Firm making surgery robots is valued at $1 billion

 Memic

Memic’s product is the ‘only FDA-authorized surgical robot that features miniature humanoid-
shaped arms, with shoulder, elbow, and wrist joints, providing human level dexterity,’ according to a press release.

That makes three unicorns.

Dr. Maurice R. Ferré has helped mint a third $1 billion company with the announcement Friday that Memic, a robotic-surgery company that he chairs, has been acquired by a special purpose acquisition company, or SPAC, at a 10-figure valuation.

Memic was founded in 2013 and is based in Tel Aviv with a wholly owned subsidiary based in Fort Lauderdale. Its Hominis platform, according to a press release, is the only FDA-authorized surgical robot that features miniature “humanoid-shaped” arms, with shoulder, elbow and wrist joints, providing human-level dexterity and 360-degree articulation.

Ferré, the son of former Miami Mayor Maurice A. Ferré, is also CEO and chairman of INSIGHTEC, an incisionless-surgery company that earned a billion-dollar valuation in March 2020. And he is co-founder of MAKO Surgical, which became South Florida’s first tech unicorn of the 21st century when it was acquired by Stryker in 2013.

For South Florida, Memic’s acquisition will mean more jobs, Ferré said Friday. The region’s medical-technology ecosystem now includes multiple companies founded by MAKO veterans and continues to grow. In an interview, Ferré said Memic intends to hire 100 employees during the next year and some 250 during the next three.

“Memic has the potential to be as big as MAKO,” Ferré said. “It shows companies can be financed here in South Florida — that’s a really important message. You don’t have to be in Boston or San Francisco anymore. And we’re recruiting the talent to come here.”

Rob Wile: 305-376-3203, @rjwile