Santa Cruz Ventures Invests in Versa Vascular
Santa Cruz Ventures Invests in Versa Vascular, Signaling Continued Growth for Local Innovation
The Santa Cruz entrepreneurial ecosystem continues to thrive, with Santa Cruz Ventures proudly announcing its latest investment in Versa Vascular, the sixth company in its growing portfolio. Headquartered in Santa Cruz, Versa Vascular is a medical device startup emerging from stealth to transform the treatment of tricuspid valve disease—one of the most complex and underserved areas in cardiology.
Versa recently closed an oversubscribed $27.3M funding round led wherein Santa Cruz Ventures standing was the only local investor. This milestone not only underscores the promise of Versa’s breakthrough technology but also reflects the increasing role Santa Cruz is playing in advancing high-impact innovation.
Addressing a Critical Market Need
The U.S. heart valve disease market is projected to reach $28B by 2028, yet only ~2.4% of surgically treatable cases are addressed today. Versa Vascular is tackling this gap head-on with a singular focus on tricuspid valve disease, a condition marked by anatomical variability that conventional treatments struggle to address.
Game-Changing Technology
Versa’s implant features a novel design that preserves native valve leaflets and includes an atrial skirt for secure placement. The latest generation incorporates learnings from early clinical use:
Easier delivery and optimized occluder
Reduced device size, weight, and cost
Additional anchoring hooks for improved performance
Outstanding Clinical Results
All seven patients treated so far have experienced successful outcomes, with no device-related adverse events and notable improvements in renal function and walking endurance. Procedure times have dropped from ~2 hours to ~1 hour, and early results position Versa’s solution as safer than Evoque and as effective as TriClip.
World-Class Team
The company is led by veterans from Intuitive Surgical, Auris, Cephea, and the Cardiovascular Research Foundation, bringing deep expertise in surgical robotics, clinical operations, and commercialization.
Versa’s success story highlights the strength of the Santa Cruz startup community and the critical role Santa Cruz Ventures plays in supporting transformative technologies. As Versa moves forward with pre-pivotal trials and builds out its leadership team, the region’s reputation as a hub for medical and scientific innovation continues to grow.
Santa Cruz Ventures is honored to support Versa’s mission and looks forward to the next chapter in structural heart innovation—built right here in Santa Cruz.
