Dexterous Endoscopes receives CHF 150,000 from Venture Kick to create next-generation endoscopes for minimally invasive surgery
17.03.2026
The EPFL spin-off Dexterous Endoscopes has obtained CHF 150,000 from Venture Kick to develop endoscopes with variable stiffness that provide surgeons with greater control and advanced tissue dissection capabilities. The medtech startup aims to enable new minimally invasive procedures in hard-to-reach areas within the sinuses and larynx, with future applications in other organs.
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Millions of endoscopic procedures are performed every year to diagnose and treat conditions inside the body. However, existing instruments force surgeons to compromise between reach and precision. Rigid scopes and cold steel tools offer strength and stability but cannot navigate confined spaces, while flexible ones can reach deeper areas but lack the force and control needed for delicate tissue dissection.
This is where Dexterous Endoscopes steps in, creating endoscopes with variable stiffness that combine flexibility with the precision required for surgical procedures. By allowing surgeons to adjust the device’s rigidity during an operation, the technology improves maneuverability and control in complex anatomical areas. The startup’s first product, the Variable Stiffness ENTscope (ear, nose, and throat), supports new minimally invasive sinus procedures and improves efficiency in complex laryngeal surgeries.
Endoscopy is one of the most commonly performed medical procedures worldwide, with about 190 million procedures each year and a market of around USD 61 billion. Dexterous Endoscopes targets ENT surgery, enabling minimally invasive procedures in hard-to-reach areas of the sinuses and larynx. The technology is being tested with surgeons ahead of regulatory certification and could expand to other endoscopic procedures, such as urology.
The CHF 150,000 from Venture Kick will support validation of the technology with surgeons and hospitals worldwide to ensure it meets real clinical and customer needs. It will also help align certification, clinical, business, and development strategies to accelerate the path to market.
Dexterous Endoscopes was founded by CEO Yegor Piskarev and CTO Yi Sun as a spin-off from EPFL’s Laboratory of Intelligent Systems, one of the world’s leading research groups in stiffness modulation technologies for medical devices. The company builds on more than six years of hands-on collaboration with surgeons. This combination of engineering expertise and clinical experience enables the team to develop advanced endoscopes that enhance precision and control in complex surgeries.
“Venture Kick gave us a real kick to start thinking like entrepreneurs rather than researchers. The program’s feedback from experienced entrepreneurs and investors helped us sharpen our strategy and accelerate our path to market,” highlighted CEO Yegor Piskarev.
Dexterous Endoscopes founders Yi Sun (CTO) and Yegor Piskarev (CEO)
This is where Dexterous Endoscopes steps in, creating endoscopes with variable stiffness that combine flexibility with the precision required for surgical procedures. By allowing surgeons to adjust the device’s rigidity during an operation, the technology improves maneuverability and control in complex anatomical areas. The startup’s first product, the Variable Stiffness ENTscope (ear, nose, and throat), supports new minimally invasive sinus procedures and improves efficiency in complex laryngeal surgeries.
Endoscopy is one of the most commonly performed medical procedures worldwide, with about 190 million procedures each year and a market of around USD 61 billion. Dexterous Endoscopes targets ENT surgery, enabling minimally invasive procedures in hard-to-reach areas of the sinuses and larynx. The technology is being tested with surgeons ahead of regulatory certification and could expand to other endoscopic procedures, such as urology.
The CHF 150,000 from Venture Kick will support validation of the technology with surgeons and hospitals worldwide to ensure it meets real clinical and customer needs. It will also help align certification, clinical, business, and development strategies to accelerate the path to market.
Dexterous Endoscopes was founded by CEO Yegor Piskarev and CTO Yi Sun as a spin-off from EPFL’s Laboratory of Intelligent Systems, one of the world’s leading research groups in stiffness modulation technologies for medical devices. The company builds on more than six years of hands-on collaboration with surgeons. This combination of engineering expertise and clinical experience enables the team to develop advanced endoscopes that enhance precision and control in complex surgeries.
“Venture Kick gave us a real kick to start thinking like entrepreneurs rather than researchers. The program’s feedback from experienced entrepreneurs and investors helped us sharpen our strategy and accelerate our path to market,” highlighted CEO Yegor Piskarev.
Dexterous Endoscopes founders Yi Sun (CTO) and Yegor Piskarev (CEO)