SquareMind has raised $18 million for its Swan robotic skin imaging platform, including an investment from Fred Moll’s Sonder Capital.
The Paris-based startup said the funding includes previously undisclosed pre-Series A financing. SquareMind plans to use it to grow its commercial, engineering, and customer support teams ahead of the “near-term” commercial launch in the U.S. and Europe.
Related: Alesi Surgical raises £7M to clear the air in operating theatres
Sonder Capital led the round and was joined by the French government’s Deeptech 2030 Fund, Adamed Technology, Calm/Storm Ventures, Teampact Ventures, and unnamed investors that SquareMind described as “several prominent entrepreneurs.”
The robot is designed to capture images of a patient’s skin while guiding them with visual and audio prompts for a short, contactless, comfortable and private exam.
“Swan is the world’s first robot to capture standardized, full-body dermoscopic skin imaging, acting as an augmented dermatoscope to provide a view of the entire skin surface at a level typically obtained when examining moles up close,” the company said in a news release. “Image acquisition is automated, completed in just minutes, and seamlessly integrates into clinical workflows. Swan is paired with AI-based software supporting the review of skin imaging to help track new or changing moles over time, while physicians retain full clinical judgment.”
SquareMind said it developed its robotics and artificial intelligence technology with dermatologists, with SquareMind co-founder and CEO Ali Khachlouf saying the technology is already seeing “strong traction” from hospitals and dermatology practices.
“Dermatologists are operating under increasing pressure, facing strong cognitive load and fatigue,” he said in a statement shared with MassDevice ahead of today’s announcement. “Our technology acts as their companion, helping to reduce this burden, optimize their time, and support comprehensive documentation so they can stay focused on patient care and clinical decision-making.”
The company sees an opportunity in skin screening because it’s the No. 1 volume procedure in dermatology.
“Demand continues to outpace capacity due to a rapidly aging population concerned with skin care, with waitlists stretching months,” the company said. “Time constraints leave little room for thorough documentation, which is important for early detection as 80% of melanomas — a lethal skin cancer — are new lesions.”
Sonder Capital Managing Partner Kate Garrett described Swan as “a truly unique platform that has the potential to become the global standard of care in modern dermatology.”
“We fundamentally believe that advances in AI and medical robotics will reshape medical practice by automating routine procedures, optimizing clinical time, and expanding access to high-quality care,” she said.
SquareMind says the Swan robot has a CE mark and is FDA 510(k) exempt as a Class I device, with commercialization expected to begin sometime in 2026.
