Tartu-based medtech firm Better Medicine, which develops AI-powered diagnostic tools for radiology, has raised €1 million in a pre-seed funding round led by Soulmates Ventures, as Vestbee was told.
- Established in 2020 by Priit Salumaa, Better Medicine develops AI-powered software for radiology that assists in detecting and measuring cancerous lesions.
- Its BMVision Kidney tool uses deep-learning models trained on annotated clinical datasets to identify malignant kidney lesions in CT scans, achieving 96% standalone accuracy and a 99.2% detection rate when combined with radiologist assessment.
- The software provides automated detection and measurement that integrates with standard radiology systems such as PACS and viewers, enabling up to 52% time savings in clinical use.
- A companion tool, BM iMeasure, allows semi-automated lesion measurements and structured reporting, streamlining workflow while supporting diagnostic accuracy.
- In 2024, the firm secured a €2.5 million grant from the European Innovation Council (EIC). With additional grants, Better Medicine has now obtained €2.25 million in private funding and €3.7 million in total grants, bringing its overall funding to nearly €6 million.
Details of the deal
- The pre-seed round was led by Soulmates Ventures, a Prague-based VC firm that recently raised a €50 million fund to support sustainable startups, investing by Article 9 of the SFDR.
"Better Medicine is addressing a clear and urgent need in oncology diagnostics. By supporting radiologists and other specialists with reliable AI tools, they are helping improve patient outcomes while easing pressure on overloaded health systems. We're excited to back an experienced team as they prepare to make a major impact in modern medicine," claims Michal Sikyta, Investment Director at Soulmates Ventures.
- Specialist VC, UT Ventures, and several angel investors also participated in the round.
- The fresh capital will enable Better Medicine to accelerate its European expansion, develop AI tools for additional organs, advance FDA clearance preparations, and support clinical pilots in the US, while building partnerships with hospitals and insurers to demonstrate the effectiveness and value of its solutions.
