Dyson CameraJet: The first toothbrush with a camera and a jet, to target the gaps and remove plaque between your teeth

 

I've been hearing rumors of the Dyson company launching a toothbrush for a while now... and it's finally here!  I've got to give the company credit, they know how to write a press release as you'll see below.  It's very detailed and tells you everything you need to know about this product.  The oral care market is a financially significant one and it's seen a lot of growth in the last few years.  If you walk down the oral care aisle of a store today you'll see lots of powered toothbrushes.  However, most of the growth in the powered toothbrush market has been at the lower cost range.  Dyson is a brand known for premium products at premium prices.

I'd love to get my hands on the the new Dyson CamerJet to give you my personal opinion from usage, however at this point I don't have any hands-on experience with it.  After reading the press release I can say for sure that the device sure sounds impressive.  The company is attempting to solve a problem that has existed since the toothbrush was invented... and that is the fact the toothbrush bristles don't reach between the teeth.  That's the reason for floss or a water flosser.  Dyson has combined those two things into one and it's a great idea.  Most people don't floss on a regular basis and that leads to problems.  By creating a device that cleans between the teeth and everywhere else, they may have a real home run product here.

While the price may seem expensive, if you are already using a top of the line powered brush and a top of the line water flosser, those two devices combined can be in the price range of the Dyson.  It looks like Dyson has done a lot of research and development on the device so I'm optimistic about its performance.  Of course only use by the public will tell for sure.  As of now, I'm impressed.  If you know anyone at Dyson, let them know I'd love to get one to try! 

It's a camera viewing, gap finding, jet washing, liquid flossing, mouthwash dispensing, technique teaching, live streaming, plaque blasting, precision cleaning toothbrush. That's all. 

Today, in Paris, James Dyson revealed an entirely new way to clean your teeth. The Dyson CameraJet™ is the only toothbrush with a camera powered by Gap Optical Targeting™ to identify gaps between teeth and precision-floss while you brush. Gap Optical Targeting™ analyzes 28 live images per second to identify and target gaps between teeth in real time, triggering a precision jet burst of mouthrinse where it is needed.

It is the result of six years of research, development, and engineering, challenging every aspect of conventional oral care. While others cannot find the gaps between teeth, CameraJet™ can4. While conventional sonic toothbrush bristles can stall against the tooth surface, Dyson's variable sonic oscillation is engineered to keep bristles moving during brushing. While traditional needle-type jets can puncture through plaque, Dyson's conical jet is designed to remove more plaque while being gentler on gums and enamel. 

"Flossing is an awkward and time-consuming chore. Few of us do it even though we know we should. Dyson engineers and scientists have spent well over a decade understanding oral care regimes and how nasties build up in the mouth. Our research has shown that people consistently miss the areas where plaque forms: the gaps between teeth.

We wanted to solve three fundamental problems: how to see those gaps, remove plaque, and how to improve cleaning performance while brushing.

By combining a camera, machine learning, precision fluid dynamics, advanced brushing technologies, connectivity and WiFi, Dyson CameraJet™ introduces an entirely new way to keep your mouth healthy."

James Dyson, Founder and Chief Engineer

For decades, oral care routines have relied on multiple separate steps: brushing, flossing, and mouth-washing. Yet very few people do what dentists recommend: twice a day, every day. 9 in 10 people do not floss as regularly as they should and, on average, people spend just 45 seconds brushing which is well below the two-minute guideline.

Most consistently miss the interdental spaces: the gaps between teeth, where the problems start and plaque first forms then hardens. Left behind over time, plaque can contribute to everyday oral health problems, from bad breath and tartar to gum irritation and tooth decay, making the missed spaces between teeth one of the most important areas to target.

According to the World Health Organization's 2025 Global Oral Health Status Report, nearly 3.7bn people are estimated to be affected by oral diseases globally.  Poor oral health is also increasingly recognized as being linked to wider health conditions, including heart disease and Alzheimer's disease.

Gap Optical Targeting™

The 100k pixel macro lens camera is powered by Gap Optical Targeting™, Dyson's AI machine learning algorithm. Gap Optical Targeting™ analyzes 28 live images per second to identify and target gaps between teeth in real time. Within 100ms of the camera seeing a gap, the device detects and jets the gap, triggering a conical burst of mouthrinse to floss while you brush.

Only Dyson has a camera powered by Gap Optical Targeting™ to precision-floss between teeth while you brush.

