Samsung Medison, a medical device company and a subsidiary of Samsung Electronics, specialising in diagnostic ultrasound systems has announced to have completed the acquisition of Sonio, a French AI ultrasound startup specialising in prenatal ultrasound diagnostics. The deal is reportedly worth 126.5bn Won (€86mn).
As a result of this move, Samsung Medison said it will lead innovation in medical device accessibility and accuracy by combining its advanced technology with Sonio’s AI solutions. The latter aims to accelerate innovation in ultrasound imaging and reduce global healthcare disparities by expanding its AI solution portfolio.
While Samsung Medison has acquired 100% of Sonio’s shares, the latter will operate as an independent company. It will continue its commercial growth and its product will be compatible with all ultrasound devices and not be exclusive to Samsung.
Why Sonio?
Founded by Cécile Brosset and Rémi Besson alongside a group of entrepreneurs, scientists, medical professionals, and IT experts in 2020, Sonio is a SaaS platform combining technological advancement, medical expertise, and crowdsourcing to let healthcare providers provide secure prenatal care.
Sonio has developed a reporting and workflow solution powered by AI for obstetrics and gynaecology ultrasound that assists clinicians in the evaluation and documentation of ultrasound exams.
Supported by investors Elaia, BpiFrance, OneRagtime, Cross Border Impact Ventures, and the EIC Fund, the company raised €10 million in 2022 to improve the health of women and children through AI.
Sonio’s products
The company’s FDA 510(k)-approved AI solution ‘Detect’ evaluates ultrasound image quality in real-time, provides feedback, and automatically extracts optimal images. This technology improves diagnostic accuracy and mitigates skill gaps among medical professionals. It also has two other products – the CE-marked Sonio Diagnostics for expert diagnostic ultrasounds and Sonio Pro, tailored to secure and bring more efficiency to routine pregnancy ultrasounds.
“Alongside Samsung Medison, we are excited to make significant strides in the maternal care industry. In addition, Sonio plans to continue to advance medical reporting technology and diagnostic software globally, including for underserved areas in healthcare” said Cecile Brosset, CEO and Co-founder of Sonio.
Samsung Medison CEO Kyu Tae Yoo commented: “With the workforce shortages affecting the global healthcare industry, the real-time ultrasound exam guidance and quality assurance developed by Sonio is becoming more relevant to ensure high-quality care. We look forward to combining Sonio’s and Samsung’s advanced engineering to enhance our ultrasound roadmap and introduce next-generation AI technologies to the market. We will focus on innovations designed to enhance exam quality, and efficiency, and ultimately improve patient care.”
France: Powerhouse in AI innovation with record funding
France’s AI sector is experiencing a significant boom, marked by substantial funding rounds and growing valuations of key startups. Companies like Mistral AI have led the charge, nearing a $2B valuation — less than 12 months after founding, giving it a strong positioning as a key player in generative AI. Meanwhile, Hugging Face, another French AI leader, achieved a valuation of $4.5 billion after securing $235 million in its Series D funding, reflecting its rapid growth and global impact. Holistic AI, a firm focused on building safe and ethical AI systems, has also captured investor interest, underscoring the diverse AI innovation coming out of France.
These developments illustrate the country’s expanding influence in the global AI landscape, driven by a vibrant ecosystem of startups, increased venture capital investment, and robust government support for AI research and development.
