Illuminant Surgical, a Los Angeles-based developer of real-time anatomical projection systems, has raised $8.4M in seed funding led by Wing 2 Wing Ventures. The company’s Skylight platform projects imaging directly onto patients, delivering 'x-ray vision' for spine surgery, pain management, and interventional radiology. The capital will accelerate engineering, manufacturing, and clinical efforts at its new 12,000 sq ft headquarters.
AR Navigation Investments Surge
The round arrives as investors pour into surgical navigation. Augmedics has raised over $100M for AR spine systems, while Medivis secured over $22M for holographic guidance. Illuminant differentiates with wearable-free projection onto the patient, bypassing headsets and monitors common in rivals.
Spine Revisions Drain $20B Yearly
Spine surgery sees 1.2 million procedures annually in the US, with one in five requiring revisions due to misplaced screws, per Fortune. Biopsies miss cancer in one in 10 cases, contributing to $20B in annual costs from errors. Current navigation relies on screens or bulky AR wearables, disrupting workflows and ergonomics.
Projection Replaces Headsets and Screens
Skylight uses SkinMatch with adhesive SkinDots for non-invasive registration and LightScreen for dynamic projection that adapts to movement. Setup takes minutes versus 30+ for traditional systems. The compact design suits ambulatory centers, with universal compatibility for CT scanners.
As co-CEO Eldrick Millares explained in Fortune:
"What Skylight does is display images directly on a patient’s skin… You can basically get X-ray vision."
This approach enables sub-2mm accuracy without fixation devices.
Grants Signal Technical Validation
Wing 2 Wing led with participation from Soma Capital, Elderberry Ventures, and non-dilutive grants including $1.25M NSF Phase II and $2.1M NCI Phase II. Soma, with exits like Cruise to GM, backs AI-driven hardware. NSF funding underscores R&D merit for deep tech med devices, per company announcement.
$11B Market Grows at 14% CAGR
The surgical navigation market stands at $11B, expanding at 14% CAGR amid AI integration and minimally invasive shifts. Competitors like Augmedics and Medivis focus on headset-based AR, leaving room for Illuminant’s direct projection.
Trends favor accessible tools as aging populations drive spine procedures. Federal grants highlight oncology expansion potential.
Stanford Duo Earns Forbes 30 Under 30
Co-CEOs James Hu (Stanford bioengineering/MD, NSF reviewer) and Eldrick Millares (Stanford EE/MS, ex-Apple silicon) met as classmates and launched via Y Combinator S22. Both named to Forbes 30 Under 30 Healthcare 2025. Hu’s clinical research and Millares’ imaging expertise enable rapid iteration from dorm to OR.
Production Systems Roll Out Soon
Illuminant opened Nexus, a 12,000 sq ft LA facility with R&D, manufacturing, and cadaver labs. First production-equivalent Skylight units launch imminently, per press release. The team hires for quality and clinical roles to support FDA clearance and pilots.