Can primary care physicians capture diagnostic-quality heart imaging? One company says yes.

Device would allow primary care physicians to capture diagnostic-quality heart imaging: ©Natalie_Mis - stock.adobe.com

DESKi, a healthtech company focused on AI-powered diagnostics, announced it has raised $6 million in seed funding to support the U.S. and international launch of its FDA-approved cardiac imaging software, HeartFocus.

DESKi says the capital will help bring its software to more clinicians, particularly in underserved areas with limited access to cardiac imaging specialists.

“This funding moves us one step closer to a world where early heart disease detection is possible at any point of care,” said Bertrand Moal, MD, PhD, CEO and co-founder of DESKi. “It allows us to continue improving HeartFocus and ensures that more providers can access the tools they need to deliver life-saving diagnoses.”

HeartFocus recently received FDA clearance, along with a Predetermined Change Control Plan (PCCP) that allows DESKi to more easily upgrade the software over time. Clinical studies have shown the AI-guided system enables first-time users to capture diagnostic-quality heart images after just a few hours of training.

The funding round was led by Racine², a fund managed by Serena and Makesense, and included participation from BNP Paribas Développement, Épopée Gestion, Good Only Ventures, Better Angle, and NACO.

“With HeartFocus, DESKi is tackling one of the most urgent challenges in health care: How to make life-saving diagnostics available far beyond the walls of a hospital,” said Léa Zaslavsky, Partner at Racine².

AI and accessibility: The next frontier in cardiac imaging

The launch of DESKi’s HeartFocus comes amid a broader wave of innovation in cardiac imaging and diagnostics, as AI tools continue to reshape the landscape of early detection and disease management. Traditional echocardiography has long required specialized training and equipment, limiting its use to hospital settings and urban centers. However, emerging technologies aim to shift cardiac diagnostics to the point of care — even in rural or resource-limited clinics.

HeartFocus joins a growing list of AI-powered solutions aimed at augmenting non-specialists’ ability to detect heart disease. The system provides real-time guidance to help users position ultrasound probes correctly, enabling faster and more accurate image acquisition. Other companies in the space have also received regulatory clearance for AI-enabled cardiac imaging tools, and partnerships with major device manufacturers are expanding their reach.

One of the key advancements in this space is the FDA’s approval of PCCPs, which allow developers to make pre-approved changes to their algorithms over time. This regulatory flexibility enables AI tools like HeartFocus to evolve based on new data and clinical needs without lengthy re-approval processes.

Access remains a pressing issue: according to the CDC, cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S., and delays in diagnosis can have serious consequences. By making echocardiography more accessible, companies like DESKi are helping to address disparities in care and offering new hope for early intervention.