En Carta Diagnostics Raises $5.5M for At-Home Lyme and STI Tests

Jan de Vries · 2026-07-10

En Carta Diagnostics, a Paris-based DeepTech startup, just hit a major milestone. They've announced the first closing of $5.5 million in financing to bring their at-home molecular tests to market. This isn't just any funding round—it's a big step toward changing how we think about medical testing. Here's the breakdown: The round includes $3.3 million in equity led by Blue Forest Ventures, with help from Ring Capital and existing investors like CentraleSupélec Venture, 50 Partners Health, and a bunch of business angels. Plus, they snagged $2.2 million in non-dilutive financing from Bpifrance and other partners. Back in May 2024, they'd already secured $1.6 million in pre-Seed funding led by CentraleSupélec Venture. ### What Makes En Carta Different? Think about this: a test that's as accurate as a lab PCR but as simple as a pregnancy test. That's what En Carta is building. Founded in 2022 by Guillaume Horreard and Margot Karlikow, the company is creating a new generation of home molecular diagnostics. Their platform combines lab-level precision with the ease of a rapid test—no fancy equipment or waiting days for results. "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 Horreard. ### Tackling Lyme Disease Head-On Lyme disease is a big deal. It's the most common vector-borne illness in the Northern Hemisphere, with 1.2 million cases every year. Caused by Borrelia bacteria from tick bites, its incidence is growing at an alarming 22.5% annually, according to the CDC. En Carta's first product targets early Lyme detection—delivering results in 30 minutes, right at home. Their technology uses aptamers, which are like custom-made magnets that bind to specific targets. "This 'signature' can be programmed to detect any genetic, pathogenic or veterinary indication, opening an extensive range of applications," the company explained. It's backed by over ten years of research. ### FDA Breakthrough and Big Partnerships In January 2026, En Carta received FDA Breakthrough Device Designation, which speeds up their path to the US market. They're already running clinical trials in Boston and Bialystock, Poland. They've also inked a $14.3 million commercial partnership with AAZ, a French self-test specialist. The deal covers co-development and commercialization of rapid molecular tests for chlamydia and gonorrhea in Europe, with commitments for millions of units over five years. ### What's Next? "From FDA Breakthrough Designation to a $14.3 million commercial partnership, and now $5.5 million in financing, En Carta is delivering," Horreard added. The company plans to use this capital to push regulatory certification in Europe and the US, supported by their FDA designation. Their goal? Getting two products—a rapid Lyme test and an STI screening test—into the hands of patients and clinicians across both continents. This is more than just a funding story. It's about making high-quality diagnostics accessible to everyone, no matter where they are. And with En Carta's progress, that future might be closer than we think.