Dyson CameraJet™ runs on 16 million lines of code, and a machine learning system trained on 470,000 dental images collected during development

Conical Jet

Dyson fluid dynamicists spent years optimizing the profile of the jet to remove plaque more effectively. To test plaque removal accurately, Dyson developed its own proxy plaque through a five-year collaboration with the National University of Singapore's Faculty of Dentistry. This enabled engineers to iterate quickly and optimize for plaque removal, without requiring a clinical trial every time a change was made. 

Traditional water flossers often use a "needle-type" jet, a sharp piercing profile of laminar fluid flow. When tested on Dyson's proxy plaque, this type of jet pierced a hole through the plaque but failed to overcome its stickiness and remove it all. In contrast, Dyson's conical jet uses a unique broad conical shaped spray. Its wider coverage sweeps and removes plaque at once, while being optimised at a lower pressure to be gentler on gums and enamel.

Anti-Gravity Tank

Its compact 12.5ml mouthrinse tank dispenses the recommended amount of mouthrinse, optimized to clean the gaps in one session without flooding the mouth. This brings mouth-rinsing into the brushing routine, removing the need for a separate step during use.

The Dyson CameraJet™ uses an anti-gravity tank with a diaphragm pump and pressure chamber that adapt during use to deliver controlled jets in any orientation. Unlike conventional systems that rely on a "straw in a cup" design, which can draw in air and lose performance when tilted, Dyson's anti-gravity tank is engineered to minimize air pockets and help prevent the device from firing blanks.

This is especially important when cleaning the back of the teeth, where the device is often horizontal. The anti-gravity tank helps ensure mouthrinse is delivered consistently each time the precision jet is triggered, whether the device is upright, angled, or horizontal.

Charging dock

To make refilling and charging seamless, Dyson has engineered a docking station that refills the toothbrush at the touch of a button in just three seconds.

The docking station also charges the device between cleans and provides a dedicated place to store it upright, hygienically, and ready for daily use. A travel case is included so you can use the Dyson CameraJet™ at home or on the go.

Dual Bristle Brush Head

Teeth aren't flat – so our brush head isn't either.

The topography of Dyson's brush head is unique and engineered to reach a greater proportion of the tooth's surface. Its dual-bristle design is precisely contoured to clean along the gumline and lift surface stains for whiter teeth, while helping to remove plaque others leave behind.  The brush head uses two bristle types: slightly firmer inner bristles work to remove surface stains, while softer outer bristles clean gently along the gumline.

The brush head is also designed with a sonic dampener for optimal acoustics and comfort. Each brush head is equipped with its own RFID tag, identifying when it is connected, how many cleans it has completed, and alerting users when it is time to replace. When a new brush head is attached, the cycle starts again. The range also includes a sensitive variant of the brush head, designed to be even gentler for those with sensitive teeth and gums.

Variable Sonic Oscillation

Dyson's unique variable sonic oscillation varies the angle of oscillation while you brush, keeping the bristles in constant motion and helping to prevent stalling, especially in hard-to-reach areas. External testing has shown that the Dyson CameraJet™ removes up to 69% more plaque than market-leading premium electric toothbrushes in hard-to-reach areas.

Connectivity

The Dyson CameraJet™ is Wi-Fi connected at 2.4GHz and Bluetooth connected. Its integrated camera is a high-quality endoscope, allowing users to see what their dentist sees through the live-viewing feature in the MyDyson™ app.

The camera is only active during live viewing or auto-jetting. No images are recorded or stored on the product or in the cloud, and images remain private to the user.

Through the MyDyson™ app, users can access guided cleaning, how-to films, brushing and flossing insights, coverage mapping, and personalized feedback. The app helps users understand where they are cleaning effectively, where they may be missing, and how to improve their technique over time.

Users can also customize their experience, choosing between auto-detect and manual jetting modes, and adjusting brushing intensity to their comfort level.

Dyson Toothpaste and Mouthrinse

Coming soon, Dyson has engineered a complete dental system to optimize the performance of Dyson CameraJet™. This includes a proprietary non-foaming toothpaste, formulated without SLS (a common foaming agent) to help keep foam out of the way so the camera can see clearly and support Gap Optical Targeting™, alongside a low-foaming mouthrinse formulated for use with the precision jet.

Availability

The Dyson CameraJet™ launches on September 1, 2026, priced at $499 and offered in two colorways: Ceramic Ultra Blue and Ceramic Pink. The Dyson CameraJet ™ includes a refill dock, two regular brush heads, and a charging cable, all engineered to work together for a complete brushing, precision-flossing and mouth-rinsing routine. Pair with an SLS-free, clear mouth rinse and SLS-free toothpaste for optimal performance.

To buy and learn more and experience The Dyson CameraJet™ visit a Dyson Demo Store near you or https://www.dyson.com/oral-care.

