Maximum Fidelity Surgical Nets $2.25M for New Simulation Center

Maximum Fidelity Surgical Simulations (MaxFi) has attracted $2.25 million in a seed funding round led by investors St. Louis Arch Angels, BioGenerator Ventures and Missouri Technology Corporation (MTC).
 
“The learning experiences MaxFi provides that empower medical professionals to optimize patient outcomes and inventors to innovate safely and efficiently drove our decision to invest,” St. Louis Arch Angels President Brian Kinman said. “We are confident MaxFi will grow into a substantial business that will advance St. Louis’ reputation as a leader in healthcare.”

Founded 10 years ago by Joss Fernandez, M.D., in Columbia, Mo., MaxFi’s patented and proprietary cadaver perfusion system enables cadavers to bleed, breathe, and handle like live patients. Healthcare professionals and military medical personnel can use MaxFi surgical simulations to gain realistic operating room and trauma care experience. Medical device manufacturers also partner with MaxFi to safely and cost effectively conduct research and test new products in a lifelike environment. Current customers include Johnson & Johnson, Washington University in St. Louis, and Safeguard Medical.

“The completion of this seed funding round is a significant milestone that validates our efforts and vision and marks a crucial step toward commercialization,” Fernandez stated. “We believe we have developed a viable, sustainable and accurate solution to meet the pressing need for realistic training for physicians, military personnel and medical device developers.”

The capital raised will be used to build a medical device development and surgical simulation center in St. Louis. Equipped with state-of-the-art labs, meeting spaces, lecture rooms and more, the center will be the only one in the world focused on providing lifelike cadavers to ensure clients experience the most realistic surgical scenarios, according to the company. The funds will also support the addition of full-time employees, the development and launch of new technology, and expansion to new markets.

“We are grateful for our investors, who are enabling us to meet the increasing demand for our simulations and scale our operations to new heights,” MaxFi CEO Bob Mills commented. “Most importantly, they are supporting our efforts to make discoveries that save lives and move the practice of medicine forward.”
 
“BioGenerator invested in MaxFi because we believe their unique surgical simulation services have demonstrated strong market demand, bolstered by a proven leadership team and a clearly articulated operational plan,” BioGenerator Managing Director Crystal Winkeler said.
 
“MTC is excited to add MaxFi to our IDEA Fund portfolio after closing an investment in the company from our IDEA Fund through the Seed Capital Program,” MTC Executive Director Jack Scatizzi concluded. “MTC is committed to supporting early-stage high-growth potential companies with equity-based funding through our state-sponsored venture capital program in alignment with our mission of catalyzing innovation and entrepreneurship for an economic development impact in Missouri.”
 
Maximum Fidelity Surgical Simulations (MaxFi) offers perfused cadavers that precisely simulate physiological conditions such as heartbeat, blood pressure and the ability to replicate bleeding and clotting scenarios. MaxFi’s technology ensures a highly realistic experience, empowering researchers, educators and medical device companies to enhance patient care and innovate new medical devices.