SoftBank Bets $200M On CMR Surgical, The UK Startup Taking On $178B Intuitive With Robots That Have Performed 30,000 Surgeries

In the world of medical tech-dominated by giants, one UK-based startup is going for the jugular. CMR Surgical just got itself more than $200 million in new capital to pump the pedal down on a global rollout of its surgical robotics system and, even more daring, to make a serious dent in the U.S. market, where $180 billion kingpin Intuitive Surgical reigns.

With heavyweight backers like SoftBank, LightRock, Ally-Bridge, and a $68 million chunk of debt funding from Trinity Capital, the round signals deep-pocketed belief in CMR Surgical’s trajectory. According to Sifted, this new cash pile brings the company's total raised to north of $1 billion, putting it squarely in unicorn territory, with a $3 billion valuation to match.

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The World’s Best Financed Surgical Robotics Company

CMR Surgical is not exactly playing small ball. It's the best-capitalized surgical robots startup on earth, according to Dealroom. Since beginning its operations in 2014, it has raised more than most startups dream of raising. Its last large haul was a $600 million Series D round in 2021, which increased the startup's valuation tremendously. In 2023, the company also secured a $170 million convertible loan note.

Patrick Vallance, UK science minister, said in a statement released by the company, “This successful funding round of more than $200 million is a clear vote of confidence in the company, the potential of surgical robotics, and in the UK's life science ecosystem, which continues to produce innovative companies at an impressive rate.”

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The Robot Behind the Mission

The centerpiece of CMR Surgical's aspiration is Versius, a robotic surgery platform for trials in colorectal, gynecology, thoracic, urology, and general soft tissue procedures. It has already begun making an impact where used, with over 30,000 procedures carried on around the world.

Versius helps with instruments like endoscopes, forceps, and scissors, but it also records and feeds back surgical data to staff in real time, converting the operating room into something resembling a high-precision data lab.This level of integration is a big part of why the robot is now the world's second most-adopted soft tissue surgical robot, second only to Intuitive Surgical's long-established system.

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Prepared for Growth

CMR Surgical knows that it faces a turning point. “We are now at a pivotal stage, poised to capitalize on significant opportunities for market expansion, including in the U.S. while continuing to penetrate deeper into existing markets,” CEO Massimiliano Colella said.

Now that the company has a new war chest, it is preparing for a real push. Although it's topping the funding charts in Europe, it’s not alone in the wider race to use robotic surgery. DistalMotion, based in Switzerland raised $150 million in 2023. The same year, Moon Surgical from France raised $55 million, and in 2024, Italy's Medical Microinstruments picked up $110 million.

CMR Surgical's entry into the U.S. indicates an intent to disrupt the status quo. The competition in surgical robotics is entering a new, more decisive phase, with $200 million in new funding to enable its next stage of growth.

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