SprintRay Introduces Midas Restore™, a New Definitive Restorative Material Engineered for Midas Digital Press

The evolution of 3D printing continues at the speed of tech.  Not only are we seeing rapid evolution in the ease of design, but we're also seeing continuing progress and evolution in the material science that dentistry depends on.  The last couple of years have seen several announcements of improved materials for fixed prosthetics.  Today it's a major announcement from SprintRay.  

Today the company has announced  SprintRay Midas Restore™.  Filler rates keep increasing and SprintRay Midas Restore™boasts 75% filler by weight, which is impressive.  Read on for all the detials announced by SprintRay...

Glass ceramic and zirconia-filled restorative material combines advanced material science with SprintRay's Midas Digital Press technology for same-visit crowns, inlays, onlays and veneers

SprintRay, a dental technology company advancing dental 3D printing and digital manufacturing, today announced the commercial launch of SprintRay Midas Restore™, a new FDA-cleared ceramic and zirconia-filled definitive restorative resin engineered specifically for the Midas Digital Press.

With over 75% filler by weight, Midas Restore brings glass ceramic and zirconia together in a formulation designed around what matters in definitive restorative dentistry: strength where it counts, resistance to occlusal wear, lasting polish and natural aesthetics. The material enables dentists to produce definitive crowns, inlays, onlays and veneers through a streamlined same-visit digital workflow.

Unlike restorative materials engineered primarily around maximum strength, Midas Restore was designed around how a definitive restoration polishes, wears, flexes and functions once adhesively bonded to remaining tooth structure, while maintaining the required clinical strength.

"If we could 3D print enamel, this is it."

The statement captures the design philosophy behind Midas Restore: creating a restorative material that balances polish retention, wear resistance, strength, surface hardness, stiffness, and optical performance while working in concert with the natural tooth.

"Traditional dental 3D printing forces a compromise: the material has to be fluid enough to print, which limits how highly filled it can be," said Amir Mansouri, CEO and Founder of SprintRay. "Midas Restore was designed in our material science lab to address that limitation. By pairing a highly filled glass ceramic and zirconia formulation with Midas Digital Press, we can give clinicians access to a new class of definitive restorative materials and bring them into an efficient same-visit workflow."

Designed Around the Bonded Tooth

For decades, restorative materials have been engineered around bulk strength. Glass ceramics and zirconia are brittle, so their primary defense against crack propagation is shear strength — which in turn means more tooth reduction and stiffness well beyond what function requires.

Midas Restore takes a different approach. Its resin matrix is designed to arrest cracks rather than simply resist them, and its flexural modulus sits closer to dentin than to a glass ceramic. Once adhesively bonded to remaining tooth structure, the restoration becomes part of a system in which material and tooth distribute function together, rather than concentrating stress at the interface.

SprintRay laboratory testing demonstrated that Midas Restore retained 98% of its initial gloss after 5,000 simulated toothbrush abrasion cycles, and delivered five times the wear resistance of SprintRay Ceramic Crown over 200,000 cycles — wear performance comparable to a milled hybrid ceramic. In biaxial flexural testing, Midas Restore reached a maximum strength of 215 MPa, the highest of any SprintRay definitive restorative material.¹ The surface hardness was measured to be greater than 80 HV, statistically equivalent to a leading nanofilled direct composite and roughly double that of previous-generation printed restorative resins. Its translucency parameter of 13.5 places it in the same range as milled lithium disilicate HT.²

"We engineered Midas Restore around how a restoration actually behaves once it is bonded to a tooth, not around a single strength number," said Hossein Bassir, Chief Product Officer at SprintRay. "Filler content, polish retention, wear resistance, modulus and optics are not separate features. They are one system, and the tooth is part of it."

Made to Be Pressed

Achieving this combination of properties requires a filler loading that conventional dental 3D printing cannot process. Highly filled formulations are highly viscous, and viscous material does not flow into a print zone on its own.

SprintRay's Digital Press Stereolithography (DPS) technology actively pushes highly viscous material into the print zone from sealed capsules. That is what allows Midas to work with filler loads over 75% by weight — and it is why Midas Restore is engineered exclusively for the Midas Digital Press.

Built for Same-Visit Dentistry

Midas Restore brings definitive restorative material into a streamlined digital workflow spanning scanning and design through pressing, post-curing, polishing and bonding.

Clinicians can press multiple units from a single capsule, post-cure in four minutes, and polish restorations to final with two wheels in under two minutes — with no glaze or oven required. Midas Restore can also be adjusted, added to and repaired intraorally before adhesive cementation, supporting definitive delivery without a provisional, second appointment or lab bill.

