Participated · Seed · Dec 2025

Cellens builds BioFeel, a mechanobiology and machine-learning platform that detects bladder cancer from urine samples by physically “feeling” cellular stiffness with atomic-force microscopy and converting those measurements into biophysical biomarkers. By relying on physics rather than solely on molecular markers, the test addresses tumor heterogeneity that limits current urine assays and eliminates many unnecessary, invasive cystoscopies. In a prospective study of nearly 100 patient samples, BioFeel correctly identified every recurrence case and markedly outperformed FDA-cleared molecular tests that typically reach only 60–65 % sensitivity. The technology originates from research at Tufts University and has been validated with Dartmouth Medical Center and the University of Washington Medical Center. With an estimated 83,190 new U.S. bladder-cancer cases in 2024 and 800,000 patients under surveillance, Cellens targets a large, costly monitoring market. The company plans to use its new capital to advance clinical validation, pursue regulatory clearance and scale commercialization. Cellens has raised $6.5 million in seed funding to date; no revenue metrics have been disclosed.