Olympus Innovation Ventures Adds Prostate Care Platform Developer to its Portfolio
Today, men have several options to treat prostate conditions.1 Yet the more invasive the treatment, the bigger the risk to surrounding organs, with side effects that can impact quality of life.2 One company, MaxQ Medical, Inc., is working to overcome these hurdles, developing a very small solution for conditions such as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), with plans to expand into focal therapy for prostate cancer and, longer term, prostate diagnostics including biopsy and tumor mapping. OIV, the venture capital arm of Olympus Corporation, invested in the Series A funding of MaxQ Medical, a spinoff company of Orchard Ultrasound Innovation (Sunnyvale, Calif.), building on decades of semiconductor ultrasound technology research at Stanford University.
Novel HIFU Delivery Pathway
OIV is one of four investors supporting the development of a platform intended to use high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU), tissue sparing technology that can be described as an ablative treatment. The technique has been the focus of study in recent years to avoid damage to the urethra, but current techniques use the rectal pathway.3 The MaxQ prototype incorporates a transurethral (passing through the urethra) approach with advanced ultrasound imaging technology. The design is intended to preserve the urethra and minimize tissue damage.
A Nudge Toward Next Steps
“Men with prostate disease have had to choose between treatments that don't do enough and treatments that come with real tradeoffs and side effects. The MaxQ system is designed to offer the durability of gold standard resective therapies with side effects more comparable to tMIS solutions,” said Amir Tehrani, CEO of MaxQ Medical, in a press release. “I want to thank our investors for their support, our exceptional team for their dedication, and Amir Abolfathi, our executive chairman, co-leading this financing effort with me.” Tehrani said the funding allows his team to continue clinical evaluations already underway, with an eye toward a first-in-human feasibility study.
“There's a strong need in urology for technology that allows physicians to see and treat the prostate in one setting, and we're encouraged by MaxQ's vision for treating prostate disease,” said Gabriela Kaynor, Chair of OIV. “We’re excited to see the field develop novel technologies that can help shape and revolutionize the future of endoscopy-enabled care.”
The MaxQ System ultrasound chip (pictured left), shown next to a penny for scale.
OIV’s Phase Two
OIV launched in November 2021 with $50 million and the promise of follow-on investments. In December 2025, OIV kicked off a 10-year, $150 million in phase-two funding. The MaxQ Medical investment is a bit of a milestone, marking the first portfolio pick in this significant renewal to support next-generation imaging across gastroenterology, respiratory, and urology.
Read more about this announcement in Olympus Innovation Ventures: Charting the Course for Medtech Breakthroughs in 2026 and Beyond.
Want to learn more about Olympus Innovation Ventures?
Read the MaxQ Press Release
References
- Nia.Nih.gov. Prostate Problems. Updated November 14, 2024. Accessed July 24, 2026.
- Singh D, Nguyen T, Burnam P, et al. Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia and Sexual Dysfunction: Review of the Impact of New Medical and Surgical Therapies on Sexual Health. Curr Urol Rep. 2025;26(1):49.
- Cancer.org. Cryotherapty, HIFU, and Other Ablative Treatments for Prostate Cancer. Updated December 10, 2024. Accessed July 24, 2026.
