Empo Health has announced the commercialisation of its groundbreaking remote diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) management system, following a successful $7m fundraising round.
The funding was led by Story Ventures with participation from VTC Ventures, along with existing investors Ulu Ventures, SeaX Ventures, Arben Ventures, and Gaingels.
It aims to support the market launch of Empo’s at-home monitoring system, designed to prevent diabetic amputations and reduce healthcare costs for high-risk patients.
The advanced DFU system, prescribed by physicians, targets patients with neuropathy who have lost protective sensation in their feet.
It combines the FDA-listed Empo Footprint imaging scale with the HIPAA-compliant Empo Remote Health Link service, allowing regular at-home monitoring.
Patients step on the scale to generate a full-colour visual image of their feet, which is automatically sent to their care team for early detection of potential issues.
Empo Health co-founder and chief product officer Eric Dahlseng said: “The Empo Footprint is designed from the ground up to be approachable and simple for the patient, taking only a few seconds for the entire interaction.
“Our Empo Remote Health Link service displays full-colour visual images that providers already know how to interpret, shared at the right time so they can remotely determine an appropriate course of action.”
SeaX Ventures founder and managing partner Kid Parchariyanon said: “We’re excited to invest in Empo because they’re solving an important problem with empathy, precision, and purpose.
“At SeaX, we exist to back mission-driven founders who are using science and technology to create real-world impact, especially in healthcare. Empo’s work is a powerful example of that.”
Founded in 2020 by MIT-and-Stanford-trained technical experts, Empo Health is based in the San Francisco Bay Area.
The company’s pilot study showed near-daily patient engagement, successfully detecting early indications of ulcers in 50% of participants.
The proactive approach enables timely intervention by healthcare providers, potentially reducing the risk of severe complications.
The funding also saw the addition of three new members to Empo’s Board of Directors, including Brian Yormak from Story Ventures, Steve Reale from Ulu Ventures, and Partha Ray.
Story Ventures Managing Partner Brian Yormak said: “Empo represents a critical change in the technology landscape. Connected hardware enables proprietary software informed by real-world data.
“Through Empo’s Footprint connected scale, the company is improving outcomes and care for millions of people with diabetes at risk of foot ulcers and amputations. We’re incredibly excited to support the company as they go to market.”
VTC Ventures Managing Director James Ramey said: “We’re thrilled to invest in Empo Health, an innovative company transforming healthcare with cutting-edge in-home monitoring solutions.
“Empo has been collaborating with Carilion, will continue to develop its technology here, and is soon initiating a study with our patients and providers.”
