Mendaera
Mendaera is a San Mateo-based healthcare robotics company developing the FDA-cleared Focalist System, a handheld robotic platform combining real-time ultrasound imaging with robotic needle positioning for precise ultrasound-guided needle procedures, sold to hospitals initially targeting urology with planned expansion into interventional radiology and pain management.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2020
- HeadquartersSan Mateo, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Mendaera does
Mendaera, Inc. is a privately held healthcare technology company founded in 2020 in Silicon Valley and headquartered in San Mateo, California. The company develops the Focalist System, an FDA 510(k)-cleared handheld robotic platform that combines real-time ultrasound imaging with robotic needle positioning and continuous needle depth-tracking to enable precise, reproducible needle placement for ultrasound-guided procedures. The system is positioned to address operator-dependent variability in procedures such as percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL), biopsies, vascular access, and other needle-based interventions, with the stated intent of making precision more accessible across providers with varying skill levels.
Mendaera's commercialization strategy is built around direct enterprise sales to leading medical institutions. The company initiated a limited U.S. launch in 2025 with an initial focus in urology, anchored by early adopters including Mayo Clinic Arizona (where Dr. Karen Stern performed the world's first Focalist procedures) and M Health Fairview. Full commercialization is planned for 2026, with stated expansion into interventional radiology, pain management, and anesthesiology. The company's go-to-market is reinforced by an active presence at industry conferences (AUA, ATC, SUFU, WCET, LSI USA '26, MedTech Insight) and recognition on multiple industry lists (Bessemer Top 50 Physical AI, CB Insights Top 50 Digital Health, Fierce 15, Business Insider Top 12).
The business model combines hardware sales of the Focalist System with recurring instrumentation and disposables (including bundled Cook Medical EchoTip needles) and ongoing service and maintenance through a customer portal. Strategic technology integrations with Butterfly Network (Ultrasound-on-Chip imaging) and EchoNous (image-guided intervention) extend the platform's imaging ecosystem. As of the available data, the company is pre-scaled commercially, having raised approximately $97 million-plus across a 2023 round led by Lux Capital and a 2024 Series B led by Threshold Ventures, with leadership drawn from prior medical robotics exits including Auris Health (acquired by J&J for up to $5.8 billion) and Intuitive Surgical.
Mendaera firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Mendaera
- Legal name
- Mendaera, Inc.
- Website
- https://mendaera.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2020
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Mendaera is a San Mateo-based healthcare robotics company developing the FDA-cleared Focalist System, a handheld robotic platform combining real-time ultrasound imaging with robotic needle positioning for precise ultrasound-guided needle procedures, sold to hospitals initially targeting urology with planned expansion into interventional radiology and pain management.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Mendaera industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Medical Robotics
- NAICS
- Electromedical and Electrotherapeutic Apparatus Manufacturing (334510)
- SIC
- Surgical & Medical Instruments & Apparatus (3841)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Surgical Robotics & Computer-Assisted Surgery Platforms (HLAHADAF)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Intraoperative Imaging & Guidance (C-arms, O-arm, IOUS, fluorescence) (HLAHADAH), Endourology & Minimally Invasive Urologic Surgery (HLAKAOAF), Interventional Radiology & Image-Guided Therapy Systems (HLAHABAG)
Keywords
Where Mendaera is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Mateo
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Mendaera business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Focalist System Hardware Sales: Sale of the handheld robotic Focalist System to healthcare institutions. The company is preparing for commercial launch with initial focus on urology.
- Instrumentation and Disposables: Sale of compatible needles and instrumentation kits including Cook Medical's EchoTip technology integrated into Mendaera's offerings.
- Service and Maintenance: Ongoing service and maintenance services provided through the customer portal for Focalist System users.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
Mendaera product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Mendaera designs, develops, and sells the Focalist System, a handheld robotic platform that combines real-time ultrasound imaging with robotic needle positioning to enable precise, reproducible needle placement during ultrasound-guided medical procedures. The company also offers compatible instrumentation (including integrated Cook Medical EchoTip needles) and post-sale service, training, and software updates through its customer portal, with initial commercial focus on urology and planned expansion into interventional radiology and pain management.
Product overview
Mendaera offers the Focalist System, a single FDA-cleared handheld robotic platform that combines real-time ultrasound imaging with robotic needle positioning and advanced software. The system is designed to make precision needle-based procedures more accessible across healthcare settings. Mendaera generates revenue through medical device sales and provides配套 services including a customer portal with Instructions for Use, software release notes, maintenance information, and training materials. The company operates strategic partnerships with Butterfly Network (for ultrasound-on-chip technology integrated into the system) and Cook Medical (for bundled EchoTip needles in instrumentation offerings).
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Focalist: Handheld robotic system for needle-based procedures combining real-time ultrasound imaging with robotic control for precise instrument placement during diagnostic and therapeutic procedures.
Products and services
- Focalist System FDA-cleared handheld robotic system that combines real-time ultrasound imaging with intuitive robotic control and touchscreen targeting to enable precise, reproducible needle placement for ultrasound-guided diagnostic and therapeutic procedures across multiple medical specialties, intended for use with pediatric and adult patients.
- Focalist Instrumentation and Disposables Compatible needles and instrumentation kits sold alongside the Focalist System, including integrated Cook Medical EchoTip trocar needle technology, bundled to streamline setup and workflow for percutaneous needle-based procedures.
