91360, a Digital Pathology and AI Platform, Secures Tens of Millions in New Funding to Accelerate Smart Pathology Ecosystem Development
VCBeat has learned that 91360 Medical Technology (Nanjing) Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as “91360”), a company specializing in the development of “digital pathology + AI,” recently announced the completion of a new round of financing amounting to tens of millions of RMB, led by Qianzhao Fund. It is understood that this round of funding will be primarily used for product research and development, optimization and upgrading of the product chain, and in-depth exploration of data value. The company will accelerate the application of artificial intelligence and digitalization in the field of pathology and intensify its efforts to build an intelligent pathology ecosystem.
Qianzhao Capital, the lead investor in this funding round, is a fund specializing in the pathology sector. In recent years, its affiliated funds have completed nearly RMB 2 billion in investments within the IVD (In Vitro Diagnostics) field. The successful closure of this new financing round reflects the capital market’s attention to the future of the pathology industry and its recognition of 91360’s technical strength and commercialization capabilities. Furthermore, since receiving angel investment from Lu Jianfeng and Hong Haiyang in May 2015, 91360 has subsequently secured cumulative investments amounting to tens of millions of RMB from institutional investors including Wali Investment, Huituo Investment, and Dingcui Fund.
Established in 2012 and officially launched as a project in 2015, 91360 has been committed to anticipating future trends in the pathology industry. Centering on “Digital Pathology + AI,” it builds an information technology platform to establish a streamlined, scientific, and standardized operational system for pathology departments. With a user-centric approach, it rapidly responds to user and market demands, delivering timely, comprehensive, professional, and intelligent solutions.
Hu Zhaoming, Partner at Qianzhao Fund, stated that in recent years, artificial intelligence (AI) and smart medicine have become hot topics within the medical community and society at large. Pathology has entered the era of digital pathology, and “digital pathology + AI” has become a widely recognized industry trend. We are bullish on the future blue ocean of smart pathology. Especially in the post-pandemic era, the value of companies that support remote work, enhance internal operational efficiency, and facilitate information sharing has become increasingly prominent. As a pioneer of smart pathology in China, 91360 benefits from its core team’s extensive industry experience and strong resource integration capabilities, giving it a competitive edge in both professional expertise and commercial operations.
Mr. Zhang Guozheng, one of the investors in this round, brings extensive experience in investment and management, having previously served as Senior Vice President of Fosun Pharma and Chairman of Debon Securities. He believes that China’s economy has transitioned toward consumer services and technological innovation, and that investment focus should be directed toward mass consumption, healthcare, and advanced technology. As a leader deeply entrenched in the specialized niche of “digital pathology + AI,” 91360 is poised to garner greater favor from the capital markets.
Di Feng, founder of 91360, pointed out that against the backdrop of intensifying uncertainty in the global market, all investment institutions have become more cautious and stringent than ever before, preferring to seek opportunities with greater certainty. Qianzhao Fund’s lead investment in this round signifies strong recognition and trust in 91360, which will also serve as momentum for the team’s continued advancement.
Pathology has always been the “gold standard” in the medical field. However, pathological diagnosis in China currently faces challenges such as uneven distribution of medical resources, a severe shortage of pathologists, and varying levels of professional competency. The emergence of digital pathology combined with AI can effectively reduce resource waste in pathological diagnosis, improve its quality and efficiency, and alleviate the developmental bottlenecks in this field.
Faced with the enormous potential of the application market for digital pathology plus AI, companies across the upstream, midstream, and downstream sectors—including internet giants, medical device manufacturers, medical imaging analysis software platforms, and third-party testing platforms—are actively investing in the “digital pathology + AI” industry.
Di Feng told VCBeat that although digital pathology has improved the efficiency of traditional pathological diagnosis to some extent, the clinical application of this technology is still in a relatively early stage, with a series of challenges yet to be addressed.
On one hand, the lack of unified standards for digital pathology equipment among different manufacturers, coupled with varying standards for pathological slide preparation across medical institutions, has increased the difficulty of breaking down data barriers for pathological slides from diverse sources. On the other hand, many traditional pathology departments still need to undergo digital upgrades, which involve substantial investment in infrastructure, thereby imposing a significant cost burden, particularly on primary healthcare institutions. “It is necessary to adopt more intelligent approaches to enhance the efficiency of digital pathology applications,” said Di Feng.
91360 continues to leverage its competitive advantages to stand out, creating a smart pathology digital solution comprising an end-to-end informatics solution for smart pathology, a telepathology consultation solution, and an AI-powered pathology solution, thereby empowering the development of smart pathology.
Specifically, 91360’s comprehensive informatics solution for pathology workflows highlights the creation of paperless pathology departments, full-track sample status monitoring, and end-to-end coverage of pathological processes, thereby fully supporting the daily operations of pathology departments. The AI-powered pathology solution, jointly developed by teams from China, Japan, and the United States, further empowers the development of smart pathology departments by providing efficient and precise assistance in pathological diagnosis. Leveraging the 91360 Pathologist Group and its domestic and international partners, the 91360 Digital Pathology Consultation Platform provides remote pathology consultation services to medical institutions in China, including remote consultations for complex and challenging cases with international experts.
Since the remote pathology consultation solution served its first case in 2015, it has not only effectively alleviated the uneven distribution of medical resources in China but also fostered international collaboration with institutions such as Brigham and Women’s Hospital (affiliated with Harvard Medical School), Tokyo Medical University, and the Japanese Gastrointestinal Hospital. This initiative has facilitated international exchanges in pathology consultations and significantly enhanced the diagnostic and therapeutic capabilities of pathology departments.
Di Feng told VCBeat that the 91360 team adheres to the core philosophy of “empowering high-quality development in pathology through innovation.” While emphasizing product R&D, technology, and quality, the company is committed to building a new ecosystem for smart pathology through innovative services. It has established an online-to-offline resource matching platform to comprehensively drive the transformation and upgrading of pathology, and collaborates with intelligent products to create a complete ecosystem chain for smart pathology.
Regarding future development plans, Di Feng stated that 91360 will continue to prioritize the optimization of its ecosystem. With AI as the core and informatization as the focus, the company aims to provide comprehensive smart pathology solutions across the entire value chain through standardization, intelligence, and digitalization. By integrating “digital solutions + pathology expert services + hardware infrastructure + reagent and consumable production + supply chain transformation,” 91360 is building a complete industrial chain layout for the smart pathology sector, thereby facilitating the advancement of pathology toward greater intelligence in the future.