Vena Medical

What Vena Medical does

Vena Medical is a Kitchener, Ontario-based medical device company developing forward-looking intravascular imaging tools for neurointerventional and vascular procedures. Its flagship product, the Vena MicroAngioscope System, is a sub-millimeter flexible angioscope built on coherent fiber-bundle optics that delivers full-color, real-time endoscopic visualization inside veins and arteries — described by the company as the world's smallest camera for that purpose. The company has developed a second product, the Vena Balloon Distal Access Catheter (BDAC), which combines a balloon guide catheter and distal access catheter in a single device for mechanical thrombectomy. Co-founded in 2016/2017 by University of Waterloo mechanical engineering graduates Michael Phillips (CEO) and Phillip Cooper (President & COO), Vena Medical has 1-10 employees, holds 5 granted patents, and has graduated from Y Combinator and TMCx accelerators.

Vena Medical generates revenue through hardware sales of its proprietary medical devices to hospitals and interventional radiology/neurosurgery centers. Its go-to-market combines enterprise field sales ("Request a Demo" consultative motion) with event-driven outreach at neurovascular conferences (SLICE, SNIS, SVIN, AHA/ASA Stroke) and peer-reviewed clinical publications. The company is regulated in Canada for neurovascular, peripheral, and coronary indications and received FDA Breakthrough Device designation in February 2025 followed by FDA peripheral and coronary clearance in February 2026. The only publicly disclosed clinical/commercial customer is The Ottawa Hospital, site of the first-in-human MicroAngioscope procedure on November 14, 2023. Total disclosed funding is modest (~$1.5M CAD Ontario grant plus prior seed capital), and revenue is not publicly disclosed, indicating the company is in a pre/early-commercial stage.

Name

Vena Medical

Legal name

Vena Medical

Website

https://venamed.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Vena Medical is a Kitchener, Ontario-based medical device company that develops the Vena MicroAngioscope, a sub-millimeter camera for forward-looking, real-time visualization inside blood vessels, serving neurointerventional, peripheral, and coronary interventional physicians and hospitals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Neurovascular Medical Devices

NAICS

Surgical and Medical Instrument Manufacturing (339112), Surgical Appliance and Supplies Manufacturing (339113)

SIC

Surgical & Medical Instruments & Apparatus (3841), Optical Instruments & Lenses (3827)

akta.pro primary industry

Thrombectomy, Embolic Protection & Stroke Intervention Devices (HLAHAFAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Open & Minimally Invasive Surgical Instruments (Handheld, Laparoscopic, MIS) (HLAHADAA)

Keywords

• Intravascular imaging
• Microcatheter devices
• Neurovascular intervention
• Endovascular visualization
• Mechanical thrombectomy devices

Headquarters

HQ city

Kitchener

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Medical Device Sales: Sale of proprietary medical devices including the Vena MicroAngioscope System and Vena Balloon Distal Access Catheter to hospitals and interventional radiology/neurosurgery centers.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Vena Medical designs, manufactures, and sells proprietary intravascular medical devices for neurointerventional and stroke procedures. Its flagship offering is the Vena MicroAngioscope System, a sub-millimeter forward-looking camera that provides real-time, full-color endoscopic visualization inside blood vessels. The company also sells the Vena Balloon Distal Access Catheter (BDAC), which combines balloon guide and distal access catheter functions for mechanical thrombectomy stroke treatment.

Product overview

Vena Medical offers two distinct medical device products: the Vena MicroAngioscope System, a sub-millimeter forward-looking camera designed to navigate inside veins and arteries for direct endoluminal visualization across peripheral, coronary, and neurovasculature; and the Vena Balloon Distal Access Catheter (BDAC), which combines balloon guide catheter and distal access catheter functionality into a single device to improve clot removal during mechanical thrombectomy stroke procedures. Both products are targeted at interventional physicians performing endovascular procedures.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Vena MicroAngioscope System A sub-millimeter flexible angioscope providing forward-looking, full-color, real-time endoscopic visualization inside blood vessels. Indicated for visualization and diagnosis of vascular disease in peripheral, coronary, and neurovasculature (Canada) and peripheral and coronary vessels (US). Used by neurointerventional surgeons, interventional cardiologists, and vascular surgeons during endovascular procedures.
• Vena Balloon Distal Access Catheter (BDAC) A combined balloon guide catheter and distal access catheter for mechanical thrombectomy procedures to treat stroke. Positions the balloon closer to the clot to improve First Pass Success Rate and patient outcomes. Used by neurointerventionalists performing endovascular stroke treatment.