Midas Restore builds on the Midas Digital Press platform, introduced in 2024. Since its launch, clinicians across 33 countries have produced more than 100,000 restorations with Midas. Early clinical evaluation of Midas Restore has also demonstrated straightforward finishing and polishability.

"With Midas Restore, I can achieve a beautiful, lasting surface gloss in just two or three quick polishing steps with a standard polishing system," said Andrew C. Johnson, DDS, MDS, CDT, FACP, Diplomate of the American Board of Prosthodontics and prosthodontist at OmniSmile Digital Dental Solutions, who participated in the early clinical evaluation of Midas Restore. "That combination of durability, aesthetics and straightforward finishing is what I expect as a clinician from a definitive restorative material. This is an exciting time for digital dentistry."

Availability

Midas Restore will be available beginning September 1, 2026, in the United States in shades A1, A2, A3, B1 and C2. A three-pack of Single-Unit Capsules is $135 and will be available through the SprintRay Store and authorized SprintRay distribution partners.

Midas Restore is validated for use with the SprintRay Midas Digital Press and SprintRay NanoCure. In the United States, it is FDA 510(k) cleared (K260661), Class II, Rx only.

¹ Maximum value. ISO 6872, piston-on-three-balls. Mean 180 MPa. ² Shade A1; other shades may vary.

About SprintRay

SprintRay is a dental technology company specializing in dental 3D printing and digital manufacturing solutions for dental professionals. The SprintRay ecosystem combines dental 3D printers, Digital Press technology, biocompatible dental materials, AI-powered design software and post-processing solutions to help clinicians deliver restorative, prosthetic and appliance-based care in the dental practice.

By developing hardware, software and materials as connected systems, SprintRay is working to make advanced digital dentistry and chairside manufacturing more accessible, efficient and clinically practical at the point of care.

Personify Group Names Michelle Strange, MSDH, RDH, to Advisory Board

 

I've known Michelle for a number of years and I really enjoy her hard work and dedication to the profession.  As a member of the Personify Advisory Board myself, I'm excited that Michelle is joining.  I know she's going to bring great insights and energy to Personify Group and I'm looking forward to working with her.  Read on for info on Michelle and Personify...

Dental Hygiene and Infection Control Expert will Provide Clinical insight to Support Client Strategy, Innovation and Commercialization

Personify Group, Inc., a commercialization, branding, public relations, and demand generation firm serving the dental industry, today announced that Michelle Strange, MSDH, RDH, has joined its Advisory Board as an independent dental hygiene and infection prevention advisor.

Strange brings more than 25 years of experience spanning clinical dental hygiene, infection control, education, public health, mobile dentistry, long-term care and independent practice ownership. 

Her advisory board appointment expands Personify Group’s access to independent clinical perspectives as the firm advises dental manufacturers, technology companies and innovators on product development, positioning, commercialization, market adoption and revenue generation.

“Michelle provides Personify Group with something particularly valuable: the perspective of a clinician, educator and entrepreneur who understands what actually happens when a new product, technology or protocol reaches the operatory,” said Michael Ventriello, Co-Founder and Chief Communications Officer of Personify Group. “She can help us challenge assumptions, identify potential barriers to adoption and better understand how innovations will be received and implemented by dental hygienists and other members of the clinical team.”

As an independent advisor, Strange will provide Personify Group with strategic insight on dental hygiene, infection control, clinical workflow, professional education and emerging trends affecting the hygiene profession. She may also advise on select client initiatives where her expertise can help inform market strategy, messaging, clinician engagement and commercialization planning.

Strange is a practicing dental hygienist, educator and entrepreneur. She is the owner of SmileLogic, an independent dental hygiene practice in Colorado. She is also the founder of MichelleStrangeRDH.com and Level Up Infection Prevention, platforms focused on education, practical resources, clinical care and compliance. 

“Dental hygienists are often among the first people expected to integrate new technologies, products and protocols into everyday patient care,” said Strange. “I’m looking forward to bringing that clinical perspective to Group and helping companies better understand what dental professionals need for an innovation to make sense not just in theory, but in real-world practice.”

Strange earned a bachelor’s degree in health science from the Medical University of South Carolina and a master’s degree in dental hygiene education from the University of Bridgeport. Her continuing professional development includes a Certificate in Dental Infection Prevention and Control as well as training in myofunctional therapy, interim restorative therapies and neuromodulators.

“In our opinion, an advisory board should do more than lend names to an organization’s web site,” said Mark Ross, Co-Founder and Chief Branding Officer of Personify Group. “We carefully select advisors who will bring distinct expertise, ask difficult questions and give us perspectives that strengthen the strategies we develop on behalf of our clients. Michelle adds an important clinical and professional dimension to this elite group.”