- Focalist Service, Maintenance, and Customer Portal Ongoing service and maintenance offering delivered through a secure customer portal that provides Instructions for Use, software release notes, service information, training materials, and other support resources for Focalist System users at healthcare institutions.
Quantifiable outcome
- Precise first-pass needle placement into ideal kidney location during PCNL procedures
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Mendaera
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Mendaera technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration2 records
AI capability2 records
Feature4 records
Mendaera partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.
- Cook MedicalcoreCollaboration to integrate Cook's EchoTip trocar needle technology with Mendaera's Focalist System for needle-based urological procedures. The partnership aims to create cutting-edge solutions for percutaneous procedures with fit-for-purpose disposables paired with robotics.
- EchoNousmajorPartnership to revolutionize image-guided intervention using EchoNous ultrasound technology integrated with Mendaera's robotic platform. Part of Mendaera's strategy to utilize advanced ultrasound-on-chip technology.
- Butterfly NetworkmajorCommercial agreement established for use of Butterfly Network's Ultrasound-on-Chip technology in the Focalist System. Mendaera acquired telepresence technology and established this commercial partnership.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Mendaera competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Intuitive Surgical: Market leader in robotic surgery with the da Vinci platform. While its systems are large, expensive, fixed installations focused on laparoscopic surgery, it represents the dominant incumbent Mendaera's leadership team previously competed against and that any handheld robotic entrant must displace or complement.
- Johnson & Johnson MedTech (Ottava / Auris Health): Acquired Auris Health for up to $5.8B and is developing the Ottava robotic surgery platform. Multiple Mendaera executives (DeFonzo, Davidson, Martinez) came directly from this organization, making J&J both a competitor and the most logical strategic acquirer of Mendaera's handheld platform.
- Stryker (MAKO Surgical): Acquired MAKO Surgical and built a dominant orthopedic robotics franchise. As a large incumbent that has successfully commercialized surgical robotics outside Intuitive's core laparoscopic space, Stryker represents both a competitor and potential acquirer for adjacent robotic platforms.
- Medtronic (Hugo Robotic-Assisted Surgery): Developed the Hugo robotic-assisted surgery platform to compete in laparoscopic surgery. As a diversified medtech incumbent investing heavily in surgical robotics, Medtronic is a relevant peer in the competitive landscape Mendaera is entering.
Direct peers
- CMR Surgical: Developer of the Versius surgical robotic system, a smaller, modular robotic platform competing in laparoscopic surgery. Like Mendaera, CMR is challenging the Intuitive paradigm with a more portable, lower-cost robotic architecture aimed at broader hospital adoption.
- Moon Surgical: Developer of the Maestro handheld surgical robotics system, conceptually the closest peer to Mendaera. Both companies are pioneering handheld robotic form factors designed to assist surgeons in real-time, rather than full-sized fixed surgical robots.
- PROCEPT BioRobotics: Commercial-stage robotics company focused on urology with the AquaBeam/Aquablation system for BPH. Most directly comparable to Mendaera in initial specialty focus (urology) and robotics-based procedural disruption, though addressing different urological indications.
Emerging players
- Vicarious Surgical: Emerging surgical robotics company developing a decoupled robotic system for abdominal surgery. Public peer with comparable stage of commercialization challenges and similar mission to bring more accessible robotic surgery to hospitals.
- Noah Medical: Developer of the Galaxy System, a robotic platform for lung biopsy and other pulmonology procedures. Comparable as a specialty-focused robotic procedural platform combining imaging and robotic guidance to displace freehand clinical workflows.
- Asensus Surgical: Developer of the Senhance surgical robotics system with an instrumentation-like, modular form factor. Comparable as a public peer pushing an alternative, lower-cost robotic paradigm against Intuitive's incumbent installed base.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Mendaera social profiles
Digital presenceMendaera compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Mendaera financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Mendaera leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Mendaera funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds3 records
Investors7 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Mendaera M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A2 records
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Mendaera
What does Mendaera do?
Mendaera designs, develops, and sells the Focalist System, a handheld robotic platform that combines real-time ultrasound imaging with robotic needle positioning to enable precise, reproducible needle placement during ultrasound-guided medical procedures. The company also offers compatible instrumentation (including integrated Cook Medical EchoTip needles) and post-sale service, training, and software updates through its customer portal, with initial commercial focus on urology and planned expansion into interventional radiology and pain management.
Is Mendaera a public or private company?
Mendaera is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Mendaera founded?
Mendaera was founded in 2020. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Mendaera based?
Mendaera is headquartered in San Mateo, United States, in the North America region.
How does Mendaera make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Focalist System Hardware Sales are the primary driver. The others are instrumentation and Disposables and service and Maintenance.
Who are Mendaera's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Intuitive Surgical, Johnson & Johnson MedTech (Ottava / Auris Health), Stryker (MAKO Surgical) and Medtronic (Hugo Robotic-Assisted Surgery). Direct peers are CMR Surgical, Moon Surgical and PROCEPT BioRobotics. Emerging players are Vicarious Surgical, Noah Medical and Asensus Surgical.
Does Mendaera have an API?
No public API is recorded for Mendaera.
What industry is Mendaera in?
Mendaera's product category is Medical Robotics. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAHADAF, Surgical Robotics & Computer-Assisted Surgery Platforms, with a secondary code of HLAHADAH, Intraoperative Imaging & Guidance (C-arms, O-arm, IOUS, fluorescence). Its NAICS code is 334510 and its SIC code is 3841.