TDK Ventures is investing in Exo (pronounced “Echo”), an ultrasound imaging specialist.

Exo produces handheld ultrasound devices to help medics triage, diagnose and treat patients at the point-of-care by delivering imaging for the cost of a smartphone.

Exo calls its technology Piezoelectric Micromachined Ultrasonic Transducer (pMUT). It leverages advances in nano-materials, signal processing, sensor fusion, AI and IC manufacturing.

Exo aims to solve chronic issues within hospitals and clinics, such as the lack of interoperability and cumbersome documentation that takes up physician time.

“Nearly 75 percent of the world’s population has no access to medical imaging due to existing systems’ exorbitant costs, need for immense power and complexity to operate,” says Exo CEO Sandeep Akkaraju, “we formed Exo to make imaging available to every nurse, doctor and medic, no matter their location.”

Exo came out of stealth mode in 2019 with Intel Capital leading their Series B round.

The founders, Sandeep Akkaraju, CEO; Janusz Bryzek, Ph.D., chairman and chief visionary officer; Yusuf Haque, Ph.D., chief technology officer and senior vice president of engineering; and John Kokulis, chief financial officer, have nearly 20 startups among them.