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Apella

Category: AI in Healthcare

An ambient AI and computer vision platform designed to digitize the operating room, automating surgical documentation and providing real-time operational intelligence to improve hospital efficiency. Apella was founded in 2019. The company is led by David Schummers. Based in San Francisco, USA. Team size: 50-100. Total funding raised: $104.3M. Latest round: Series B ($80.0M, Jan 2024). Key investors include HighlandX, Vensana Capital, Casdin Capital, PFM Health Sciences, Houston Methodist, Upside Partnership, Operator Partners, K2 HealthVentures, OpAmp Capital.

Founded
2019
Headquarters
San Francisco, USA
Team size
50-100
Total funding
$104.3M

Value proposition

Reduces clinician burnout and operational delays by using ambient sensors to automatically capture surgical events and write documentation directly to the EHR, optimizing OR throughput and patient safety.

Products and solutions

Ambient OR Sensor System (Computer Vision Hardware), Surgical Workflow Automation Engine, Real-time OR Analytics Dashboard, Autonomous EHR Documentation Integration, Predictive Staffing & Scheduling Module

Unique value

Unlike traditional software that requires manual data entry, Apella uses 'ambient intelligence'—passive sensors and computer vision—to 'see' and document what happens in the OR without interrupting the surgical team.

Target customer

Health systems, academic medical centers, and ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs).

Industries served

Healthcare Technology, Surgical Operations, Hospital Administration, Health Informatics

Technology advantage

Proprietary machine learning models capable of identifying up to 14 distinct surgical case events in real-time, combined with a 'Palantir-style' data integration approach that feeds novel perioperative data back into hospital systems.

How they differentiate

Apella differentiates through 'Ambient Intelligence,' using passive computer vision sensors to automate documentation and data capture without requiring manual input or workflow changes from surgical staff, whereas competitors often focus on manual digital playbooks or post-operative video review.

Main competitors

Caresyntax, Theator, LeanTaaS

Key partnerships

Houston Methodist (Strategic Partner & Investor), Tampa General Hospital, Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC), HighlandX (Lead Series B Investor), Vensana Capital, K2 HealthVentures, OpAmp Capital

Notable customers

Houston Methodist, Tampa General Hospital, Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC)

Major milestones

Raised $21M Series A led by Vensana Capital in Oct 2022, Successfully integrated autonomous EHR documentation with major hospital systems, Secured $80M Series B funding to scale the ambient AI platform in Jan 2026, Named to Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies of 2025 in healthcare, Expanded solution with Horizon for case duration predictions, Supported 500,000+ surgical cases to date

Growth metrics

Scaled operations to multiple top-tier health systems; platform now capable of identifying 14+ distinct surgical case events in real-time.

Market positioning

High-end enterprise AI platform for large-scale health systems and academic medical centers.

Geographic focus

North America (primarily United States)

Patents and IP

Proprietary computer vision algorithms and ambient sensing architectures (specific public patent filings not disclosed in latest funding updates).

About David Schummers

David Schummers is the Co-founder and CEO of Apella. He started his healthcare career over 20 years ago in finance covering medical technology. He was VP of Business Development at Auris Health (2014-2019), helping transition the company to a $5.7B acquisition by Johnson & Johnson. Previously VP of Marketing at Providence Medical Technology and EndoGastric Solutions, and Director of Marketing at Medtronic/Kyphon. He attended Oberlin College.

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