BeSound has raised $6.8 million in seed funding to expand its breast imaging platform targeting women with dense breast tissue and those under 40. The round was co-led by Overwater Ventures, Kindred Ventures, and Muse Capital, with participation from Lux Capital, Wisdom.VC, Retron VC, Mana Ventures, Pave Health Ventures, and SSC Venture Partners.
The San Francisco-based company addresses limitations in mammography for the more than 40% of women with dense breast tissue, where mammograms can miss up to 50% of cancers in extremely dense tissue. The platform combines ultrasound with FDA-approved near-infrared photoacoustic imaging technology that has demonstrated the ability to reduce unnecessary biopsies by up to 75% in real-world studies.
“The current medical imaging system is failing too many women, and I started BeSound because I experienced firsthand the frustration of long waits, insurance hurdles, and feeling dismissed,” said Bailey Renger, CEO and founder. “As a former NASA quantum researcher, receiving inconclusive scan results made me ask: ‘Why can we see into the furthest corners of the universe, but not reliably 2.5 cm inside the human body?'”
BeSound targets women left behind by traditional mammography, particularly those with dense breast tissue and women under 40, an age group experiencing rising breast cancer rates but facing limited screening access. Insurance rarely covers screening for younger women, and standard imaging often fails to deliver clear results for high-risk populations.
“This is a company that combines innovation with empathy, turning a stressful, opaque diagnostic process into one that is clear, fast, and empowering,” said Assia Grazioli-Venier, Founding Partner at Muse Capital and breast cancer survivor. “Every woman deserves access to healthcare that respects her time, her body, and her peace of mind.”
The company will open its first location in West Hollywood, Los Angeles, offering services for $350 with 24-48 hour radiologist-reviewed results. BeSound plans nationwide expansion including New York in coming months, providing radiation-free ultrasound scans with hospital-grade precision.
“New FDA regulations requiring that women be notified about their breast density have shined a spotlight on a critical issue,” said Dr. Rachel Brem, BeSound advisor and breast diagnostic radiologist. “BeSound is partnering with clinicians to bring ultrasound and photoacoustic ultrasound technology—once limited to select hospitals—directly into broader clinical practice.”
The platform aims to streamline the screening process, offering easy booking without insurance requirements and quick result turnaround, replacing what can be a weeks-long stressful process.
“One in eight women will face breast cancer in their lifetime, and the rise among younger women is only growing,” said Kristina Simmons, Founder and Managing Partner at Overwater Ventures. “BeSound is reimagining detection and the entire patient experience, leveraging technology to meet this urgent need.”
BeSound has assembled an advisory board including Dr. Rachel Brem, Bob Langer (Moderna co-founder), Lavinia Errico (Equinox co-founder), Sheila Marcelo (Care.com founder), and Carolyn Witte (Tia co-founder).
