KatoMed, a San Diego-based startup developing surgical navigation technology for spine procedures, is gaining momentum through strong ties to the University of California, San Diego and new investment from Kyocera Ventures. The company’s technology aims to enable safer, less costly surgeries while improving workflow efficiency for surgeons.
The company recently demonstrated its system at the UC San Diego Center for the Future of Surgery, where executives from Kyocera attended. The visit highlighted the close collaboration between KatoMed and UC San Diego, spanning research, talent, and commercialization support.
KatoMed’s technology allows surgeons to restore navigation accuracy using just two fluoroscopic X-rays in under eight seconds at any point during a procedure. By integrating commonly used C-arm imaging systems with proprietary software, the platform reduces the need for more invasive approaches. The system also addresses loss of registration, a major source of error in navigated procedures, while tracking both surgical instruments and patient anatomy with submillimeter precision.
The company’s development has been closely tied to UC San Diego’s innovation ecosystem. KatoMed licensed intellectual property from the university, including robotics technology developed in the lab of Professor Michael Yip, and hired engineering alumni who now serve as roboticists. The startup also participated in the Institute for the Global Entrepreneur’s MedTech Accelerator program at the Jacobs School of Engineering.
KatoMed was named MedTech Accelerator Company of the Year in 2025, and continues to expand its ambitions beyond spine surgery into joint, pain, and brain applications. Alongside Kyocera Ventures, ReefHaven Ventures has also invested in the company, supporting its growth and commercialization efforts.
The broader UC San Diego ecosystem has played a significant role in fostering startups like KatoMed. The university ranks among the top institutions in the U.S. for startup creation, driven by integrated programs that connect engineering, medicine, and industry. Facilities like the Center for the Future of Surgery have trained tens of thousands of professionals and serve as a hub for advancing new medical technologies.
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“A lot of the cutting edge research is here at UC San Diego. A lot of the most motivated people are here. And so we really wanted to be associated with this incredible institution, and UC San Diego was willing to foster that through connections, licensing intellectual property, and entrepreneurship programming.”
Albert Hill, CEO of KatoMed
“We are very excited about this innovation, bringing engineering and medicine together and delivering it to patients. Collaborating with industry at every level is precisely what we do in this space.”
Barbara Jung, MD, Associate Vice Chancellor and Dean of the School of Medicine
“The success of KatoMed, a MedTech Accelerator Stage 2 team, and this visit from Kyocera leadership underscore the impact of our MedTech Accelerator program. This demonstrates the role that academic institutions like UC San Diego play in the technology commercialization process and in strengthening the broader innovation ecosystem. This is exactly the kind of momentum the MedTech Accelerator aims to generate.”
Becky Deller, Leader of the UC San Diego MedTech Accelerator
