SquareMind raises $18M to launch AI-powered skin exam robot in U.S. and Europe

Skin checks are among the most common procedures in dermatology, yet access is worsening. Clinics are booked out for months, doctors are under pressure, and early signs can slip through when time is short. SquareMind thinks it can change that with a robot.

The Paris-based startup has raised $18 million, including previously undisclosed pre-Series A funding, to bring its AI-powered skin imaging system to market. The round was led by Sonder Capital, a California fund co-founded by Fred Moll, best known as the founder of Intuitive Surgical. Backers include the Deeptech 2030 Fund, managed by Bpifrance on behalf of the French government, as well as Adamed Technology, Calm/Storm Ventures, Teampact Ventures, and a group of entrepreneurs.

The capital will go toward hiring across engineering, commercial, and support teams ahead of a planned rollout of Swan, the company’s robotic skin imaging platform, in the United States and Europe.

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The pitch is simple. Skin screening volume continues to climb, driven by an aging population and growing awareness of skin health. Clinics can’t keep up. At the same time, early detection relies on careful documentation over time. About 80% of melanomas present as new lesions, making it critical to track changes.

SquareMind’s answer is automation at the front end of the exam.

Swan is built to capture standardized, full-body dermoscopic images in minutes. In a private room, a patient stands still as the robotic arm moves around them, guided by visual and audio prompts. The process is contactless and quick. What used to rely on manual checks and fragmented notes becomes a consistent, repeatable scan.

SquareMind’s Swan skin imaging robot [Photo courtesy of SquareMind]

“We are excited to partner with Sonder Capital and all our investors as we ready ourselves 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 strong 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.”

Investors are betting that this kind of system could become part of routine care.

“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.”

SquareMind has been working closely with dermatologists during development, shaping the product around real clinical workflows rather than adding friction. The company says Swan™ is already FDA-listed and CE-marked, clearing the path for commercial use across its initial markets.

What happens next depends on adoption. Clinics will need to trust the system, integrate it into daily routines, and see clear gains in efficiency and outcomes. If that happens, a process that hasn’t changed much in decades could look very different in a few years.

For now, SquareMind is stepping into a widening gap: more patients, limited time, and a growing need for better visibility across the skin.