The London Institute for Healthcare Engineering (LIHE) is delighted to congratulate XRlabs, one of our resident ventures, on securing $8.4 million (£6.3 million) in seed funding led by Playground Global, with participation from Eka Ventures.
The investment will support the continued development and deployment of XRlabs' Surgical Intelligence platform, which brings real-time artificial intelligence into the operating room to enhance visualisation, awareness and workflow while preserving the clinical systems already in use.
Founded by neurosurgeon Dr Ali Haddad, XRlabs is developing device-agnostic software that integrates with existing surgical technologies, using computer vision and AI to enhance what surgeons see and how they work during procedures. The company's technology has already been used in more than 100 surgical cases across three continents and has achieved a series of landmark milestones.
Two years ago, LIHE welcomed XRlabs into our community because of its vision to transform surgery by harnessing the power of advanced imaging, AI and extended reality technologies. Since then, the company has gone from strength to strength, growing its team, advancing its technology and establishing itself as a venture-backed MedTech company.
“Thrilled to call LIHE our home, a place that welcomed me as a solo founder when XRlabs was still just a dream. Since then our team has grown within LIHE, along with our ambitions, and it has been the birthplace of our inventions and world firsts, from the AI planning that supported the separation of conjoined twins to the first-in-human use of physical AI in cranial neurosurgery. What excites me most is that our latest investors and partners, Playground Global, are now joining us in this ecosystem. As we grow internationally, LIHE will remain the heartbeat of XRlabs.”
Dr Ali Haddad, Founder, XRlabs
As part of our commitment to help promising innovations reach patients faster, we have worked closely with XRlabs, connecting the company with King's College London research expertise, introducing potential collaborators and partners, supporting team growth and championing the company across our networks and events.
The funding announcement also marks another significant milestone for XRlabs, with renowned healthcare and technology leader Omar Ishrak joining the company as Chair of its Board of Directors. As former Chairman and CEO of Medtronic and former Chair of Intel, Dr Ishrak brings decades of global leadership experience in healthcare technology and innovation.
Importantly, the investment also further strengthens the innovation ecosystem building around LIHE. Playground Global have chosen to establish their UK office within LIHE to be part of its vibrant venture pool, bringing additional transatlantic deeptech expertise and connections into the community, reflecting the collaborative environment that helped make XRlab’s funding possible.
"Ali's success is exactly why LIHE exists. We backed XRlabs early because we believed in the vision and the team's potential to transform surgery through innovation. Over the past two years, we've been proud to support that journey through access to expertise, connections and collaboration across King's and our wider network. This investment is a testament to what Ali and the XRlabs team have achieved, and a powerful example of how bringing together entrepreneurs, researchers, clinicians, investors and industry partners can accelerate clinical innovations. We are excited to continue supporting their mission to improve surgery for patients worldwide."
Professor Sebastien Ourselin FREng FMedSci, Director, London Institute for Healthcare Engineering
One of LIHE's core principles is that the best healthcare innovations emerge when the right people, expertise and organisations come together around a shared mission. XRlabs is a powerful example of this principle in action. This achievement is a clear testament to Ali and the XRlabs team’s vision, and LIHE is proud that our collaborative ecosystem has played a small part in their success.