SquareMind Raises $18M to Automate Skin Cancer Detection
SquareMind's Swan robotic platform uses AI and robotics to generate structured data for skin lesion mapping, tracking, and identification, helping dermatologists detect skin cancer more efficiently.

Dermatologists are facing unprecedented challenges with record-high patient volumes and months-long waitlists, but a new $18 million investment in SquareMind aims to revolutionize the front lines of skin cancer detection. The company's Swan robotic platform leverages artificial intelligence to perform rapid, full-body dermoscopic imaging, providing physicians with the structured data needed to track and identify potentially lethal melanomas more efficiently than traditional manual exams. The funding round was led by Sonder Capital, a venture fund co-founded by medical robotics pioneer and Intuitive Surgical founder Fred Moll, with participation from the Deeptech 2030 Fund, managed on behalf of the French government by a Bpifrance initiative, Adamed Technology, Calm/Storm Ventures, Teampact Ventures, and several prominent entrepreneurs.
The investment will support the growth of SquareMind's commercial, engineering, and customer support teams in preparation for a near-term commercial launch of the Swan robotic skin imaging platform in the U.S. and Europe, where demand for skin exams is high and rising. Skin screening is the No.
1 volume procedure in dermatology, and demand continues to outpace capacity due to a rapidly aging population concerned with skin care, resulting in waitlists that stretch months. Time constraints leave little room for thorough documentation, which is crucial for early detection, as 80% of melanomas — a lethal skin cancer — are new lesions. SquareMind's Swan platform acts as a companion to dermatologists, helping to reduce their burden, optimize their time, and support comprehensive documentation so they can stay focused on patient care and clinical decision-making.
According to Ali Khachlouf, co-founder and CEO of SquareMind, "Dermatologists are operating under increasing pressure, facing strong cognitive load and fatigue. Our technology acts as their companion, helping to reduce this burden, optimize their time, and support comprehensive documentation so they can stay focused on patient care and clinical decision-making." Developed in collaboration with leading dermatologists, SquareMind's Swan is the world's first robot to capture standardized, full-body dermoscopic skin imaging. The platform integrates into clinical workflows, and the image acquisition process is automated, completed in just minutes.
The robotic arm moves around the patient, capturing images of their skin in a short and contactless session, ensuring a comfortable patient experience. "We fundamentally believe that advances in AI and medical robotics will reshape medical practice by automating routine procedures, optimizing clinical time, and expanding access to high-quality care," said Kate Garrett, managing partner at Sonder Capital. "SquareMind has developed a truly unique platform that has the potential to become the global standard of care in modern dermatology."
Source: The Robot Report