Precision is one of the defining challenges of modern brain surgery. Even the smallest anatomical shift during an operation can complicate navigation and increase risk, particularly when surgeons are targeting deep and delicate structures. Swiss neurotechnology startup Clee Medical is working to change this reality and has now closed its seed financing round to accelerate the development of its ultra high resolution real time imaging platform for neurosurgical procedures.
Strong investor backing
The seed round was led by High Tech Gründerfonds, with participation from Zürcher Kantonalbank, Kickfund, FONGIT, and Venture Kick. Existing partner Wyss Geneva also continued its support. The financing provides Clee Medical with the resources to expand its development and clinical programmes as it moves toward its first human studies.
The backing reflects growing interest in technologies that can improve intraoperative visibility and safety in complex neurological interventions.
Addressing a critical surgical gap
Many neurosurgical procedures require surgeons to operate with extreme accuracy, often at millimetre scale. However, once surgery begins, the brain can shift due to changes in pressure and tissue manipulation. This makes preoperative imaging less reliable and increases the difficulty of navigating to precise targets during an operation.
Clee Medical is addressing this challenge by developing minimally invasive neurotechnology that delivers real time imaging from inside the brain itself. The goal is to provide surgeons with continuous, high resolution visual feedback during procedures, reducing uncertainty and supporting more confident decision making.
Founded on translational research
Clee Medical was founded in October 2024 by Matt Lapinski and Abed Hammoud. The company builds on years of translational research that bridges academic innovation and clinical application. From the outset, the founders focused on designing a platform that could integrate seamlessly into existing neurosurgical workflows while delivering a step change in imaging performance.
The result is the Neuro Access platform, Clee Medical’s flagship technology.
The Neuro Access platform
Neuro Access combines ultra high resolution real time intraoperative Optical Coherence Tomography imaging with advanced navigation capabilities. Optical Coherence Tomography allows detailed visualisation of tissue microstructure, and Clee Medical has adapted this technology for use directly inside the brain during surgery.
By delivering real time imaging at the point of intervention, the platform enables surgeons to visualise brain structures as they operate, rather than relying solely on preoperative scans or indirect navigation tools. This capability is designed to support safer access to deep brain targets and enable more precise delivery of neurotherapies.
Applications across neurosurgery
The Neuro Access platform is being developed to support multiple clinical applications, including functional neurosurgery and neuro oncology. In functional procedures, precise targeting is critical for outcomes, while in oncology, improved visualisation can help surgeons better distinguish between healthy and diseased tissue.
By improving intraoperative insight, Clee Medical aims to enhance both safety and effectiveness across a wide range of brain interventions.
Path toward clinical validation
With the new seed financing, Clee Medical plans to expand its technical development and clinical programmes. A key milestone will be advancing toward a first in human clinical study, which will mark an important step in validating the platform in real surgical environments.
The company will also focus on accelerating clinical validation of Neuro Access, working closely with clinical partners to refine usability and performance.
Long term vision
Clee Medical’s long term ambition is to give neurosurgeons a new level of real time insight during complex procedures. By improving visibility, navigation, and confidence in the operating room, the company believes its technology can contribute to better patient outcomes, increased procedural efficiency, and reduced surgical risk.
As neurosurgery continues to evolve toward more targeted and minimally invasive approaches, real time imaging technologies like Neuro Access could become a foundational tool in the operating theatre of the future.