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Proton Intelligence develops a novel real-time, on-demand wearable for continuous potassium monitoring. This technology aims to transform hyperkalemia management, providing clinicians with immediate data to effectively treat and manage kidney disease patients. The device offers non-invasive insights into potassium levels, addressing a critical need in patient care.
The company was co-founded by Sahan Ranamukha, PhD, its CEO, and Victor Cadarso, PhD, its CSO. Dr. Ranamukha is a biomedical engineer, and Dr. Cadarso is a physicist specializing in biosensing. Their combined technical expertise underpins the foundation for Proton Intelligence's innovative monitoring solution.
Proton Intelligence targets clinicians caring for kidney disease patients requiring vigilant oversight of potassium levels. The company's vision is to establish a new standard in hyperkalemia management through continuous, accessible data, ultimately improving patient outcomes and streamlining clinical decision-making. This enhances treatment precision.
Proton Intelligence has raised $7.0M across 1 funding round.
Proton Intelligence has raised $7.0M in total across 1 funding round.
Proton Intelligence has raised $7.0M in total across 1 funding round.
Proton Intelligence's investors include SOSV, Astanor Ventures, Seaside Ventures.
Proton Intelligence has raised $7.0M across 1 funding round. Most recently, it raised $7.0M Seed in December 2024.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 1, 2024 | $7M Seed | SOSV | Astanor Ventures, Seaside Ventures | Announced |
Proton Intelligence is a Vancouver-based medtech startup founded in 2020, developing the world's first non-invasive, continuous potassium monitoring (CKM™) wearable for hyperkalemia management in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and heart failure.[1][2][3][5] The implantable device, inserted under the skin, connects to a smartphone app for real-time patient monitoring and clinician dashboards to track trends, adjust therapies, and prevent hospitalizations from potassium imbalances—affecting over 3.7 million Americans, with CKD as the primary cause leading to heart risks.[2][3][5] Serving healthcare providers and at-risk patients (10% of the global population with CKD), it solves the lack of on-demand potassium monitoring, enabling safer use of life-saving therapies that 1/3 of patients currently abandon due to undetected spikes, reducing 6-month mortality by addressing a 40% risk increase.[3][5]
The company has raised $7.73M total, including a heavily oversubscribed $6.95M Seed VC round 8 months ago (led by SOSV, with We Venture Capital, Tenmile, LongVC, 15th Rock, Exor Ventures, Trampoline Venture Partners), fueling clinical trials underway and a planned 2025 product launch (though one source notes 2027 market entry).[1][2][3][4] Early traction includes 100+ clinician interviews validating needs and IndieBio SF program alumni status.[2][4]
Proton Intelligence was co-founded in 2020 by CEO Sahan Ranamukhaarachchi (Vancouver-based) and CSO Victor Cadarso (Melbourne-based), leveraging a decade of wearable biosensor research from their time in Switzerland.[2][4] Ranamukhaarachchi later founded skin-based drug delivery startup Microdermics, while Cadarso became a professor in micro- and nano-sensors at Monash University.[2] The idea emerged from identifying gaps in electrolyte monitoring after clinician interviews revealed "flying blind" potassium management causes preventable hospitalizations, therapy halts, and cardiac deaths.[2][3]
Headquartered in Vancouver with R&D in Melbourne (a wholly owned subsidiary), the company gained early momentum as an SOSV IndieBio SF alum, securing pre-seed from SOSV and progressing to the oversubscribed $6.95M Seed in early 2025, marking SOSV as its first institutional backer.[2][3][4]
Proton Intelligence rides the wearable medtech boom in continuous biomarker monitoring, mirroring CGM's diabetes revolution but for electrolytes in cardio-kidney-metabolic diseases—a $100B+ market with 10% global CKD prevalence and hyperkalemia driving 40% higher mortality from therapy interruptions.[3][4][5] Timing aligns with post-COVID emphasis on home-based, precise chronic care to cut hospitalizations (e.g., potassium spikes cause sudden cardiac events), fueled by AI/ML in diagnostics and investor appetite for deep tech (evident in oversubscribed Seed from SOSV, Werfen-linked VC).[2][3]
Market forces favor it: Aging populations, rising CKD/heart failure (3.7M US cases), and regulatory pushes for non-invasive tools integrate into clinical pathways, reducing system burdens like lung cancer screening analogs.[1][3][5] It influences the ecosystem by pioneering CKM™, potentially expanding to other electrolytes, boosting VC interest in biosensor startups, and partnering with diagnostics giants for scale.[3][4]
With clinical trials advancing and a 2025 launch targeted (potentially 2027 per one report), Proton Intelligence is poised to disrupt hyperkalemia care, scaling CKM™ to full platform for electrolytes and capturing CKD/heart failure markets via app/dashboard ecosystems.[2][4] Trends like AI-enhanced wearables, value-based care, and biosensor miniaturization will accelerate adoption, while partnerships (e.g., Werfen network) aid commercialization.[3] Influence may evolve from niche innovator to category leader, enabling global therapy optimization and cutting mortality—transforming kidney patients' lives as boldly as CGM did for diabetes, starting from its strong seed foundation.[1][2][5]