Strange recently published Independent by Design: A Dental Hygienist’s Journey to Practice Ownership, which explores evolving career opportunities for dental hygienists and draws upon her own progression from clinical practice and education to entrepreneurship and independent practice ownership.

About Personify Group

Personify Group, Inc. is a commercialization and strategic communications firm serving the dental and medical industries. The company helps manufacturers, technology companies, service providers, and innovators accelerate growth through brand strategy, public relations, market positioning, demand generation, thought leadership, and commercialization planning. By integrating communications with measurable business objectives, Personify Group helps clients build awareness, credibility and commercial momentum.

A Big Advancement in Decreasing Sensitivity and Increasing Remineralization: VOCO Profluorid Varnish + BioMin®

I'm a big fan of products from VOCO.  I've used them for years and I rely on them to help me get the best outcomes possible.  In June of this year I was lucky enough to be able to travel to the VOCO headquarters in Cuxhaven, Germany for a meeting.  I can tell you from personal experience that not only does VOCO make products I depend on, they also have incredible people on their team.  While I was in Cuxhaven, I got a chance to actually try the new varnish formula, by tasting some of the different varieties while some of the VOCO team watched my reaction.  It was actually a lot of fun.  

What sets Profluorid +BioMin apart for the pack when it comes to fluoride varnish products is the addition of BioMin.  The chemical is a form of bioglass which is pretty incredible.  Bioglass was discovered in the 60s to help solve problems with orthopedic surgery.  It was discovered that bioglass has incredible bioactivity and actually helps stimulate growth of bone as well as enamel.

As a geeky guy, who likes chemistry, I've followed the news about bioglass for years due to its applications in dentistry and I was excited when I learned that VOCO was incorporating it into their fluoride varnish.  The great new is that Profluorid® Varnish + BioMin is avaaiable in Canada right now and will be available in the US, next week, Tuesday September 1.  Knowing what I know about bioglass, I'm excited about this product.  A great explanation of the science is in the VOCO info below...

America's #1 5% Sodium Fluoride Varnish Now Enhanced with BioMin Technology

VOCO announces the launch of Profluorid® Varnish + BioMin, an enhanced version of America's No. 1 5% sodium fluoride varnish that combines the proven benefits of ADA-recommended* 5% sodium fluoride with innovative BioMin bioglass technology. The advanced dual-action formula releases additional calcium and phosphate ions that work synergistically with fluoride to provide enhanced protection against dentin hypersensitivity while strengthening enamel.

BioMin bioglass, developed at Queen Mary University of London, has been successfully used in bioactive oral care products for years. When exposed to saliva, the invisible, flavorless bioglass dissolves, releasing calcium and phosphate ions that enhance the efficiency of the fluoride varnish. These ions contribute to fluorapatite formation on the enamel surface while also supporting long-term protection of tooth structure.

Compared with conventional fluoride varnishes, Profluorid Varnish + BioMin offers enhanced protection against dentin hypersensitivity. BioMin releases ultra-fine crystals that penetrate deep into dentin tubules, where fluorapatite forms to seal the tubules. Combined with fluorapatite formation on enamel surfaces, this process increases enamel hardness, improves resistance to acid attacks, and provides a long-term desensitizing effect.

The formulation is based on VOCO's Advanced Pro-Colophony technology, allowing the varnish to be applied in a thin, clear layer with superior adhesion to the tooth surface for long-lasting fluoride release. Rapid ion release begins within the first 15 minutes, with efficacy nearly doubling within 60 minutes. Its excellent taste, neutral smell, and smooth feel promote outstanding patient acceptance while making application easy and comfortable for dental hygienists.

Profluorid Varnish + BioMin is available in four patient-friendly flavors: mint, caramel, bubble gum, and cherry. It is offered in both tubes and convenient SingleDose delivery systems to accommodate a variety of clinical workflows.

For more information, visit vocoamerica.com.
* Maguire A. ADA clinical recommendations on topical fluoride for caries prevention. Evid Based Dent. 2014 Jun;15(2). 38-9.

Drone News: Mara raises $7M to stop ongoing FPV-drone nightmare with low-cost autonomy

 

As a drone pilot and a tech lover I've got a real love of drone tech.  I've followed the happenings in Ukraine for several years and the evolution of this tech is amazing.  Drones are doing lots of things outside the defense section such as delivering medicines to remote villages and looking for lost hikers.  However, a lot of those abilities come from the defense industry.

