bm|t and TGFS invest a seven-figure amount in TEDIRO Healthcare Robotics GmbH 

bm|t and TGFS Technologiegründerfonds Sachsen have invested a seven-figure amount in the Saxon-Thuringian medical robotics start-up TEDIRO Healthcare Robotics GmbH as part of an extended seed financing round. Other investors in this financing round include a business angel and the medium-sized robotics manufacturer MetraLabs GmbH Neue Technologien und Systeme, from which TEDIRO was spun off.

The idea for the robot was originally developed at Waldkliniken Eisenberg – one of the largest orthopaedic hospitals in Germany – in collaboration with the Department of Orthopaedics at the University Hospital of Jena, Ilmenau University of Technology (Chair of Neuroinformatics and Cognitive Robotics) and MetraLabs. The team behind TEDIRO, which consists mainly of software developers, artificial intelligence experts and robotics specialists, has spent the last few years developing the demonstrator into a medical device and establishing the necessary business processes. TEDIRO uses MetraLabs’ platforms for the robot hardware and navigation and focuses on the development of medical applications and system integration. The robot is currently undergoing final testing by a medical technology testing laboratory. TEDIRO is pioneering the market launch of the first mobile robot for various therapeutic applications that complies with the new EU Medical Device Regulation (MDR).

“Our robot THERY helps medical and therapeutic staff to improve the mobility of patients, regardless of the presence of staff,” explains TEDIRO founder Anke Mayfarth. ”As a physiotherapist, I have always wanted a robot that could take over repetitive tasks. This vision is now coming true.”

With the funds from the financing round, TEDIRO will soon launch the robot as a medical device and implement test installations in various clinics. In the future, the robot will cover a wide range of other applications – from orthopaedics to neurology and geriatrics. TEDIRO will also develop these applications together with partners in order to position the robot as an innovative therapy platform in the market.

Olaf Jedersberger, also an investor in TEDIRO, emphasizes: “A highly forward-looking solution to the pronounced shortage of skilled workers in the healthcare sector. As COO of Helios, I was looking for such solutions years ago – and here it is.” The magnitude of the shortage of skilled workers has also surprised the founding team: “Since we founded TEDIRO, the number of open therapist positions in clinics has continued to rise,” explains co-founder Dr. Christian Sternitzke. And he continues: “It is almost impossible to find a clinic where a significant proportion of the therapist positions are not vacant.”

Sören Schuster, Managing Director of TGFS, adds: “With our investment in TEDIRO Healthcare Robotics GmbH, we are supporting a technological milestone in healthcare. The combination of advanced robotics and therapy software in the mobile robot platform THERY has the potential to revolutionize therapy. We are proud to accompany the innovative TEDIRO team on its way to becoming an integral part of the field of medical robotics. We are also pleased to be able to realize another investment together with bm|t.”

Kevin Reeder, Managing Director of bm|t: ”With the THERY therapy robot, the young company is bringing an innovative assistant to hospitals and rehabilitation clinics that will support specialist staff in performing routine tasks. The experienced founding team convinced us from the outset with its technical solution for the social challenge of the shortage of skilled workers that lies ahead of us. We are pleased that the robots are being built in Thuringia and that we are part of the financing consortium of TEDIRO.”