HESS SURGICAL
PRE-SEED OVERVIEW
(Open)
Personal Introduction
My name is Blake Hess. I’m a decorated U.S. Navy veteran with over 30 years of operating room experience and the owner of a surgical assisting practice. After years of seeing the same limitations in current surgical tools, I decided to take on the challenge of building a better solution.
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What We’re Building
Hess Surgical is developing patented, illumination-enabled uterine manipulation devices designed to improve exposure of critical anatomy during laparoscopic gynecologic surgery.
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Development and prototyping efforts are supported by M11 in Flagstaff, with whom there is an informal working relationship for early prototyping. Additional Phoenix-based manufacturing partners have been identified to support future production. These relationships also provide access to broader industry connections.
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Clinical guidance is supported by Dr. Snehal Bhoola, a fellowship-trained, board-certified gynecologic oncologist, who is an investor in the company and serves as a clinical advisor.
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This work is focused on advancing surgical safety, training, and efficiency—without changing established surgical technique.
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Executive Summary
A one-page Executive Summary is available below and provides an overview of the clinical problem, the solution, and early surgeon support.
Pre-Seed Round
I am raising a small pre-seed round to support early prototyping, refinement, and operating expenses as the company moves toward initial product development and commercialization.
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Early prototyping efforts are planned in collaboration with M11 in Flagstaff, with additional Phoenix-based partners identified for future production support. Typical participation is in the $2,000–$5,000 range, with flexibility for larger amounts where appropriate.
How Do I Invest?
Investments in this round are made using a SAFE (Simple Agreement for Future Equity) administered through Gust.
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This SAFE does not include a valuation cap and provides a 20% discount to the next priced equity round. SAFEs are commonly used in early-stage investments and convert to equity at a future financing.
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If you are unfamiliar with SAFEs, the following resource provides a clear explanation:
â– What is a SAFE?
https://www.ycombinator.com/documents/
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Participation is handled directly through Gust, which provides a secure and standardized process.
FAQ
Important Note
There is no obligation to participate. This page is intended to provide information and context for those interested.
If you know someone who may be interested or would benefit from learning more, please feel free to share this page.
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Contact
Blake Hess
Website: https://HessSurgical.com
Email: info@HessSurgical.com
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Why Now
Advances in LED technology now make it practical to improve surgical exposure in ways that were not feasible when current uterine manipulation devices were designed. At the same time, minimally invasive gynecologic surgery continues to expand worldwide, while comprehensive case experience and effective surgical training are more important than ever as healthcare systems focus on safety and outcomes. This begins with a low-cost, easy-to-adopt product that fits how surgeries are already performed, allowing the company to grow steadily without requiring major behavior change. For early supporters, this creates the potential for meaningful upside from a relatively small investment as adoption expands or through acquisition by a larger surgical device company.