Chipiron secures US $17M to advance portable MRI technology

FRANCE – French deeptech startup Chipiron has raised US $17 million in a Series A funding round to advance the development of its miniaturized, portable MRI scanner.

The investment aims to make MRI technology more accessible, particularly in underserved and remote areas. ​

The funding round was led by Blast, with participation from the EIC Fund and iXcore, and support from public initiatives including France2030, the EIC Accelerator, and Bpifrance.

This brings Chipiron’s total funding to over US $22 million since its inception in 2020. ​

Chipiron’s ultra-low-field MRI system is designed to be compact, mobile, and cost-effective, potentially reducing the barriers associated with traditional MRI machines, such as high costs and infrastructure requirements.

The device aims to serve patients who are typically excluded from standard MRI procedures, including those with pacemakers, individuals who are claustrophobic, children, and obese or elderly patients. ​

The company plans to build its first clinical prototypes by the end of 2025, with hospital-based trials scheduled for 2026.

Chipiron aims to deploy at least 100 commercial units over the next three to five years, focusing on the U.S. healthcare market. ​

“This fundraising marks a major turning point for Chipiron, as it validates both our technological approach and the clinical impact we aim to achieve,” said Evan Kervella, CEO and co-founder of Chipiron.

“Thanks to the trust of our investors, we now have the means to complete our R&D phase and begin clinical investigations in hospitals as early as next year.” ​

The global MRI market is estimated at around US $10 billion, with Europe accounting for US $2.5 billion and France at US $500 million.

By offering a more accessible and affordable MRI solution, Chipiron aims to tap into this market and address the existing disparities in medical imaging access. ​