Investors pump another $8.8M into KC medical device startup, bringing funding total to $20M+
March 31, 2020 | Startland News Staff
A Fairway-based medical device company is getting to the heart of its entrepreneurial journey, securing a fresh $8.8 million in Series A financing, Dr. Nicholas Franano announced Tuesday.
The additional influx to Artio — rebranded from “Metactive” earlier this winter — brings the startup’s total capital raised to more than $20 million. The company has spent years developing groundbreaking, best-in-class products for the peripheral vascular and neurovascular markets, said Franano, founder, president and CEO of Artio.
“We appreciate the strong support from our new and existing investors,” he said. “Our team is looking forward to making our innovative products available to physicians and patients.”
Click here to see why Artio/Metactive was named one of Startland News’ Kansas City Startups to Watch in 2019.
Funds from the latest round are expected to help Artio obtain 510(k) marketing clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to market its Solus Gold Embolization Device in the United States.
The Solus Gold is the first metal implant to provide a solid barrier to blood flow, and is developed for peripheral vascular embolization — a minimally invasive procedure that blocks or reduces blood flow in blood vessels for patients experiencing life-threatening bleeding and other serious medical conditions.
The combination of a low-profile, flexible delivery system and a detachable gold metal implant is designed for passage through tortuous blood vessels, precision placement, and immediate vessel occlusion after placement of a single device, according to the company.
Franano’s team also has revealed two other next-gen embolization products, the Solus Flex device and Aneura system.
Click here to learn more about these peripheral vascular solutions.
“Artio is developing a strong portfolio of disruptive, next-generation peripheral vascular and neurovascular embolization products, and we were thrilled to help lead the latest round of funding,” said Nathaniel Hagedorn, founder and CEO of Northpoint Development. “I have been incredibly fortunate to have so many people help me build my business and am happy to ‘pay it forward’ to a fellow entrepreneur with a clear vision and accomplished team.”
Featured Business

2020 Startups to Watch
stats here
Related Posts on Startland News
Changing lanes: Shackelford leaving Digital Sandbox to head Mid-America Angels, Fountain Innovation Fund
Two hats are better than one, joked Jeff Shackelford, announcing he’s accepted a new role with the Enterprise Center in Johnson County. “I’m on the same highway but I’m kind of changing lanes,” Shackelford said as he takes the wheel as senior vice president of investment capital and financial operations at the ECJC — where…
WeWork opening second coworking location in newly renovated downtown Lightwell building
WeWork will continue to shine a light on entrepreneurs in Kansas City with a second location inside the newly named Lightwell building downtown. “Since opening our first location here nearly two years ago in the Crossroads at Corrigan Station, WeWork in Kansas City has been bustling with entrepreneurs and high-growth businesses,“ said WeWork’s Kansas City…
Bath boon: Crumble molds new product line, adding Alchemy Bath Co into its aromatic recipe
Like freshly poured wax, the latest product from Crumble Co. founder Brandon Love has cured in Kansas City — scented this time with collaboration as the company melts into a merger with Alchemy Bath Co., he explained. “We came to them and were like, ‘Hey, can we order bath bombs from you?’ … We were…


