Paris– French deeptech startup Chipiron has secured $17 million in Series A funding to advance the development of its compact, low-cost MRI scanner, aiming to make the high-precision imaging technology more widely accessible across global healthcare systems.
The funding round was led by French investment platform Blast, with backing from the EIC Fund, iXcore, and public institutions including France2030 (SGI), the European Commission’s EIC Accelerator, and Bpifrance. The capital will support Chipiron’s efforts to produce its first clinical prototypes by the end of 2025, with investigational hospital trials expected to begin in 2026.
Founded in 2020 by Evan Kervella and Dimitri Labat, Chipiron set out to develop a next-generation MRI system that maintains diagnostic accuracy while removing the barriers of cost, size, and infrastructure that limit conventional machines to large hospital centers. The company’s miniaturized, mobile scanner is designed for use in local care facilities, clinics, and even mobile units—opening the door to broader access in underserved areas, especially in the United States.
“This fundraising marks a major turning point for Chipiron,” said Kervella, who serves as CEO. “It validates both our technological approach and the clinical impact we aim to achieve. Our goal since day one has been to fundamentally change medical care by transforming MRI accessibility.”
Labat, the company’s Chief Scientific Officer, added that the funding will enable Chipiron to install its first hospital-based device in early 2026 and begin capturing real-world MRI scans to validate the system’s clinical effectiveness.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) remains one of the most accurate diagnostic tools in modern medicine, but its high cost, size, and reliance on specialized facilities have made it one of the least accessible. Chipiron’s technology promises to change that. The smaller system could also accommodate patients often excluded from MRI scans—such as those with pacemakers or implants, claustrophobic individuals, or patients with obesity—thanks to its more inclusive design.
Since its founding, Chipiron has raised over $22 million through a combination of equity and public funding. The startup previously closed a $2.7 million seed round in 2023 led by Exor Ventures and Unruly Capital, following earlier pre-seed and non-dilutive funding rounds.
Industry supporters say Chipiron is poised to reshape medical imaging. “Chipiron is exactly the kind of biotech we want to boost at Blast,” said Anthony Bourbon, CEO of Blast.Club. “They’re making possible what traditional medicine still struggles to do: detect life-threatening diseases early.”
The global MRI market, currently estimated at $10 billion, could expand significantly if the technology becomes more broadly available. In the next three to five years, Chipiron aims to obtain FDA and CE regulatory approvals and deploy at least 100 commercial systems, with a strong focus on penetrating the U.S. market.
By addressing long-standing accessibility challenges, the company hopes to establish a new global standard in diagnostic imaging.
