Robeauté raises £23m to develop rice-sized neurosurgical robots
- 15 January 2025
- French medtech startup Robeauté has raised $28 million (£23m) to develop its microrobots which enter the brain to diagnose, treat and monitor neurological conditions
- The funding round was led by Plural, Cherry Ventures and Kindred Ventures
- Funding will be used to start human trials in 2026 and set up US operations
French medtech startup Robeauté has raised $28 million (£23m) to develop its microrobots which enter the brain to diagnose, treat and monitor neurological conditions.
The robots, which are the size of a grain of rice, can safely carry out tasks in the brain such as delivering molecules, implanting electrodes and collecting cell or live-data samples.
Robeauté will use the funding to continue developing the technology, starting human trials in 2026 and setting up US operations ahead of FDA approval and full go-to-market.
Bertrand Duplat, cofounder and chief executive of Robeauté, said: “There is unexplored potential for microrobots in medicine.
“Current neurosurgery techniques are invasive and can be fatal, whilst it is difficult for treatment to pass the blood-brain barrier and get to its intended target.
“We’re creating microrobots that will bring unparalleled access to the brain with personalised, precision medicine that can transform treatments and patient outcomes.”
The funding round was led by Plural, Cherry Ventures and Kindred Ventures, with participation from LocalGlobe, Think.Health and previous investors APEX Ventures.
There was also strategic investment from medtech firm Brainlab, as part of the company’s commitment to neurological advancement. This will support Robeauté’s entrance into the US where the company will pursue FDA approval before addressing the European regulatory authorities.
Ian Hogarth, partner at Plural, said: “Robeauté’s technology doesn’t just have the potential to transform neurosurgery — it could also fundamentally change how drug companies find the best solutions for patients.
“Gathering patient brain data will teach us more about diseases that are often incurable, enabling more personalised treatment.
“I strongly believe that Robeauté’s miniature robots could transform brain treatments in the same way the endoscope has transformed gastrointestinal medicine, for a part of our body that is so vital to our quality of life.”
Filip Dames, founding partner at Cherry Ventures, said: “The challenge posed by neurodegenerative diseases is immense, touching countless lives across the globe.
“What Robeauté is building truly embodies the spirit of frontier technology.
“Their work isn’t just advancing microrobotic surgery—it’s reshaping how we think about precision, outcomes, and the future of care for those battling these devastating conditions.”
Over the past eight years, the team has established more than 50 patents and developed a unique knowledge from creating and assembling a tiny engine, propeller, steering and tracking device, which enables surgeons to monitor the microrobot’s movement through the brain.
The technology is currently in animal studies as a biopsy tool which will lay the groundwork for it to later be used for treatment and real-time monitoring, which will be achieved through partnerships with industrial partners and research labs.
Joana Cartocci, cofounder and chief operating officer at Robeauté, said: “We like to think of our microrobot as a brain gardener, that can tend to the pathological organ from within, with a standard carrier that can be adapted to fit a variety of extensions.
“Our first application is advanced biopsy but from there the potential is boundless, unlocked through providing safe access and unprecedented site-specific data.”