Intuitive Ventures announced today that it closed a $150 million funding round to support early-stage minimally invasive care companies.
Surgical robotics pioneer Intuitive Surgical launched Intuitive Ventures with $100 million in funding more than three years ago. The early-stage fund earmarked its latest round of funding, labeled “Fund II,” for three areas of investment focus. It wants to support improved access and coordination, precision diagnostics and interventions and secure, enriched digital ecosystems.
Intuitive Ventures said in a news release that it aims to lower the barriers to care with efficient, cost-effective, accessible care. By leveraging the intersection of medtech, life sciences and therapeutics, it believes it can support diagnostics and interventions, too. The fund also hopes to utilize the potential of novel healthcare data to enhance minimally invasive care.
“We are proud of the strides achieved by the Ventures team over the past three years. They have been instrumental in accelerating innovation in minimally invasive care and diligent in advising their portfolio companies,” said Gary Guthart, CEO of Intuitive Surgical. “The Ventures team is a key member of our future forward group, who identify and foster innovations in minimally invasive care. Fund II deepens Intuitive’s commitment to the broad ecosystem of innovators working to improve patient outcomes.”
More about Intuitive Ventures and its leadership
Since the launch of Intuitive Ventures in 2020, the fund has provided support to more than 10 “transformative startups,” Intuitive said. It expects Fund II to continue the group’s successful strategy and invest in new, visionary startups. Those startups also have access to the Intuitive Surgical network and corporate oversight.
Intuitive said it selected Murielle Thinard McLane, who joined the team earlier this year, to lead the fund. She takes over as managing partner and head of Intuitive Ventures from Dr. Oliver Keown. Keown decided to pursue a new opportunity as a startup founder and CEO but intends to continue supporting the fund as a venture partner.
Thinard McLane brings more than 20 years of experience building and scaling organizations. Her past includes time spent as an investor, entrepreneur and Fortune 500 executive.
“It’s an honor to lead Intuitive Ventures in this next stage of growth, and continue to develop our portfolio of transformative companies and high-quality investment partners,” she said. “We take great pride in serving as value-add investors, providing unique strategic perspectives, and aligning our success with the success of our portfolio companies and fellow investors. With Fund II, Intuitive Ventures will further scale its impactful approach, and help accelerate the creation of innovative minimally invasive care solutions.”
