En Carta Diagnostics Raises $5.5M for At-Home Lyme 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 for Lyme disease and STIs to market. This round includes $3.3 million in equity led by Blue Forest Ventures, with help from Ring Capital and existing investors like CentraleSupelec Venture and 50 Partners Health. Another $2.2 million came from non-dilutive financing through Bpifrance and other partners. Back in May 2024, they'd already secured $1.6 million in pre-Seed funding. "This first closing brings us closer to our mission of transforming access to testing," said Guillaume Horreard, co-founder and CEO. "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." ### What En Carta Is Building Founded in 2022 by Horreard and Margot Karlikow, En Carta Diagnostics is creating a new kind of home diagnostic. Think of it as combining the accuracy of a lab PCR test with the simplicity of a rapid test you'd grab at a pharmacy. Their platform is designed to work without any lab infrastructure. You just use it at home, and it delivers results in about 30 minutes. That's a game-changer for diseases like Lyme disease, which is the most common vector-borne illness in the Northern Hemisphere. ### Why Lyme Disease Matters Lyme disease affects about 1.2 million people every year. It's caused by Borrelia bacteria, spread through tick bites, and its incidence is growing at a scary 22.5% per year, according to the CDC. Early detection is key, but current tests often require lab visits and can take days. En Carta's solution uses aptamers — these are molecules that bind with high precision to specific targets. The company explains that this "signature" can be programmed to detect any genetic, pathogenic, or even veterinary indication, opening up tons of applications. ### The Tech Behind the Promise Their technology is a rapid Point-of-Need molecular diagnostic platform in an affordable cassette format. It's backed by more than ten years of intensive research. The company has already achieved first-in-human results and is running two clinical trials for its Lyme disease test — one in Boston, USA, and another in Bialystock, Poland. In January 2026, they got FDA Breakthrough Device Designation, which gives them an accelerated path to the US market. They've also signed a $14.3 million commercial partnership with AAZ, a French company that specializes in self-tests and rapid diagnostics. ### What's Next This partnership aims to market new rapid molecular tests for chlamydia and gonorrhea in Europe, with committed volumes of several million units over five years. The company is focused on getting both products — the Lyme test and the STI screening test — into patients' hands across Europe and the US. "From FDA Breakthrough Designation to a $14.3 million commercial partnership, and now $5.5 million in financing, En Carta is delivering," added Horreard. With this capital, they're advancing regulatory certification in both Europe and the US. It's a big step for a startup that started just a few years ago. - **Funding breakdown:** $3.3M equity, $2.2M non-dilutive - **Key partners:** Blue Forest Ventures, Ring Capital, Bpifrance - **Target markets:** Lyme disease first, then STI screening - **Regulatory wins:** FDA Breakthrough Device Designation It's exciting to see a company tackle such a widespread problem with real innovation. Early detection could save millions from the long-term effects of Lyme disease, and making STI testing more accessible is a public health win.