Biobot Surgical is on a mission to improve prostate cancer care in the U.S. The Singapore-based medical technology company has joined Fogarty’s company accelerator program (CAP) with the goal of bringing its Mona Lisa System, a robotic, transperineal platform for prostate cancer diagnosis and treatment, to hospitals and clinics across the country.
While the Mona Lisa system is already in use across Europe, Australia and Asia, Biobot has not previously pursued broad commercialization in the United States. Historically, most prostate biopsy procedures in the U.S. have been performed using a transrectal approach. Today, however, the transperineal approach is increasingly becoming the global standard. A growing body of clinical evidence underscores advantages that include a lower risk of infection and improved access to difficult-to-reach areas of the prostate, which can improve diagnostic accuracy. The shift has gained further momentum in the U.S. with the introduction of new CPT reimbursement codes in January 2026 that specifically recognize transperineal procedures.
A new standard in prostate cancer care
Biobot’s Mona Lisa system helps physicians adopt and scale the transperineal approach. The platform combines MRI and ultrasound imaging to create a detailed, real-time map of the prostate, allowing robotically guided biopsy needles to be placed with a high degree of accuracy. The same platform can also be used to guide focal ablation procedures, enabling diagnosis and treatment within a single integrated system. In addition, the Mona Lisa facilitates seamless access to clinically relevant information throughout the patient journey, supporting integrated prostate cancer management.
Importantly, Biobot’s robotic platform helps reduce one of the biggest barriers to transperineal adoption: physician training.
“Use of robotic positioning cuts the learning curve by more than half,” said Biobot CEO Kok-Hwee Sim.
Mona Lisa 2.0, the second-generation system that Biobot plans to commercialize in the U.S., has received FDA clearance to be used in biopsy and localized ablation treatment procedures.
“About sixty percent of patients diagnosed with prostate cancer are eligible for active surveillance, which means you don’t do anything immediately—you continue to monitor them through MRI and repeat biopsies,” Kok-Hwee said. “For some of those patients, focal therapy can offer a third option between active surveillance and whole-gland treatment—one that provides active intervention while helping preserve the urinary and sexual function that has the greatest impact on quality of life.”
To support its U.S. expansion, Biobot recently closed a S$20 million (approximately US$15 million) growth funding round by Singapore-based investors, ClavystBio, a life sciences investor established by Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund, Temasek, with follow-on participation from ZIG Ventures, a medtech focused investment firm that has supported Biobot since its inception. The financing will support the company’s commercialization efforts, including expansion of its U.S. commercial team and physician outreach initiatives.
From Singapore to the global stage
Kok-Hwee, who is also the managing director of ZIG Ventures, has led Biobot for more than a decade.
Born and raised in Singapore, Kok-Hwee spent five years in the United States, earning a bachelor’s degree in industrial operations engineering at University of Michigan and a master’s degree in financial engineering at Columbia University. “What really struck me about America was the emphasis on creativity, innovation, and pushing the boundaries – both in my studies and beyond,” Kok-Hwee recalled.
After graduating, Kok-Hwee returned to Singapore where he joined his family’s engineering and manufacturing business, concentrating his efforts on a precision engineering unit capable of building medical devices. Over time, the business evolved from manufacturing devices to the formation of ZIG Ventures, to both invest in early-stage healthcare innovations and also work proactively with founders to build key capabilities and drive commercialization.
Under Kok-Hwee’s leadership, Biobot has grown to 70 employees, deployed more than 80 Mona Lisa systems worldwide, supported over 30,000 procedures, and secured regulatory clearances across the United States, Europe, Australia and Asia. The company’s evidence base includes more than 50 real-world clinical publications, supporting its role in targeted transperineal prostate biopsy and precision needle placement
Building a U.S. Growth Strategy with Fogarty
As Biobot prepares for U.S. expansion, Kok-Hwee sees Fogarty Innovation as an important partner in helping the company navigate a new market and build relationships with key stakeholders.
Fogarty has already connected Biobot with community urologists—an important customer segment that Kok-Hwee believes will be critical to U.S. adoption—and those conversations have generated interest in trialing the system.
Beyond introductions, Kok-Hwee credits Fogarty’s U.S. focused commercialization frameworks and experienced mentors with helping his team optimize their approach to the U.S. market opportunity. “While we have achieved modest traction elsewhere, we are committed to learning and relearning with the guidance of the Fogarty team to hone our plans for the U.S.” he said, describing a process that has helped Biobot better align product planning, market segmentation and commercialization strategy.
As Biobot advances its U.S. expansion plans, Kok-Hwee believes the company is well-positioned to help accelerate adoption of transperineal prostate cancer care while improving outcomes for patients worldwide.
“Biobot Surgical is proud to collaborate with urologists, hospitals and centers of excellence worldwide to bring cutting-edge technology to the forefront and shape the future of prostate technology on a global scale,” Kok-Hwee said.