SBCVC leads $30m round for China healthcare AI firm

It is said to the largest round raised by a Chinese company operating in the medical imaging filed. Other new investors include CDBI Partners and Delian Capital, while existing backers ZhenFund and Matrix Partners China also re-upped. The new funding will be used to expand its AI research team and sales team.

12 Sigma was founded in 2015 by two former Qualcomm employees specializing in deep learning and computer vision technology. Unlike traditional computer-aided diagnostics, the company claims its deep learning system can examine millions of medical images and learn to identify diseases. The technology can also provide insights into areas such as early disease and rare disease detection, treatment planning, and disease monitoring.

Four months ago, 12 Sigma debuted its first product, σ-Discover Lung, for lung disease diagnosis. The company also has three products that are applying for certification from China Food & Drug Administration.

Headquartered in San Diego, 12 Sigma has R&D teams in Beijing and Suzhou. It has partnered with General Electric to jointly develop diagnosis products for tumors and cardiovascular disease. It also cooperates with 50 Chinese hospitals in the areas of medical diagnostics, technology research, and clinical trials.

"Once the technology is widely applied in the medical industry, it could effectively increase diagnosis efficiency by radiologist doctors as well as reduce medical costs," Peter Hua, a managing partner at SBCVC, said in a statement.  

• Tweet  
• Facebook  
• LinkedIn  
• Google plus  
• Save this article  
• Send to  

• Topics
• Greater China
• Healthcare
• Early-stage
• Technology
• China
• TMT
• Softbank China Venture Capital
• Venture
• ZhenFund
• Matrix Partners