Copyright TechStartups.com
The promise of surgery without borders is getting closer to reality. Sovato, a Santa Barbara–based healthtech startup helping hospitals implement and scale remote robotic surgery programs, has raised $41 million in Series B funding to push its vision forward. The round was led by growth-stage venture capital firm Beringea, with strong follow-on investments from existing backers including Polaris Partners, Intuitive, GS Ventures, Laerdal Million Lives Fund, Puma Venture Capital, and Teladoc Health. The new capital will help Sovato accelerate development of its platform and strengthen partnerships with surgical robotics companies, healthcare providers, and other collaborators in the ecosystem. Sovato: A New Vision from Surgical Robotics Pioneer Yulun Wang Sovato sits at the intersection of robotics, healthcare, and access. Its system-agnostic platform can remote-enable any surgical, interventional, or diagnostic robotic system, allowing physicians to perform procedures from hundreds—or even thousands—of miles away. As the global robotic surgery market grows at more than 12% annually through 2030, Sovato is positioning itself as the infrastructure layer that can make remote surgery practical at scale. “Over half the world’s population lacks access to timely, safe surgical care, and in the U.S., millions are still forced to travel for routine procedures—a challenge that will only grow as surgeon shortages intensify,” said Cynthia Perazzo, Co-Founder and CEO of Sovato. “Remote robotic surgery and procedure programs provide healthcare organizations with a practical way to extend the reach and impact of skilled surgeons, care teams, and operating rooms—enabling a more sustainable and accessible model of care.” The company has already integrated with leading robotic systems and has proven the safety and feasibility of remote operations in preclinical cases conducted across vast distances in the U.S. and internationally. These trials showcased the ability to extend expert surgical care from centralized hubs to remote facilities, creating a model that could redefine how surgical expertise is distributed. “With this Series B funding and three years of proven momentum, Sovato is well-positioned to scale the only platform creating the market for remote surgery and procedure programs,” said Michael Gross, Beringea Managing Partner and Sovato board director. “Co-Founders Dr. Yulun Wang, whose innovations have shaped the surgical robotics industry, and Cynthia Perazzo, along with the entire Sovato team, bring the leadership and bold vision to redefine surgical access and healthcare economics.” Sovato is now working with healthcare leaders and robotics organizations to establish clinical, operational, and technical guidelines for remote robotic procedures. The goal is to ensure safe and scalable adoption of telesurgery worldwide—a shift that could dramatically change how healthcare systems deliver care and manage surgical capacity. The company’s mission is simple yet ambitious: to make the highest quality surgical care accessible to everyone, everywhere. Founded by Perazzo and Yulun Wang, PhD—who previously founded Computer Motion (which merged with Intuitive Surgical) and InTouch Health (acquired by Teladoc Health)—Sovato is building the foundation for a future where distance is no longer a barrier to surgical expertise.
