Aktiia, Optical Health Monitoring Firm, Gains $30M in Funding

Aktiia, a developer of optical health monitoring technology, has completed a CHF 27 million ($30 million) funding round. The company's wrist-worn, 24/7 optical blood pressure monitoring device, which is currently marketed in seven European markets and approved as a medical device in 44 countries, uses photoplethysmography to determine blood volume changes in small blood vessels. The wristbands are calibrated monthly using a conventional blood pressure monitor.

Photoplethysmography is a noninvasive optical measurement technique that uses a light source and a photodetector at the surface of the skin to measure volumetric variations of blood circulation. Since Aktiia's device debuted in the U.K. in 2021, the company has acquired more than 200 million cardiovascular measurements as of January, according to Aktiia's website. The company has contributed to numerous research reports and participated in multiple clinical trials.

The newly garnered funding will accelerate continued expansion, the company said. Aktiia is a 2018 spinout of the Centre Suisse d’Electronique et de Microtechnique.

In addition to the funding, the company named Daniel Graf president and added him to its board. Graf has previous executive level experience with companies including Uber and Google. The round was led by Redalpine with participation from an international investor syndicate including Khosla Ventures, Molten, Translink Capital, Verve, and 415 Capital.