I've also love stories of young people with a dream that see it take shape.  Mara was started by two friends who met in high school in 2013 and have been working together since.  So read what these two young men have accomplished.  It's pretty impressive and it may save lives on the battlefield.  Not bad for an idea that started in a dorm room...

Mara has raised a $7 million pre-seed round led by Khosla Ventures to build Spike, an automated counter-UAS system designed for the small, inexpensive FPV drones reshaping modern conflict.

The deadliest weapon in modern warfare, the small and ubiquitous FPV drone, costs a few hundred dollars and can disable a vehicle worth millions or knock out power for millions of people. Yet much of the counter-drone (counter-UAS) industry was built for a different target: large drones flying high overhead on a predictable course. 

Small FPV drones launch from anywhere, attack in groups from several angles at once and increasingly use fiber-optic control links or onboard guidance to bypass traditional electronic jamming. Despite billions in counter-drone investment, these drones remain the leading cause of combat casualties globally. After Ukraine’s Operation Spiderweb in June 2025, the world realized that FPV drones can destroy strategic and civilian targets thousands of kilometers from active combat.

Mara was founded to neutralize this threat. Today, the company announced a $7 million pre-seed round to bring Spike, its integrated counter-UAS platform, from field testing to broad combat deployment.

The round was led by Khosla Ventures, with participation from a16z Speedrun, Night Capital, Palmdrive, Protagonist, Freedom Fund and Indicator Fund, alongside angel investors.

Why this matters now 

FPV’s use pincer, swarm, and ambush tactics to circumvent defenses.

Traditional counter-UAS systems rely on a gun, laser, or semi-piloted interceptor focused on one sensor and effector cone. That can work against larger high-flying threats, or against one FPV drone at a time. It stops working when several small drones arrive along different vectors in rapid succession. Over the Ukrainian front line’s infamous “gray zone”, hundreds of FPVs are in the air per square kilometer doing just that.

Mara’s answer is distributed, autonomous, omnidirectional defense. “Small drones changed the battlefield because they distributed the cost and capability of precise attack,” said Daniel Kofman, Co-Founder and CEO of Mara. “Most defenses still concentrate both replacement cost and line of fire. Spike instead creates a distributed mesh of small, cheap nodes that can each aim and shoot in multiple directions at once.”

Spike uses stationary targeting sensors alongside a magazine of tiny interceptors, giving the system 360-degree hemispherical coverage in a portable package. Designed to be fully attritable from the sensors to the interceptors, Spike can fire on dozens of threats simultaneously at a system cost below the cost of the asset being protected.

How Spike works

Spike combines the full counter-UAS chain in one system consisting of two modular parts that work alone or together.

 Its Spotter targeting system combines visual, acoustic, and optional radar sensors with advanced in-house AI for day, night and all-weather detection. Its Seeker kinetic interceptor is small (250g), fast (200kmh), and tube-launched, with onboard intelligence. Spike can pass launch orders autonomously from Spotter to Seeker, but a human remains on the loop to set rules of engagement and safely abort launches if necessary.

Spike is designed to scale with the mission. A rucksack-portable configuration can protect a dismounted squad. Vehicle-mounted Spikes can cover a convoy. Larger deployments can create multi-kilometer perimeters at military bases, front lines, sporting events, or power plants.

From dorm-room prototypes to field use

Mara was founded in October 2024 by Daniel Kofman and Sriram Raghu, who met in high school in 2013 and have been building together ever since.

Their work in drones began with tactical FPV prototypes for a DHS program, assembled from their college dorm rooms. The pair later co-founded, alongside its current CEO, Optivolt, which shipped smart solar panels to Anduril, the U.S. Air Force and Ukraine. Mara grew from their conviction that the industry had left the most important and lethal defense gap wide open.

 Over the past several months, Spike’s components have moved into live field exercises. Seeker completed intercepts cued through U.S. Army software at an exercise in Texas. Spotter operated hands-free on an armored vehicle during another Army exercise in Europe, feeding detection data into Army command software. Mara demonstrated end-to-end engagement in field testing with a U.S. special operations unit, where Spotter detected the target and cued Seeker to launch without operator input. 

Most recently, in July, Ukrainian forces operated Spotter 40km from the front line, where it tracked multiple FPV drones.

 Beyond military applications, Mara is deploying Spike in a civilian pilot at a South Korean port. The company has cooperative research and testing agreements with three U.S. defense organizations, was selected for NATO’s DIANA innovation accelerator and is in early-stage engagement with international military partners in the UK, Czech Republic, and Ukraine.

“Mara has moved rapidly from proof-of-concept to user testing for an autonomous system,” said Nicole Fraenkel, Partner at Khosla Ventures. “what caught my eye is that they’re building counter-drone autonomy with a system cost that’s orders of magnitude lower than anything else we’ve seen.”

