surgery, robotics, diagnostics, therapeutics, AI analytics, and digital ecosystems. Patel, a UM graduate, is currently Medical Director at the Global Robotics Institute and the Florida Hospital Cancer Institute for Urologic Oncology, as well as being a Professor of Urology at the University of Central Florida.
Photo at top of post: team members , from left, are Hyosig Kang, co-founder and CTO; Mor Dayan, co-founder and CEO; Marc Camprubi Artal, operations.
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