€1.5M Investment Puts Digital Sterilization Workflows in Focus

A €1.5M seed round for Dutch startup Ansana signals rising interest in digital tools that make hospital sterilization workflows more visible and reliable

9 Feb 2026

Investors are beginning to put money into hospital operations that have long been overlooked, backing software designed to improve how existing systems work rather than funding new buildings or equipment.

That shift is reflected in a €1.5m seed investment in Ansana, a Dutch health technology start-up focused on digital workflows for hospital sterilisation departments. The funding points to growing confidence that better data and coordination can ease operational strains inside hospitals.

Sterilisation is central to patient safety but often functions out of sight. When processes run smoothly, they attract little attention. When they fail, the effects are immediate, including delayed operations, missing instruments and incomplete records. Such problems are common in hospitals facing staff shortages and tight budgets.

Ansana’s software does not aim to expand sterilisation capacity. Instead, it focuses on visibility. The platform is designed to show hospital staff where surgical instruments are in the sterilisation process and whether they are ready for use. The company says this can help reduce last-minute disruptions in operating theatres and make surgical schedules more reliable.

The funding round was led by NLC Health Ventures and Healthliant Ventures, alongside private investors, according to the company. Ansana said the capital would be used to complete product development, meet regulatory requirements and run pilot projects with hospitals.

The investment comes as hospitals across Europe debate how best to improve efficiency. Advanced sterilisation technologies, including electron beam systems, continue to develop. But without clear workflows and dependable data, hospitals can struggle to benefit fully from such investments. Digital platforms that link departments and standardise information are increasingly seen as a way to extract more value from existing infrastructure.

Adoption may prove challenging. Many hospitals still depend on legacy IT systems, and new software requires staff training and organisational change. Financial constraints also remain acute.

Still, early-stage investments in tools such as Ansana suggest a belief among investors that incremental improvements in processes can have a material impact. For hospitals under pressure to improve safety, reduce delays and control costs, the focus on sterilisation performance, rather than compliance alone, is gaining ground.