Olympus Innovation Ventures: Charting the Course for Medtech Breakthroughs in 2026 and Beyond
If you’re someone who marks milestones, you may recognize the significance of this point in time: The first quarter of the 21st century is now behind us. As we look ahead, especially in the dynamic field of medtech, the question becomes—what advances will define the next era? Through the lens of Olympus Innovation Ventures (OIV), the venture capital arm of Olympus Corporation, we look at the solid four-year runway of startup investments with an eye toward an ambitious 10-year course of $150 million in phase-two funding, announced on December 15, 2025.
Why Venture Into Investing?
Digital health and life science companies are no strangers to venture capital funding. The corporate venture capital trend to invest in medical innovation is a means to drive competitive advantage. In addition to the financing, startups benefit from mentorship and exposure opportunities as they navigate regulatory, research, and other related challenges.1,2
Olympus OIV launched in November 2021 with $50 million and the promise of follow-on investments. “Since its launch, OIV has made nine investments in startups developing breakthrough technologies—everything from AI workflow solutions to medical imaging agents for cancer detection,” said Abigail Hunter-Syed, Head of OIV. “We’ve also evaluated a large number of opportunities and built strong ties with entrepreneurs, clinicians, and co-investors.”
A Deeper Dive on Some OIV Portfolios
Examples of the first round of OIV investments include:
- Series A2 funding for Alimetry’s AI-powered wearable device for gut disorders (read more);
- Series B funding for Eximis Surgical’s small incision surgical technology to remove specimens (read more);
- Series C funding for On Target Laboratories’ IV imaging agent to highlight cancer cells (read more); and
- Series D funding for Neuspera Medical’s implantable device to address urinary incontinence symptoms (read more)
Abigail Hunter-Syed, head of Olympus OIV, discusses the next phase of medtech funding.
Note that the ‘A through D’ funding designation relates to the stage of development, with A representing the earliest stage of investment.
Olympus OIV as a Startup
Reputation building was a central challenge in the early days of Olympus OIV. Despite Olympus Corp. having a 100-year legacy, its VC arm was a startup, noted Hunter-Syed. “You have no track record; you have no reputation in this space. As we know, this is a people game at the end of the day... getting it off the ground and finding those entrepreneurs who are willing to take just as much of a risk on us as we’re willing to take on them ... was really fun, and hard, and at the same time just as incredibly rewarding,” Hunter-Syed said in an interview posted on Instagram in January.
In addition to reputation building, Hunter-Syed emphasized the need for speed, balanced with due diligence. She acknowledged the challenges of navigating regulatory complexity inherent in medtech.
OIV Forecast
Based on these learnings, the search for new portfolios begins. “With an additional commitment to corporate venture capital, we will continue to make investments in startup teams who are building unique solutions in endoscopy-enabled care,” said Gabriela Kaynor, Executive Officer and Chief Strategy Officer at Olympus and Chair of the OIV Investment Committee. “OIV investments help accelerate our progress toward developing the endosuite of the future with capabilities for early detection, diagnosis, and advanced therapies powered by AI, robotics, and beyond.”
Olympus remains focused on gastroenterology, respiratory, and urology, the three key specialties announced in its 2019 corporate strategy. According to Hunter-Syed, future investment will also align with Olympus’ recent corporate strategy announced on November 11, 2025.
“The strategy calls for innovation-driven growth and expansion into faster-growing segments,” noted Hunter-Syed. “OIV is one of the mechanisms to do that: We can help shape the vision for the future of endoscopy by building a pipeline of M&A opportunities and partnerships in close adjacencies.”
Echoing Kaynor’s vision, Hunter-Syed said that leveraging these partnerships can move the needle toward implementing AI, robotics, next-generation imaging, and digital platforms into the care pathway earlier; thereby strengthening Olympus’ leadership in minimally invasive, endoscopy-enabled care, she stressed.
Around the Globe
As part of its strategy, Olympus will implement a global organizational transformation to align structure and resources with its strategic priorities. This also aligns with OIV’s global reach. According to Hunter-Syed, while many investments are U.S.-based, OIV prioritizes companies worldwide, pursuing solutions that can scale across markets and meet global healthcare needs.
More than Capital
What hasn’t changed is the “stage-agnostic” approach to portfolio investing, from early to growth stage, according to Hunter-Syed. And OIV’s approach is hands-on in early-stage or seed investments, according to Townsend Goddard, Senior Vice President of Business Development. The fund ensures that startups receive strategic guidance, access to Olympus’ vast clinical network, and practical help navigating regulatory requirements and distribution channels. “We focus on nurturing promising technologies early, knowing that meaningful results take time,” he said. “Success means building a strong pipeline of innovation to support Olympus’ future growth and leadership.”
Cerity Partners Ventures is currently managing the Olympus venture fund. “We are excited to continue working with Cerity Partners to operate this fund,” noted Hunter-Syed. Cerity plans to work closely with senior executives of Olympus in all aspects of operating the fund.
References
1. MassivelyBetterHealthcare.com. An Overview and Directory of Corporate Venture Capital (CVC) in Healthcare. Accessed January 22, 2026.
2. Excedr.com. Guide to the Lifesciences Venture Capital Ecosystem. May 30, 2025. Accessed January 23, 2026.
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