SquareMind secures $18 million for AI dermatology robotics platform

SquareMind's Swan platform leverages AI and robotics to generate structured data for mapping, tracking, and identifying skin lesions. | Credit: SquareMind

With dermatologists facing unprecedented patient volumes and extensive waitlists, SquareMind aims to automate skin cancer detection's front line, backed by a new $18 million investment. The company's Swan robotic platform employs artificial intelligence to perform rapid, full-body dermoscopic imaging. It provides physicians with the structured data necessary to track and identify potentially lethal melanomas more efficiently than traditional manual examinations.

The funding round was led by Sonder Capital, a venture fund co-founded by medical robotics pioneer and Intuitive Surgical founder Fred Moll. Participation came 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 expansion of the company's commercial, engineering, and customer support teams. This prepares for a near-term commercial launch of the Swan robotic skin imaging platform in the U.S. and Europe, where demand for comprehensive skin exams is high and continues to grow.

Skin screening is the highest-volume procedure in dermatology, and demand consistently outpaces capacity. This is driven by a rapidly aging population with increasing skin health concerns, resulting in waitlists that stretch for months. Time constraints often limit thorough documentation, which is critical for early detection since 80% of melanomas—a lethal form of skin cancer—arise from new lesions.

“We are excited to partner with Sonder Capital and all our investors as we prepare to bring Swan to market and respond to the strong traction we are seeing from practices and hospitals,” said Ali Khachlouf, co-founder and CEO of SquareMind. “Dermatologists are operating under increasing pressure, facing significant 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.”

SquareMind designs systems to support dermatologists at scale

Developed in collaboration with leading dermatologists, SquareMind states that Swan is the world's first robot capable of capturing standardized, full-body dermoscopic skin imaging. It functions as an augmented dermatoscope, providing a view of the entire skin surface at a level of detail typically only achieved when examining individual moles up close.

Image acquisition is fully automated, completed in just minutes, and seamlessly integrates into clinical workflows. Swan is paired with AI-powered software that assists in reviewing skin images to help track new or changing moles over time, while physicians retain full authority over clinical judgment.

Swan offers a contactless experience

In a private exam room, the patient stands before the Swan robot. Guided by visual and audio prompts, the robotic arm moves smoothly around them, capturing images of their skin. The session is brief and completely contactless, ensuring a comfortable patient experience, according to SquareMind.

“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.”