The Blue Box Biomedical Solutions, a medical technology startup developing a revolutionary AI-powered urine-based breast cancer screening test, has secured €3 million in funding to advance its clinical trial phase and obtain CE marking by the end of 2026.
The round is led by Unconventional Ventures, an impact fund based in the Nordics focused on supporting diverse founders and inclusive innovation, and includes participation from Fund F, an Austrian fund focused on female founders and backed by the European Investment Fund (EIF), Grow Ventures, a Barcelona-based deeptech fund, and mission-driven investors who back disruptive startups such as Hans(wo)man Group and the Foss/Krups Family.
The Spanish Association Against Cancer (AECC) has also participated in this round, providing strong validation of both the science behind The Blue Box’s technology and the scale of the unmet need it addresses.
The round also includes several seasoned entrepreneurs and founders who have mentored the company for a long time and are now investing for the third time, including Robert Masse and femtech investor Torsten Kolind, who continues to serve on the company’s Board of Directors. Other participating business angels include Matt Cooper.
Statements from investors and founders
"This milestone allows us to move full speed ahead with our European clinical trials and regulatory roadmap," says Judit Giró, CEO and co-founder of The Blue Box. "It also represents important validation of the years of scientific and technical work behind our solution. Breast cancer is detected too late for far too many women worldwide. We are committed to changing that by providing a test that is not only accurate and affordable but also simple enough to be used anywhere. With this funding, we are taking a decisive step towards making non-invasive early detection a new standard of care. We are deeply grateful to all our investors for believing in our vision and joining us on this journey to transform the future of breast cancer screening."
"We are incredibly grateful to have the support of bold, visionary investors who believe in our mission to transform breast cancer screening into something simple, accessible, and non-invasive," said Lidia Navarro, COO and co-founder of The Blue Box.
*"We invested in The Blue Box because we believe it represents a true paradigm shift in breast cancer detection. This innovative technology fills a critical gap in the market, offering a non-invasive, accurate, and accessible alternative to traditional mammography, which is invasive and unreliable for women with dense breast tissue. The Blue Box simplifies cancer detection with the ease of a pregnancy test using urine samples, with the potential to significantly reduce mortality rates by enabling earlier treatment.
We were convinced by the passion and vision of founders Judit Giró Benet and Lidia Navarro. Their tireless dedication to improving women’s health and their clear, strategic roadmap for clinical trials and market entry give us the utmost confidence. We firmly believe in their ability to execute and scale this transformative technology, saving lives and improving women’s health globally, and we are proud to partner with them on this high-impact mission,"* says Thea Messel, General Partner at Unconventional Ventures, lead investor and board chair of The Blue Box.
"We invested in The Blue Box because we are impressed by Judit and Lidia’s expertise and the commitment of their team, and we believe their non-invasive, radiation-free breast cancer screening technology has the potential to transform early detection, especially for women with dense breast tissue. Its ease of use by non-specialized personnel significantly reduces barriers to access, ultimately improving patient outcomes worldwide." — Carina Roth, Investment Manager at Fund F.
"The Blue Box’s technology is one of those paradigm shifts that can transform lives and an entire industry. The idea is simple: cancer affects metabolism and, as a result, produces changes in the volatile compounds found in urine. The approach to detecting these changes is simple and original, resulting in strong intellectual property, low costs, and the potential to be used for detecting other cancers as well. Additionally, Judit and Lidia are so purpose-driven and passionate about The Blue Box that we had no choice but to invest in them." — Francisco Badia, Managing Partner at Grow Venture Partners.
"Commitment to innovation and results transfer is key for the Spanish Association Against Cancer to ensure that research reaches patients. The Blue Box is a clear example of innovation focused on the new needs of patients and will undoubtedly have a significant impact on improving breast cancer diagnosis, especially in a group — young women — where there is a clear unmet need. Our support for this start-up began in 2024 through the AECC IMPACT Grant, an initiative that drives high-potential projects to ensure their continuity and sustainability." — Dr. Marta Puyol, Scientific Director of the Scientific Foundation of the Spanish Association Against Cancer.
What is The Blue Box?
The Blue Box’s technology analyzes urine samples using proprietary artificial intelligence to detect breast cancer biomarkers with 88% sensitivity, offering a radiation-free, painless, and affordable complement to current screening methods. The solution is designed to complement traditional approaches and help expand access, particularly for women with dense breast tissue or limited access to imaging infrastructure.
With the imminent launch of clinical trials, the new capital will support the manufacturing of medical-grade devices, recruitment for the study, and the technical documentation needed to meet CE marking requirements.
Why does it matter? The problem they are solving
Breast cancer is the most treatable cancer, yet it remains the leading cause of cancer-related death in women, largely because national screening programs fail to detect up to 1 in 3 cases. The problem is even worse for women with dense breast tissue, who make up 50% of the screening population and for whom mammography is less reliable. At The Blue Box, they have developed a urine-based breast cancer test that surpasses the sensitivity of mammography, so that more breast cancers can be detected earlier.
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