In the frantic minutes after a patient arrives with a major abdominal bleed, a trauma surgeon’s primary goal is to stop the hemorrhage. The standard method involves clamping the vessel, a blunt but necessary act that buys time for repair at the cost of cutting off blood flow to downstream organs. EndoShunt, a Cambridge-based medtech startup, is betting that a more elegant, temporary device can change that calculus, extending the window for definitive surgery while maintaining perfusion. The company, which emerged from the Harvard Biodesign Lab, has just closed an $8.5 million Series A round to push its novel endovascular shunt toward FDA clearance [Harvard SEAS, Apr 2025].
A Device for the Golden Hour
The company’s core technology is a temporary, length-adjustable shunt designed to be placed within a major abdominal vessel, like the aorta or iliac artery. The goal is not to fully stop the bleeding, but to partially occlude and redirect flow, rapidly controlling hemorrhage while still allowing blood to reach vital organs [EndoShunt, 2026]. This approach aims to address a critical gap in trauma care: the ischemia-reperfusion injury that can occur when a vessel is clamped for too long. By giving surgeons more controlled time, the device could reduce peri- and post-operative complications [Teknovation.biz, 2023].
EndoShunt is targeting the 510(k) regulatory pathway with the FDA, a clearance it expects to secure within approximately 18 months, according to a Harvard GRID profile of founder Michael Finn Henry [Harvard GRID, Feb 2024]. The company has already secured support from seven hospitals for a targeted launch phase post-clearance, though the specific institutions have not been publicly named [Harvard GRID, Feb 2024].
The Team Behind the Bet
The startup’s origins are deeply academic, anchored at the intersection of clinical need and engineering design. Michael Finn Henry, the company’s President and Founder, is a PhD candidate at the Harvard Biodesign Lab, where he works on robotics and medical devices [Harvard GRID, Feb 2024]. The clinical perspective is provided by Dr. Milad Behbahaninia, listed as the Chief Medical Officer and an Assistant Professor of Surgery at the University of South Florida [ZoomInfo, 2026]. The founding team also includes Olivia Busk, an Engagement Manager at McKinsey & Company, and Dr. Jeremy Levin, a Critical Care Surgery specialist in Milwaukee [CompanyCheck, Unknown] [Healthgrades, 2026]. This blend of biodesign engineering, frontline surgical experience, and operational strategy is a deliberate foundation for navigating the complex path of a regulated medical device.
| Role | Name | Background |
|---|---|---|
| President & Founder | Michael Finn Henry | PhD Candidate, Harvard Biodesign Lab [Harvard GRID, Feb 2024] |
| Chief Medical Officer | Dr. Milad Behbahaninia | Assistant Professor of Surgery, University of South Florida [ZoomInfo, 2026] |
| Founder | Olivia Busk | Engagement Manager, McKinsey & Company [LinkedIn, 2026] |
| Founder | Dr. Jeremy Levin | Critical Care Surgery Specialist, Froedtert Hospital [Healthgrades, 2026] |
The Funding Trajectory
EndoShunt’s journey from concept to Series A has been supported by a mix of non-dilutive grants and venture capital. The company participated in incubators at Harvard Innovation Labs, Science Inc., and the Wond’ry Launch program, and secured an NIH SBIR grant, an early signal of technical validation [SBIR.gov, Unknown]. Public records show a previous strategic funding round of $75,000 [CompanyCheck, Unknown]. The new $8.5 million Series A represents a significant step-change, providing the capital needed to complete development, navigate the FDA process, and prepare for a commercial launch.
Pre-seed & Grants | 0.075 | M USD
Series A (2025) | 8.5 | M USD
Where the Wheels Could Come Off
The ambition is clear, but the path for a novel surgical device is lined with hurdles that extend beyond technical feasibility. The regulatory timeline, while estimated at 18 months, is never guaranteed, and any delays can strain a young company’s resources. Furthermore, the commercial adoption of a new tool in the high-stakes, protocol-driven environment of a trauma bay is its own challenge. Surgeons are trained on specific techniques, and introducing a new device requires not just clearance, but also training, trust, and a demonstrable improvement in outcomes.
The competitive landscape, while not crowded with direct analogues, includes companies like ARMR Systems, which is also developing technologies for hemorrhage control. EndoShunt’s differentiation rests on its specific focus on endovascular placement for abdominal trauma and its aim to maintain perfusion, a nuanced approach that must prove itself in clinical use. The company’s cited support from seven hospitals is a promising start, but the strength of those commitments will only be tested when the product is cleared and ready for purchase.
The Next Twelve Months
For EndoShunt, the immediate future is defined by a series of concrete, sequential milestones. The capital from the Series A round will be directed toward finalizing the device design, conducting the necessary testing to support a 510(k) submission to the FDA, and building inventory for the planned launch. Success will be measured not in press releases, but in regulatory filings and, ultimately, in the first procedure where a surgeon reaches for the EndoShunt device in a real emergency.
The patient population here is unambiguous: individuals suffering from traumatic abdominal hemorrhage, often due to blunt force trauma or penetrating injuries. These are life-threatening events where minutes count, and outcomes are directly tied to the speed and efficacy of surgical intervention. Today, the standard of care involves rapid resuscitation, damage control surgery, and the use of vascular clamps or packing to staunch bleeding. It is a race against the clock, where saving a life can sometimes come at the cost of long-term organ damage from ischemia. EndoShunt’s entire thesis is that this trade-off doesn’t have to be so severe, that a better tool can give both the patient and the surgeon a more forgiving margin for error. The next year will determine if that thesis can move from the lab to the operating room.
Sources
- [Harvard SEAS, April 2025] Harvard SEAS news or announcement referencing $8.5M Series A | https://www.seas.harvard.edu/news
- [EndoShunt, 2026] Company description of device mechanism | https://endoshunt.com
- [Teknovation.biz, 2023] Article on EndoShunt's aims to reduce complications | https://teknovation.biz
- [Harvard GRID, February 2024] Profile of Michael Finn Henry and EndoShunt | https://www.grid.harvard.edu/post/michael-finn-henry-president-founder-endoshunt-phd-candidate-harvard-biodesign-lab-seas
- [ZoomInfo, 2026] Profile of Dr. Milad Behbahaninia | https://www.zoominfo.com
- [CompanyCheck, Unknown] Company listing with founder information | https://www.companycheck.co.uk
- [LinkedIn, 2026] LinkedIn profile for Olivia Busk | https://www.linkedin.com
- [Healthgrades, 2026] Profile for Dr. Jeremy Levin | https://www.healthgrades.com
- [SBIR.gov, Unknown] Listing of NIH SBIR grant award | https://www.sbir.gov
- [Crunchbase, November 2022] Pre-seed funding round listing | https://www.crunchbase.com/funding_round/endoshunt-medical-pre-seed--9b0bbc12