What’s next

Mara is currently focused on deploying Spike to key customers for ground-mounted use by the end of 2026. Vehicle-mounted and man-portable capabilities will launch alongside production scale-up in 2027. 

Once Spike is deployed at scale, Mara plans to continue its mission – using machine autonomy to defend human autonomy – by mass-producing an arsenal of cheap, tiny robots that dominate the line of contact in any battle: land, air, or sea.

 

Weave Announces Acquisition by Francisco Partners

 

Transaction Accelerates Investment in Weave’s AI-Powered Platform for Healthcare Practices

Weave Stockholders to Receive $7.40 Per Share in Cash, Representing a 34% Premium

Weave Communications, Inc. (“Weave”) (NYSE: WEAV), a leading AI-powered patient engagement and payments platform purpose-built for healthcare practices, and Francisco Partners (“FP”), a leading global investment firm that specializes in partnering with technology companies and technology-enabled businesses, today announced that FP has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Weave, at an aggregate equity valuation of approximately $650 Million.

Under the terms of the agreement, Weave stockholders will receive $7.40 per share in cash, representing a premium of approximately 34% to Weave’s unaffected closing stock price on August 17, 2026, the last full trading day prior to the transaction announcement. Upon completion of the transaction, Weave will cease to trade on the NYSE and become a private company.

Founded in 2008, Weave is a leading all-in-one customer experience and payments software platform for small and medium-sized healthcare businesses. Weave’s software solutions transform how healthcare practices attract, communicate with, and engage patients and clients to grow their business. Following the completion of the transaction Weave will continue to operate under the Weave name and maintain its headquarters in Lehi, Utah.

“Since our founding in 2008, we have built Weave for a customer most software companies overlook — the independent practices that care for patients in communities across the country. More than 40,000 locations rely on us today,” said Brett White, Chief Executive Officer of Weave. “Together with Francisco Partners, we will be able to enhance our ability to invest in our AI platform, deepen our payments and revenue cycle management capabilities, and further our vision of a better healthcare experience at every practice. Today’s announcement represents a compelling outcome for our stockholders, and we look forward to partnering with Francisco Partners, who have an extensive track record in successfully scaling companies at the intersection of vertical software and healthcare, in the next phase of Weave’s journey.”

Stuart C. Harvey Jr., Chair of the Weave Board of Directors added, “The Weave Board conducted a thorough evaluation of strategic alternatives and spoke with a number of strategic and financial parties. The transaction with Francisco Partners delivers a substantial premium and compelling, certain cash value to our stockholders. The Board unanimously determined that this transaction represents the best path forward for Weave and recommends that stockholders vote in favor of the transaction. On behalf of the entire Board, I want to thank Brett and the Weave team for building a business that has achieved this outcome and is positioned for continued growth.”

“Weave is ideally positioned to capitalize on the healthcare industry’s large and growing demand for AI to help optimize their practices and services,” said Ezra Perlman, Co-President at Francisco Partners. “Its vertical platform sits at the center of how tens of thousands of practices communicate with their patients and collect revenue, a position that is difficult to build and harder still to replicate.” Nick Nelson, Principal at Francisco Partners, added, “Weave has built a differentiated platform, and we see significant opportunity to build on that position through continued product innovation and by expanding the value Weave delivers to its customers. We are excited to partner with the entire team for the next chapter of Weave’s growth.”

Henry Schein and Special Olympics Renew Partnership Through 2030

 

One of the most important things I've learned in my career and my life is the importance of giving back.  For those of us blessed enough to have success, it's important to use our resources to help others.  Today's post is to let all of you know about the commitment to others shown recently by Henry Schein.


Henry Schein’s Long-Term Commitment Helps to Advance Health Screenings, Education, and Wellness Support for People with Intellectual Disabilities Around the Globe

Access to quality healthcare can make a profound difference in a person’s life. Yet for many people with intellectual disabilities (ID), barriers to care remain a daily reality. According to Special Olympics, despite severe need and higher health risks, individuals with ID are often denied health services and have a life expectancy that is, on average, 16 years shorter than the general population. 

Henry Schein, Inc., the world’s largest provider of healthcare solutions to office-based dental and medical practitioners, and Special Olympics have extended their collaboration through 2030, reinforcing a shared commitment to expanding access to health screenings, education, and wellness resources for athletes at select Special Olympics events globally.

