#Canada #Quebec City #Oculomics #Zilia #Linearis Ventures

Zilia Secures Bridge Financing to Enhance Oculomics Technology

On May 7, 2025, Zilia Inc., a pioneering medical technology firm, announced the successful closing of a significant bridge financing round. This event marks a pivotal moment for the company as it looks to expand its innovative oculomics platform. The funding round saw participation from new investor Linearis Ventures and reaffirmations from current shareholders, reflecting robust confidence in Zilia's game-changing approach to ocular health diagnostics.

Located in Quebec City, Zilia Inc. focuses on transforming how systemic health is observed through the eye. Their flagship device, the Zilia Ocular™, employs non-invasive techniques to measure eye biomarkers, starting with ocular oximetry. The incorporation of advanced imaging technologies, spectroscopy, and artificial intelligence plays a crucial role in offering real-time evaluation of both ocular and systemic health.

Dr. Patrick Sauvageau, OD, CEO and co-founder of Zilia, expressed the importance of this funding round, stating, "This bridge round represents more than just a financial milestone—it reflects the growing recognition of oculomics as a new frontier in precision diagnostics. We are thrilled to welcome Linearis Ventures on board and grateful for the continued confidence of our existing investors as we transition into our next phase of growth."

With this strategic funding, Zilia is poised to accelerate its commercialization efforts. The company is currently working towards obtaining FDA clearance for ocular oximetry, following earlier achievements which included a 510(k) clearance for the Zilia Ocular FC™ retinal camera in 2023. Additionally, Zilia is gearing up for a major institutional funding campaign later this year, aimed at bolstering its clinical commercialization strategy and exploring expansions into cardiology and neurology sectors.

Linearis Ventures is keen on collaborating with Zilia to harness its expertise in AI and multi-omics. Alexandre Le Bouthillier, PhD, General Partner of Linearis Ventures, remarked, "Linearis Ventures is excited to leverage its AI and multi-omics expertise to support Zilia's growth, accelerating its trailblazing innovation and advancing ophthalmic biomarkers to provide critical insights into a broad spectrum of health conditions."

Furthermore, Linearis Ventures will take on a strategic advisory role, leveraging its in-depth knowledge to help refine Zilia's long-term goals and technology roadmap.

The partnership has also garnered support from the local government, with Bruno Marchand, Mayor of Quebec City, expressing pride in the collaborative effort between Zilia and Linearis Ventures. He emphasized the alignment of this support with Quebec City's economic development strategy focused on bolstering the life sciences sector.

As Zilia continues to innovate within the medical technology landscape, they are dedicated to utilizing the eyes as an advanced diagnostic tool, which could lead to groundbreaking advancements in understanding and treating various health conditions. For those interested in learning more about Zilia's work or their latest financing round, further information can be found on their official website at ziliahealth.com.

In summary, Zilia Inc.'s recent funding success not only represents a financial boost but also highlights a critical shift toward recognizing and developing capabilities within the field of oculomics. As they prepare for the future, both Zilia and Linearis Ventures are set to make significant contributions to the evolving landscape of medical diagnostics and care delivery.