Seoul-based medical device startup Curestream has secured KRW 11 billion in Series A funding to advance its autonomous artificial pancreas system. The investment round attracted a mix of new and existing backers, including We Ventures, Korea Credit Guarantee Fund (KODIT), Woori Venture Partners, Smilegate Investment, Innopolis Partners, Devsisters Ventures, and Vivid Investment.
Founded in 2019, Curestream is developing what could be a game-changing solution for diabetes management: a fully automated system that delivers insulin without requiring user input. The technology works by continuously monitoring glucose levels and automatically administering insulin as needed.
Curestream’s artificial pancreas system integrates three critical components: a continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) sensor, an insulin infusion patch, and a proprietary automation algorithm that ties everything together.
What sets the startup apart from competitors is its innovative approach to the insulin patch hardware. By incorporating reusable components, Curestream has managed to reduce costs by approximately 70% compared to conventional patches on the market — a significant factor that helped attract investor interest in this funding round.
The company’s automation algorithm has already demonstrated promising results in large animal (porcine) models for Type 1 diabetes. With the fresh capital, Curestream plans to initiate investigator-led clinical trials and pursue both domestic and international regulatory approvals within the year.