Through this partnership, which began in 2018, Henry Schein donates essential oral health and medical care products for the Special Olympics Healthy Athletes® program. Since 1997, Healthy Athletes has delivered over two million free health screenings to Special Olympics athletes worldwide and trained more than 300,000 healthcare professionals and students to treat people with ID. It supports the physical and social-emotional well-being of people with ID, the reduction of health disparities, and can help to increase life expectancy. The partnership also empowers and encourages healthcare providers to volunteer their time and services while increasing their knowledge of best practices in caring for and communicating with people with ID. 

“Creating healthier communities requires collaboration and sustained commitment, principles that have been central to Henry Schein since our founding in 1932,” said Kyle Guerin, Director, Corporate Social Responsibility, Henry Schein Cares, at Henry Schein. “Extending our partnership with Special Olympics reflects our shared belief that every individual deserves the opportunity to achieve better health and well-being. We are proud to continue supporting programs that help expand access to care, foster inclusion, and equip healthcare professionals with the resources and experience to better serve people with intellectual disabilities.”

Henry Schein’s donations are used during screenings in nine Healthy Athletes disciplines: Special Olympics Fit Feet (podiatry); Special Olympics FUNfitness (physical therapy); Special Olympics Health Promotion (preventative medicine); Special Olympics Healthy Hearing (audiology); Special Olympics Lions Clubs International Foundation Opening Eyes® (vision/eye health); Special Olympics MedFest® (sports physical exam); Special Olympics Special Smiles® (dentistry); and Special Olympics Strong Minds (mental health), in several countries including Germany and the United States. Beyond these disciplines, Henry Schein’s donations also support Special Olympics Healthy Young Athletes, the pediatric discipline of Healthy Athletes.

Recently, the company donated a range of essential healthcare products for the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games that took place from 20 to 26 June 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The event united around 3,000 athletes, 1,500 coaches, 10,000 volunteers, and 75,000 fans from 50 U.S. states.

“Long-term partnerships are essential to creating lasting change in health outcomes for people with intellectual disabilities,” said Dr. Dimitri Christakis, Special Olympics Chief Health Officer. “Henry Schein has been a valued partner in helping us reach athletes with critical health services, education, and support. Together, we are working toward a future where quality healthcare is accessible, inclusive, and responsive to the needs of every individual.” 

The donations to Healthy Athletes are an initiative of Henry Schein Cares, the company’s global corporate citizenship program, celebrating its 25th anniversary this year.

About Henry Schein Cares

Founded in 1932 by Henry and Esther Schein, our Company has a rich history rooted in corporate citizenship. Their values inspired our commitment to innovation, leadership, and strong partnerships and serve as a driving force behind our ability to adapt to changing industry needs. Today, Henry Schein Cares, our global corporate citizenship program, aims to drive change through our five pillars: catalyzing healthcare access; advancing policies, solutions, and innovation; relationship building for change; empowering Team Schein; and sustaining the planet. Our purpose is to drive this positive change through the engagement of our constituents to help make the world healthier. By adhering to these pillars, we are committed to “doing well, by doing good” and recognize the importance of being accountable to the five constituents that make up the Company's Mosaic of Success — customers, suppliers, Team Schein Members, shareholders, and society at large.

About Henry Schein, Inc.

Henry Schein, Inc. (Nasdaq: HSIC) is a products, services, and technology platforms company for healthcare customers. With more than 25,000 Team Schein Members worldwide, the Company’s network of trusted advisors provides more than 1 million customers globally with more than 300 valued solutions that help improve operational success and clinical outcomes. Our Business, Clinical, Technology and Supply Chain solutions help office-based dental and medical practitioners work more efficiently so they can provide quality care more effectively. These solutions also support dental laboratories, government and institutional healthcare clinics, as well as other alternate care sites. Henry Schein operates through a centralized and automated distribution network, with a selection of more than 300,000 branded products and Henry Schein corporate brand products in our main distribution centers. A FORTUNE 500 Company and a member of the S&P 500® index, Henry Schein is headquartered in Melville, N.Y., and has operations or affiliates in 34 countries and territories. The Company’s sales reached $13.2 billion in 2025, and have grown at a compound annual rate of approximately 11.0 percent since Henry Schein became a public company in 1995. For more information, visit Henry Schein at www.henryschein.com.

About Special Olympics International

Founded in 1968, Special Olympics is a global sports movement to end discrimination against people with intellectual disabilities. We foster acceptance of all people through the power of sport and programming in education, health and leadership. With more than 4.6 million athletes and Unified Sports® partners and over one million coaches and volunteers in more than 200 countries and territories, Special Olympics offers over 30 Olympic-type sports and nearly 60,000 games and competitions every year. Engage with us on: X, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, and LinkedIn. Learn more at SpecialOlympics.org.