En Carta Diagnostics Raises $5.3M for At-Home Lyme and STI Tests

Jan de Vries · 2026-07-10

En Carta Diagnostics, a Paris-based deep-tech startup, just hit a major milestone. They've announced the first closing of a $5.3 million financing round (that's about €5 million converted to USD). This money is all about bringing a new generation of molecular diagnostics right into your home. ### Who's Behind the Funding? The round breaks down like this: $3.2 million in equity, led by Blue Forest Ventures, with help from Ring Capital and existing backers like CentraleSupélec Venture, 50 Partners Health, and a group of angel investors. On top of that, they secured $2.1 million in non-dilutive financing from Bpifrance and other partners. It's worth noting that back in May 2024, the company had already raised $1.6 million in pre-seed funding, also led by CentraleSupélec Venture. "This first closing brings us closer to our mission of transforming access to testing. By enabling patients to perform reliable molecular tests wherever they are, we can support earlier diagnosis, improve patient outcomes, and help relieve pressure on healthcare systems," said Guillaume Horreard, co-founder and CEO of En Carta Diagnostics. ### What Makes Their Technology Different? Founded in 2022 by Horreard and Margot Karlikow, En Carta is building a home molecular diagnostic platform that blends the accuracy of a lab PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test with the simplicity of a rapid test you'd buy at a pharmacy. Think of it like this: a pregnancy test that can detect Lyme disease or an STI with lab-grade precision. The company's platform uses aptamers—these are like tiny molecular magnets that bind with high affinity to specific targets. "This 'signature' can be programmed to detect any genetic, pathogenic, or veterinary indication, opening an extensive range of applications," En Carta explained. It's a rapid point-of-need system in an affordable cassette format, backed by over a decade of research. ### Tackling Lyme Disease and STIs En Carta is going after a big problem: Lyme disease, the most common vector-borne illness in the Northern Hemisphere. There are about 1.2 million cases each year, and the CDC reports it's growing at a scary 22.5% annually. The disease is caused by Borrelia bacteria from tick bites, and early detection is critical. The company's first product is a test for early Lyme disease detection. It's designed to deliver results in just 30 minutes, right at home. They're also expanding into STI screening, starting with chlamydia and gonorrhea. ### Key Milestones and What's Next En Carta has been busy. Here are some highlights: - They achieved "first-in-human" results and are running two clinical trials for their Lyme test—one in Boston, USA, and another in Bialystock, Poland. - In January 2026, they received the FDA Breakthrough Device Designation, which fast-tracks their path to the US market. - They inked a $13.8 million commercial partnership with AAZ, a French leader in self-tests and rapid diagnostics. This deal covers co-development and commercialization for their STI tests in Europe, with committed volumes of several million units over five years. "From FDA Breakthrough Designation to a $13.8 million commercial partnership, and now $5.3 million in financing, En Carta is delivering. Our next milestone is getting our two products—a rapid molecular diagnostic for Borrelia, the bacteria responsible for Lyme disease, and an STI screening test—into the hands of patients and clinicians across Europe and the US," added Horreard. ### What the New Funding Will Do With this capital, En Carta plans to push forward with regulatory certification for its molecular testing solutions in both Europe and the US. The FDA Breakthrough Device Designation gives them a huge advantage, but they still need to navigate those final steps. The goal is simple: make reliable, at-home diagnostics a reality for millions of people.