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§ Private Profile · Bordeaux, France
Clinical-stage medical device company developing FLOWMAKER®, an implantable circulatory support system for advanced heart failure patients.
Based in Pessac, France, FineHeart is a clinical-stage medical device company developing FLOWMAKER®, a miniaturized, fully implantable circulatory support system designed for advanced heart failure patients. The organization targets an unmet clinical demographic of approximately 50,000 severe heart failure patients eligible for hemodynamic support, representing a total addressable market valued at over $5 billion. Operating with a workforce of 51 to 100 employees, the enterprise maintains an extensive international intellectual property portfolio consisting of 160 patents distributed across 27 distinct families. The medical technology firm has secured €83 million in total funding through multiple equity financing rounds backed by notable institutional investors including Groupe Pasteur Mutualité, the European Innovation Council, Verve Ventures, and Broadview Ventures. FineHeart was officially founded in 2010 by chief executive officer Arnaud Mascarell, Dr. Stéphane Garrigue, and Dr. Philippe Ritter.
FineHeart has raised $139.2M across 5 funding rounds.
FineHeart has raised $139.2M in total across 5 funding rounds.
FineHeart has raised $139.2M in total across 5 funding rounds.
FineHeart's investors include Thierry LORENTE, Doliam, Etchart Group, European Innovation Council, FH Founders, IPCEI Tech4Cure, IRDI Capital Investissement, Lurra Capital, NACO, European Commission, Sylvain Fanier, Broadview Ventures.
FineHeart has raised $139.2M across 5 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $97.0M Grant / Series C in January 2026.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 8, 2026 | $97M Grant | — | Thierry Lorente, Doliam, Etchart Group, European Innovation Council, FH Founders, Ipcei Tech4cure, Irdi Capital Investissement, Lurra Capital, Naco | Announced |
| Oct 19, 2022 | $2.5M Grant | European Commission | — | Announced |
| Dec 15, 2021 | $6.8M Series B Plus | — | Sylvain Fanier | Announced |
| May 1, 2021 | $26M Series B | — | Broadview Ventures, Pillar VC, Polaris Partners, Etienne Flesch, Mikel Charritton, Verve Ventures, Aquiti Gestion, Broadview Ventures, FineHeart Founders' Holding, Galia Gestion, Irdi Capital Investissement, M Capital | Announced |
| Mar 1, 2016 | $7M Series A | Broadview Ventures | Broadview Ventures, Pillar VC, Polaris Partners, Sofimac, Aquiti Gestion, Galia Gestion, IRDInov, M Capital Partners | Announced |
FineHeart is a clinical-stage medical device company based in Pessac, France, specializing in innovative cardiology solutions for advanced heart failure patients.[1][2][3] Its flagship product, the FLOWMAKER® (also known as ICOMS), is a fully implantable, wirelessly powered intraventricular pump that synchronizes with the heart's natural contractions to optimize cardiac output while preserving native heart function, targeting an unmet need for around 50,000 eligible patients annually who lack suitable left ventricular assist device (LVAD) options.[1][2][3][7] The company serves healthcare providers and heart failure patients, addressing severe heart failure—a leading cause of death in developed countries—by offering a less invasive alternative that reduces surgical risks and improves recovery without requiring cardiac arrest during implantation.[1][2] FineHeart has raised $51.52M total, reaching Series C stage, with recent funding supporting clinical trials and growth to about 35-40 employees focused on R&D, quality, and regulatory affairs.[1][4][6]
FineHeart was founded in 2010 in Pessac near Bordeaux, France, by a team of renowned cardiac surgeons, cardiologists, and biomedical industry experts.[1][2][3][4] Key founders include Dr. Stéphane Garrigue, PhD (Chief Scientific Officer and inventor of the FLOWMAKER®), Dr. Philippe Ritter, MD, MS (co-inventor of cardiac resynchronization therapy), and Arnaud Mascarell (CEO with prior experience at Medtronic and Air Liquide).[2][3][4] The idea emerged from recognizing gaps in existing LVAD therapies, leading to the development of the ICOMS technology to provide physiological circulatory support for severe heart failure patients.[2][3][4][7] Early milestones included pump design finalization, prototypes, in-vitro/animal tests by 2016, and a €15M funding round in 2021 (part of over €35M raised) to prepare First-in-Human trials in 2022; pivotal "First in Human" implants confirmed proof-of-concept without intensive cardiac arrest, marking a world premiere in advanced heart failure treatment.[2][4][6]
FineHeart rides the wave of advancing medtech for heart failure, a degenerative condition affecting millions as the second-leading cause of death in G8 countries after cancer, with 200,000 new severe cases yearly driving demand for next-gen circulatory support.[2][4] Timing aligns with aging populations, post-COVID cardiac strain, and EU initiatives like IPCEI Tech4Cure (where FineHeart leads structuring the implantable device sector across six nations), accelerating regulatory and manufacturing scale-up.[5] Favorable market forces include limitations of current LVADs (e.g., drivelines causing infections) and a $5B gap for underserved patients, positioning FineHeart to disrupt with less invasive, patient-centric devices amid rising venture interest in cardiology medtech (e.g., €15M+ rounds).[2][6] It influences the ecosystem by pioneering beating-heart implants and IP expansion, fostering European medtech sovereignty and inspiring hybrid bio-mechanical therapies.[1][2][5]
FineHeart's momentum—Series C funding, ongoing clinical trials, and First-in-Human successes—positions it for pivotal FDA/EU approvals and commercialization of FLOWMAKER®, potentially capturing significant share in the advanced heart failure market.[1][2][6] Upcoming trends like AI-driven pump synchronization, expanded IPCEI collaborations, and global partnerships (e.g., recent management hires for finance/scaling) will shape its path toward bridging the 50,000-patient gap.[1][5] Influence may evolve from innovator to sector leader, enabling broader adoption of physiological support devices and redefining long-term cardiac care for underserved patients, fulfilling its promise as a game-changer in cardiology.[3][7]