Chipiron raises $17M to launch portable MRI

French deeptech Chipiron has raised $17M in a Series A round to complete the development of its compact and lower-cost MRI system. The round was led by Blast, with additional participation from the EIC Fund, iXcore, and support from France2030, the EIC Accelerator, and Bpifrance.

The funding will enable Chipiron to build its first clinical prototypes, with clinical trials scheduled to begin in 2026. Over the next three to five years, the startup plans to make it available in local care centers, clinics, and mobile units, with a particular focus on the US healthcare market. This is expected to transform MRI from a largely hospital-bound, expensive technology to an affordable and portable solution for a broader range of healthcare providers.

MRI remains the gold standard in medical imaging due to its unmatched ability to provide high-resolution, non-invasive images of internal structures. However, its adoption has been constrained by several factors: the technology is expensive, requires significant infrastructure, and is typically confined to large hospitals and university medical centers.

Chipiron aims to tackle these barriers by miniaturising MRI technology into a compact, mobile unit. These features have the potential to make MRI available in smaller healthcare facilities, mobile units, and even remote or underserved regions. The global MRI market is estimated to be worth around $10B, with Europe accounting for $2.5B of that total. The French market alone represents $500M.

By 2028, Chipiron plans to have its first ultra-low-field clinical prototypes, secure FDA and CE certifications, and deploy at least 100 commercial units. The primary focus will be on the U.S., a market known for its openness to innovative healthcare solutions. This vision also aligns with broader trends in healthcare, where the focus is increasingly on creating flexible, cost-effective solutions to improve patient care. 

“This fundraising marks a major turning point for Chipiron, as it validates both our technological approach and the clinical impact we aim to achieve,” said Evan Kervella, CEO and co-founder of Chipiron. “Thanks to the trust of our investors, we now have the means to complete our R&D phase and begin clinical investigations in hospitals as early as next year. Our goal has remained the same since day one: to transform MRI accessibility and fundamentally change medical care worldwide.”

The latest $17M Series A round brings Chipiron’s total funding to over $22M, including both equity and public support. 

“We will unlock Chipiron’s most important value inflection point early next year by demonstrating the clinical relevance of our technology,” said Dimitri Labat, CSO and co-founder of Chipiron. “Thanks to this round led by Blast, we will be able to install our first device in a hospital to acquire MRI images of patients in a real-world environment. These images will form the basis for the product that will profoundly transform medical imaging practice on a global scale.”

“Chipiron is exactly the kind of biotech we want to boost at Blast,” said Anthony Bourbon, Founder and CEO of Blast. “They’re making possible what traditional medicine still struggles to do: detect life-threatening diseases early. A major public health issue, breakthrough technology, and a strong team. Proud to support them through Blast.”

“iXcore chose to invest in Chipiron for three reasons: the team is outstanding, the science and technology is groundbreaking, and the market opportunity is immense,” said Hervé Arditty, President of iXcore. “Chipiron’s portable MRI system has the potential to drastically improve access to healthcare and change the way medical imaging is conducted worldwide.”