Mecuris Secures €3.6M Series A Funding to Advance Custom 3D-Printed Prosthetics

VCBeat (WeChat Official Account: vcbeat) has learned from foreign media that Mecuris, an orthopedic prosthesis manufacturing company based in Munich, Germany, recently completed a €3.6 million (approximately $4.09 million) Series A financing round. The investment was participated in by Bayern Kapital, High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF), Vesalius Biocapital, and Mulcan International Investments. Mecuris will use the funds to continue the development of orthopedic prostheses and plans to enter the European market.

Mecuris is a technology company that leverages 3D printing to create customized prosthetic devices for patients. Spun out of the University Hospital of Munich (LMU), the company is led by CEO and co-founder Manuel Opitz. Previously holding key positions at companies such as Munich Innovation Group and Medability, Opitz now works with a founding team of 12 members to develop automated prosthetic solutions.

According to statistics from the International Society for Prosthetics and Orthotics (ISPO), there are currently approximately 32 million amputees worldwide. In the United States alone, 30,000 to 40,000 new amputations occur each year. In 2005, the number of amputees in the U.S. was approximately 1.6 million; this figure is projected to double by 2050, reaching 3.6 million.

The number of individuals requiring prosthetics is growing steadily, yet professional prosthetic and orthotic institutions remain scarce. Mecuris combines 3D printing with high-performance plastics, enabling physicians to directly customize CE- and ISO-certified medical prostheses or orthoses according to patients’ needs. Currently, Mecuris offers pediatric prostheses, prosthetic feet, prosthetic covers, and other products. Notably, Mecuris’s prosthetic foot is the world’s first and currently only 3D-printed prosthesis to have received CE certification.

Furthermore, the Mecuris platform simplifies prosthetic fabrication into just three straightforward steps: 3D scanning for skeletal remodeling, size adjustment and 3D modeling on the platform, and finally, 3D printing of the complete prosthetic structure. Beyond its streamlined customization process, the Mecuris prosthetic customization platform boasts two other notable advantages. First, Mecuris devices enable adjustments with a laser precision of 0.1 mm, producing prosthetics that perfectly meet patient-specific needs. Second, Mecuris has achieved full digitalization, automating the entire customization process and reducing the time cost from several months in traditional methods to just a few days.

From the wearer’s perspective, these customized 3D-printed devices are not only suitable for activities such as jogging or swimming but also eliminate the need for regular replacement. Recent ISO testing has demonstrated that Mecuris’ 3D-printed prostheses can withstand loads of up to 6,000 N. It is anticipated that 3D printing will be widely adopted in the custom prosthetics industry over the next five years.

Mecuris was founded on May 30, 2016, and completed its seed funding round on November 21 of the same year; however, the investors and the amount raised were not disclosed.

Bayern Kapital GmbH, established in 1995, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of LfA Foerderbank Bayern (Bavarian Development Bank). Bayern Kapital funds the development of new products by its portfolio companies and assists them in market expansion. The firm primarily invests in sectors such as life sciences and environmental technology. To date, it has invested in more than 250 companies and manages assets totaling €340 million.

Bayern Kapital manages five investment funds: Seedfonds Bayern, Clusterfonds Start-Up, Innovationsfonds, Innovationsfonds EFRE, and Wachstumsfonds Bayern.

High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF), established in 2005, is a venture capital firm specializing in early-stage investments. The firm primarily invests in sectors such as internet media, energy, automation, and life sciences, with a commitment to driving the success of high-tech startups. HTGF manages three investment funds, with assets under management of €272 million, €304 million, and €316.5 million, respectively, and has provided financial support to 500 startups.

Vesalius Biocapital, established in 2007, is a mid-sized venture capital fund based in Luxembourg. The firm primarily invests in the biomedical technology sector, with a focus on early- and mid-stage biotechnology companies located in Europe. It manages three funds and has contributed to the development of more than twenty portfolio companies.

Mulcan International Investments is an international investment firm based in Munich, Germany. The company primarily invests in the European manufacturing, industrial, and service sectors, providing up to $1 million in funding per company. In addition to capital, Mulcan shares relevant expertise with its portfolio companies to foster their growth and help them realize their full potential.