Cooler Heads has closed an oversubscribed $11 million Series A funding round to expand manufacturing and rollout of Amma, its FDA-cleared portable scalp cooling system for chemotherapy patients. The device helps prevent hair loss during cancer treatment by cooling the scalp before, during, and after chemotherapy sessions.
Mutual Capital Partners led the round, with participation from SHD Partners, Crescent Ridge VC, Cal Innovation Fund, NuFund, Robin Hood Ventures, Golden Seeds, HIP VC, and an unnamed strategic investor. The funding will support increased manufacturing capacity, commercial team expansion, and next-generation product development.
According to the company, Amma is the only FDA-cleared portable scalp cooling solution available. The system reduces blood flow to hair follicles during chemotherapy, protecting them from treatment drugs and preventing hair loss. Unlike traditional methods, Amma provides continuous cooling without requiring dry ice or frequent cap changes.
“Hair loss is so emotionally devastating that 8% of patients eligible for chemotherapy refuse treatment,” said Kate Dilligan, breast cancer survivor, Founder, and CEO of Cooler Heads. “Amma is a user-friendly platform that helps infusion centers seamlessly add scalp cooling to their workflows.”
The American Medical Association’s decision to elevate scalp cooling reimbursement codes to Category I starting in January 2026 supports market adoption. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has proposed payment rates for three new CPT codes related to mechanical scalp cooling, with the initial fitting and patient education reimbursed at $1,701, pre-infusion cooling at $10 per treatment, and post-infusion cooling at $6 per 30-minute unit.
“Our investment in Cooler Heads reflects our confidence in the ability of this leadership team to make scalp cooling available wherever patients are getting chemotherapy,” said Liz Todia Zambory, who led the Mutual Capital Partners investment. “Cooler Heads is not only improving care for patients, but for the first time making this therapy low friction for infusion centers.”
The funding round brings new board members Mike Schotzinger of SHD Partners and independent director Jason Pesterfield, CEO of Elucent Medical.
Cooler Heads was founded by a cancer survivor and focuses on evidence-based products to manage treatment side effects. The company aims to reduce the physical and emotional impact of cancer treatment through accessible scalp cooling technology.
