In Western Europe, between 5-20% of the population experiences the narrowing of a blood vessel, or restenosis, following a stent implant. Alleviating this burden imposed on our healthcare system in the form of time-consuming diagnostic measures and expensive interventions has been the mission driving the young and motivated team of VesselSens, the EIC beneficiary behind StentGuard – an intelligent vascular implant system enabling real-time monitoring. Supported by the EIC Accelerator Blended Finance scheme, the German start-up is bringing a new level of safety and precision to cardiovascular interventions.
Its potential as a top health innovation startup in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region was recently recognised through its selection for the 2025 MedTech Innovator Asia Pacific Accelerator — the world’s largest accelerator for medical technology companies.
StentGuard: making restenosis detection rapid and accessible
One of the major reasons for which restenosis often leads to mortality within six years after implantation is that it is often detected too late. Conscious of this, in 2010 the idea of a medical device for reliable, fast and simple detection of restenosis by the patients themselves was born and, through the support of the EIC, StentGuard was developed.
The advantages of the technology developed by the Bonn-based medtech company are noticeable and range from being subject to lower regulatory approval demands, due to the non-requirement of batteries for its use, to having the potential to monitor blood pressure almost everywhere in the arterial system, wirelessly.
Beyond the opportunities created for patients to detect themselves reliably and simply any sign of restenosis and for the healthcare system to reduce costs for follow-up treatments by more than 50% in the long-term, VesselSens' ideas for revolutionising vascular care will also include the development of a platform – a Cloud – where to store the health data collected, with the possibility of assessing them from anywhere.
VesselSens’ recent selection for MedTech Innovator’s 2025 Asia Pacific Accelerator
The most recent validation of the German start-ups innovation came in May 2025, with the announcement of VesselSens’ selection as one of the participants in the sixth annual Asia Pacific (APAC) Accelerator program. The 2025 cohort, composed of 19 other high-potential medtech companies, will compete for up to USD 300,000 in non-dilutive cash prizes and awards.
Referring to the recent achievement, Dr.Ing. Alexej Domnich commented:
Being selected for MedTech Innovator Asia Pacific 2025 is not only a validation of VesselSens’s innovation but a powerful catalyst for global expansion. The programme offers unparalleled access to the Asia-Pacific medtech ecosystem, including investors, manufacturers, and regulatory stakeholders.
Advancing towards market readiness to bring restenosis detection at patients’ fingertips
Thanks to the funding provided by the EIC Accelerator, VesselSens’ team was able to mature the monitoring technology, strengthen their business case and become investment-ready with a high-potential roadmap toward clinical translation and commercialisation.
However, the achievements reached up to the present within the EIC-funded StentGuard project go even further, as explained by Vesselsens’ CEO and founder, Dr.-Ing. Alexej Domnich:
During the EIC-funded project phase, we also expanded and enforced our strong IP portfolio, which has now been independently valued at €21 million. This robust foundation adds substantial strategic optionality to our growth path.
Looking into its next steps, the company is now actively seeking a lead investor to trigger the due diligence process, which would also unlock the €11.3 million in equity co-investment from the EIC Fund and European Investment Bank (EIB). In parallel, the team is engaged in discussions with strategic partners exploring potential licensing opportunities or an early exit scenario.
Background information
The EIC Accelerator offers start-ups and SMEs grants of up to €2.5 million combined with equity investments through the EIC Fund ranging from €0.5 to €10 million. Companies can apply for blended finance (combining grant and investment) or equity only. Companies working on technologies of strategic European interest can apply for investments of more than €10 million. In addition to financial support, all projects benefit from a range of Business Acceleration Services that provide access to leading expertise, corporates, investors and ecosystem actors.
Additional Information about VesselSens
VesselSens is pioneering a new era in cardiovascular care with StentGuard, a next-generation vascular implant system that integrates microsensors for real-time, in-body monitoring. Supported by the EIC Accelerator Blended Finance, VesselSens coordinates the project with a mission to transform vascular implants into intelligent devices that enhance patient safety and clinical outcomes.
Learn more about VesselSens by visiting the Horizon Europe database and the company’s official website.
DISCLAIMER: This information is provided in the interest of knowledge sharing and should not be interpreted as the official view of the European Commission, or any other organisation.