Estonian medical technology company Better Medicine has secured €1 million in pre-seed financing to accelerate its European expansion and prepare for entry into the United States market. The Tartu-based artificial intelligence startup develops tools designed to assist radiologists in identifying kidney cancer through automated analysis of CT scans.
The latest investment round brings the company’s cumulative funding to more than €5 million, combining €2.25 million in private investment with €3.7 million in grant funding. Notable among the grants was a €2.5 million award from the European Innovation Council received earlier this year.
Soulmates Ventures led the funding round, joined by Specialist VC, UT Ventures, and multiple angel investors. The capital will support the broader deployment of BMVision Kidney, which achieved a significant regulatory milestone by becoming the first AI-powered kidney cancer detection system to receive CE certification under the European Union’s Medical Device Regulation in early 2025.
Addressing Critical Healthcare Workforce Gaps
The healthcare sector faces mounting challenges with radiologist availability. In the United Kingdom, only 10 radiologists serve every 100,000 residents, with approximately half of available radiologist positions remaining vacant. Global imaging demand continues climbing due to aging populations and expanded diagnostic protocols.
“Radiologists are under immense pressure to maintain total focus on highly repetitive tasks that don’t necessarily require medical expertise but are still critical for diagnosis. Imagine a second set of eyes, but multiplied by 1000, always alert and never tired: we are making early cancer detection easy and freeing doctors to avoid burnout and focus on what truly requires their judgment” ~ Priit Salumaa, founder and chief executive of Better Medicine.
Market Scope and Clinical Impact
According to the company’s estimates, healthcare systems worldwide dedicate approximately 12 million hours annually to manual lesion measurement and reporting tasks. By automating these workflow components, Better Medicine claims its technology can eliminate bottlenecks, minimize human error, and enable radiologists to concentrate on complex clinical decisions.
The CE certification positions Better Medicine within a select group of companies whose AI models have received approval for direct clinical integration. This regulatory achievement provides the foundation for the company’s planned expansion across European markets.
US Market Strategy
The fresh capital will also fund Better Medicine’s United States market preparation, where the company intends to initiate FDA-aligned clinical pilot programs. This represents a strategic expansion beyond the European regulatory framework into one of the world’s largest healthcare markets.
“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” ~ Michal Sikyta, investment director at Soulmates Ventures
Technology and Clinical Applications
BMVision Kidney focuses specifically on detecting malignant lesions within CT imaging studies. The tool operates as an assistive technology, providing radiologists with automated analysis while preserving human oversight for final diagnostic decisions. This approach aims to address both diagnostic delays and the shortage of qualified medical imaging specialists.
The company’s technology development has benefited from substantial public funding support, including the European Innovation Council grant that represented a significant portion of its total funding base. This combination of public and private investment reflects the strategic importance of medical AI development within European innovation policy.