Combining AI & MRI: German deep-tech startup Orbem raises €30M led by 83North

German deep tech startup Orbem has raised €30M in its Series A funding round. With this investment, Orbem aims to harness AI to industrialise accessible, cost-effective, and efficient MRI technology.

The investment was led by venture capital firm 83North, with support from new investor La Famiglia and existing investors The Venture Collective, Possible Ventures, and Dr. Rüdiger Schmidt.

Several prominent German entrepreneurs also back Orbem, including Personio co-founders Hanno Renner, Roman Schumacher and Chief Operating Officer Jonas Rieke; former Zalando CEO Rubin Ritter; Forto co-founders Michael Wax, Erik Muttersbach and Chief Operating Officer Dr. Michael Ardelt; Kinexon co-founders Dr. Alexander Hüttenbrink and Dr. Oliver Trinchera; and Bastian Nominacher, Co-CEO and Co-Founder of Celonis.

Combining AI and MRI

Founded in 2019 as a spin-off from the Technical University of Munich, Orbem’s upcoming AI-powered MRI technology is said to be capable of scanning various biological materials and is necessary to reduce human intervention in MRI scanning.

The Series A round takes place following the successful launch of Orbem Genus Focus for in-ovo sexing. This seminal product enables hatcheries to determine the sex of an egg in a completely contactless and non-invasive manner, delivering results in just one second per egg.

With this capability, AI-powered MRI scanning can become more cost-effective, faster, and viable for use in previously untapped markets.

“Our mission is to unleash AI-powered imaging for everything and everyone. We believe this is the best way to carry out our core purpose of shedding light on the world’s toughest challenges,” says Dr. Pedro Gómez, co-founder and CEO of Orbem.

Ensuring compliance

Orbem Genus Focus was launched to eliminate the controversial male chick culling practices, thus ensuring compliance with the latest regulations from France and Germany. 

Orbem’s Genus product can scan biological samples, including food products like eggs and nuts, various plant species, construction materials like timber, and the human body. The tool uses deep learning algorithms to scan and classify biological materials into their respective categories, including eggs, nuts, and more.

Using the technology, the Munich-based company has been successful in cooperating with leading producers in the poultry industry. Thus far, the software company claimed it had scanned over 21 million eggs.

After the success of Genus, with its flagship AI innovation, Orbem is poised to disrupt multiple industries, including agriculture, construction and healthcare.

Through AI-powered MRI, Orbem can assist farmers in breeding resource-efficient and climate-resilient crops. Concurrently, food chain security can be improved thanks to more efficient crop cultivation.

Disrupting industries with AI-powered MRI

Orbem plans to go beyond poultry with its new flagship. In the construction and healthcare sectors, AI-powered MRI can ensure the structural integrity of buildings and the affordability of medical testing for everyone.

The construction industry may benefit from recognising the structural integrity of biodegradable materials, while the healthcare sector can facilitate people to have accessible medical imaging solutions using the technology.

Gil Goren, General Partner at 83North, says, “The era of digitisation, groundbreaking technological innovation, and the AI revolution present a golden opportunity for companies to solve real-world challenges and establish solid independent businesses.”

“Orbem has harnessed AI to industrialise MRI technology, unlocking the potential to revolutionise food production, expedite the transition toward a sustainable economy, and enhance disease detection. It is a great pleasure joining this amazing crew on a journey to a better world,” adds Goren.