Quantifiable outcome

• First-in-human prospective multicenter study (N=31): 100% successful delivery to location of interest, no angiographic vessel injury reported, no procedural complications, all patients neurologically unchanged post-procedure

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• University of WaterloocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCompany founded by University of Waterloo Mechanical Engineering graduates as capstone design project, transitioned to full-time venture through Conrad Entrepreneurship Option. Vena Medical is a Velocity startup.
• Velocity (University of Waterloo)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStartup incubator program at University of Waterloo that supported Vena Medical's early development as a technology startup.
• Y CombinatorflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCompany attended Y Combinator accelerator program one year after graduation, receiving startup support and mentorship through the renowned accelerator.
• TMCx AcceleratorcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTexas Medical Center innovation accelerator program that company attended following Y Combinator, supporting medical technology development.
• The Ottawa HospitalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFirst-in-human clinical use of MicroAngioscope conducted at The Ottawa Hospital on November 14, 2023, establishing initial clinical validation and partnership for early clinical data generation.
• CommunitechminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional technology accelerator and innovation hub in Kitchener-Waterloo region supporting Canadian tech startups.
• OBIO (Ontario Bioscience Innovation Organization)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOntario-based organization supporting bioscience companies with access to capital, talent, and market development resources.
• MassChallenge TexasminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStartup accelerator program in Texas that company participated in, supporting early-stage health technology companies.
• Ontario Brain InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOntario-based research and innovation organization supporting brain-related health technology development.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Medtronic: Medtronic offers an extensive portfolio of neurovascular devices including the Solitaire stent retriever and a range of access and delivery products, representing a large incumbent competing in the same endovascular stroke workflow.
• Cerenovus (Johnson & Johnson MedTech): Cerenovus, J&J MedTech's neurovascular business, markets the Embotrap and other stroke intervention devices, plus the Galaxy and other coils for aneurysm treatment, overlapping the same procedural use cases Vena addresses.
• Stryker (Neurovascular): Stryker's Neurovascular division markets the Trevo stent retriever, Target aspiration catheters, and other stroke intervention devices — a broad incumbent with deep US salesforce coverage that competes for the same stroke center accounts as Vena.
• MicroVention (Terumo): MicroVention, part of Terumo, is a major neurovascular OEM with a broad portfolio of coils, flow diverters, and stroke intervention devices competing with Vena's neurovascular catheter portfolio.

Direct peers

• Rapid Medical: Rapid Medical develops neurovascular devices including the Tigertriever stent retriever and other adjustable devices for ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke, directly competing for the same interventional neurology accounts as Vena Medical.
• Penumbra: Penumbra is the leading pure-play neurovascular device company, with the Penumbra System aspiration catheters and RED reperfusion catheters competing head-to-head with Vena's BDAC in mechanical thrombectomy and providing the same interventional-radiology/neurointerventional surgeon customer base that Vena targets.
• MIVI Neuroscience: MIVI Neuroscience makes the Q Aspiration catheter for mechanical thrombectomy in stroke, an emerging direct competitor to Vena's BDAC with overlapping sales targets in the US stroke center market.
• Route 92 Medical: Route 92 Medical is developing the Tenzing catheter family for stroke thrombectomy, targeting the same neurointerventionalists and offering an alternative access and aspiration solution to Vena's MicroAngioscope-enabled procedures.
• Imperative Care: Imperative Care is a venture-backed stroke thrombectomy company building a portfolio of access and aspiration catheters for ischemic stroke, competing directly with the Vena BDAC and pursuing the same stroke center customers.

Emerging players

• InNeuroCo: InNeuroCo is an emerging neurovascular device company developing access and support catheters for stroke intervention, an early-stage peer pursuing the same neurointerventional surgeon customer base as Vena Medical.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/vena_medical
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@venamedical
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/venamedical

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds4 records

Investors6 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Vena Medical