Operating at high speeds, traditional surgical drills pose significant risks when near vital soft tissues. Accidental damage to structures like nerves and blood vessels can lead to severe complications, contributing to over €4 billion in annual healthcare costs globally. Surgify Medical is committed to developing and providing solutions to protect patients, surgeons and healthcare organisations against procedure-related soft tissue damage during surgery.
Today, Finnish medtech startup Surgify Medical has raised €7 million in Series A funding. This round was led by ZEISS Ventures, the corporate venture arm of the Carl Zeiss Group, with notable participation from the European Innovation Council Fund (EIC Fund). Existing investors, including Lednil and Cascara Ventures, also contributed to this round. This infusion brings the company’s total funding to €14 million, setting the stage for expansive growth and innovation.
The funding follows a period of rapid regulatory progress for Surgify: the company received its initial FDA 510(k) clearance in November 2023 and additional clearance for multiple device models in March 2025. This swift regulatory advancement in the demanding U.S. market underscores the safety and efficacy of Surgify’s technology.
With this new capital, Surgify aims to cement its position as a leading supplier in the multi-billion-dollar bone surgery device market. Building on the Nordic launch, the company plans to broaden its footprint across the European Union and the United States. Notably, key hospitals in these regions have already begun adopting Surgify’s groundbreaking technology, signalling a promising trajectory for widespread clinical integration.
Addresses a critical surgical challenge
The company’s technology has already been used in over 1,000 spinal and cranial surgeries across the EU and US, and recent successful procedures in Germany have received excellent feedback from clinics praising its tissue selectivity and stability. The first successful surgeries using Surgify’s Halo drill were performed at Helsinki University Hospital in October 2021. Head of Neurosurgery Professor Mika Niemelä noted, “the two surgical patients recovered well from their surgeries and returned home quickly. Neither faced soft tissue damage during the operation.”
In pre-clinical evaluations involving 77 surgeries performed by eight neurosurgeons and spine surgeons from three Finnish university hospitals, soft-tissue injuries occurred in zero percent (0%) of procedures using Surgify Halo™, compared to 29% with conventional burrs. Recent clinical validation at Helsinki University Central Hospital involving 20 adult subjects undergoing neurosurgical procedures confirmed these results, with no soft tissue injuries reported in any of the methods. These dramatic improvements represent a paradigm shift in surgical safety.
The economic impact is equally significant: clinical estimates suggest Surgify’s technology can save hospitals up to €3 million annually by preventing complications and reducing the need for extended care.
Founders with a blend of medical and engineering expertise
Surgify Medical was co-founded in 2017 by a multidisciplinary team from Aalto University, combining expertise in medicine, engineering, and business. Dr. Visa Sippola, the CEO, brings a background in neurosurgery research from Helsinki University Hospital. Co-founder and CTO Shahab Haeri holds a mechanical engineering degree from Aalto University and has a research background in mechanical engineering. Chief Quality and Regulatory Officer Jukka Kreander, also a co-founder, specialises in health informatics engineering.
Dr. Visa Sippola was recognised as one of MIT Technology Review’s European Innovators Under 35 in 2017, and Surgify was ranked among the top 24 companies out of 2,400 participants in the 2018 European Venture Contest, underscoring the innovation’s industry validation.
Surgify’s commitment to innovation has garnered international acclaim. In 2024, the Surgify Halo received the prestigious Red Dot Award for Innovative Product Design, highlighting its exceptional design and pioneering approach to surgical technology. Further enhancing its product line, Surgify introduced a smaller 4.0 mm version of the Halo drill this month. This new size expands the device’s applicability to more anatomically constrained procedures, such as those in neurosurgery, spine, and ENT, without compromising on safety or precision.
Ongoing clinical research continues to validate Surgify’s impact, including a current randomised medical device study assessing the usability and performance of Surgify Halo™ in revision spine surgery, targeting enrollment of 30 participants.
Innovative solution: Surgify Halo and HaloSense technologies
At the heart of Surgify’s innovation is the Surgify Halo, a tissue-selective surgical drill designed for cranium and spine procedures. This device incorporates the proprietary HaloSense technology, a pressure-controlled mechanism that automatically retracts or extends based on the tissue encountered.
The protective ring retracts when the drill contacts hard bone, allowing effective cutting. Conversely, upon encountering softer tissues, the ring extends to shield the cutting edges, preventing inadvertent damage. This technology ensures enhanced safety, precision, and speed during complex surgical procedures.
Surgify’s innovation functions as an advanced add-on that effectively separates bone and soft tissue at the drilling site. This is crucial for older patients, where subcranial tissue often adheres to the skull, making traditional drilling especially risky.
Surgify’s commitment to innovation has garnered international acclaim. In 2024, the Surgify Halo received the prestigious Red Dot Award for Innovative Product Design, highlighting its exceptional design and pioneering approach to surgical technology. Further enhancing its product line, Surgify introduced a smaller 4.0 mm version of the Halo drill this month. This new size expands the device’s applicability to more anatomically constrained procedures, such as those in neurosurgery, spine, and ENT, without compromising on safety or precision.
Global presence and future outlook
Headquartered in Espoo, Finland, Surgify Medical has established offices in Sweden, Denmark, and the United States, reflecting its growing international presence. The company’s technology has already been utilised in over 1,000 spinal and cranial surgeries across the EU and the US, demonstrating its practical impact and acceptance in the medical community. With the recent funding and ongoing product development, Surgify is poised to further its mission of making bone surgeries safer, faster, and more precise globally.
The market opportunity is substantial: an estimated 770,000 skull opening procedures are performed worldwide annually, with approximately 30% resulting in some degree of tissue damage. The US Small Bone and Joint Devices Market alone is valued at $2.60 billion in 2025 and is expected to reach $3.36 billion by 2030, highlighting the commercial potential for Surgify’s solutions.
“ZEISS brings unparalleled experience in surgical technology and a global network, while the EIC’s continued support and earlier grant financing underscore the European innovation ecosystem’s confidence in our solution,” said Visa Sippola, Co-founder and CEO of Surgify Medical. “With this funding and regulatory approvals in both the EU and the U.S., we are well-positioned to bring our unique technology to more surgeons and patients internationally.”
“Surgify’s technology is a major breakthrough in today’s evolving healthcare landscape. With over a thousand patient procedures, Surgify Halo has already left a significant footprint in the field. The company aims to protect patients, save costs, and has already achieved groundbreaking developments in robotic surgery applications,” stated Alan Raffensperger, Chairman of Surgify Medical.
“We are excited to partner with Surgify in their mission to establish a new benchmark for surgical safety. Surgify’s Halo burrs offer exceptional control at cutting rates comparable to traditional burrs, while simultaneously safeguarding delicate soft tissues. This makes the switch to Halo burrs an obvious choice for surgeons,” explained Dr. Boris Hofmann, Head of ZEISS Ventures. “We are eager to support the team as they expand their solution on a global scale.”
