Mendaera is a healthcare robotics company building handheld robotic systems that bring robotic precision and AI to mainstream, needle-based medical procedures. Rather than large, room-sized surgical robots confined to specialized operating rooms, Mendaera's approach miniaturizes robotic guidance into a portable, handheld device that clinicians can use in everyday settings. Its flagship product, Focalist, integrates real-time ultrasound imaging with AI and robotic actuation to guide accurate needle placement for procedures that today depend heavily on individual operator skill.
The company was founded by Josh DeFonzo, who serves as CEO, together with co-founders who previously worked at Auris Health, the surgical robotics company acquired by Johnson & Johnson. That background in advanced surgical robotics shapes Mendaera's focus on combining imaging, software intelligence, and precise mechanical control into a single, accessible platform. The goal is to standardize and democratize procedures, reducing variability between expert and less-experienced clinicians.
Focalist targets needle-based interventions such as those used in urology, including percutaneous procedures that require precise navigation toward targets inside the body under ultrasound guidance. By fusing live imaging with robotic guidance and AI, the system is designed to improve first-pass accuracy, reduce procedure time, and broaden which providers and facilities can perform certain interventions safely.
Mendaera closed a $73 million Series B financing led by Threshold Ventures, with participation from Lux Capital, PFM Health Sciences, and surgical robotics pioneer Dr. Fred Moll, founder of Intuitive Surgical and Auris Health. In 2025 the company received FDA 510(k) clearance for its Focalist handheld robotic system and began a limited launch at leading institutions, marking its transition from development toward commercial deployment. Mendaera is positioning handheld robotics as a new category that complements, rather than replaces, traditional large surgical systems.