About Relu

The story of Relu begins in 2019 with a simple idea: could AI help dentists and labs work more efficiently? In August that year, the team kicked off a small 2D AI project aimed at detecting third molars on panoramic X-rays. Just two months later, on October 11, 2019, Relu was officially founded. That same year, the project was presented at the IADMFR Congress in Philadelphia, marking our first steps into the world of dental imaging and innovation.

In 2020, we moved from 2D to 3D. Thanks to support from VLAIO, we built our first 3D prototype capable of segmenting teeth from CBCT scans — laying the foundation for what would become our core technology platform.

The year 2021 was all about turning prototypes into products. We raised a €1.5 million pre-seed round from Business Angels, VLAIO, PMV, and KBC, giving us the runway to grow. With that support, we launched the first version of Relu® Creator, bringing AI-powered design into clinics and labs for the first time. We also began to generate our first international sales, starting in East Asia.

Momentum picked up in 2022. We released Relu® Engine, a powerful backend tool that automated segmentation and planning at scale. Our work started gaining recognition — we were named one of the Top 10 dental startups by Forsyth Dentech and one of the Top 10 Belgian startups by Deloitte. We also did our first sales in Europe.

In 2023, Relu's visibility and credibility reached new heights. We closed a €2 million seed round with Dental Innovation Alliance and CareCapital, two of the world’s leading dental investors. We landed on the cover of Flanders Investment & Trade magazine, highlighting our leadership in AI-driven dental tech. And importantly, we began generating our first sales in North America, further validating global interest in our platform.

The milestones of 2024 were both technical and strategic. Relu was named one of CB Insights’ Global Top 50 Healthtech Companies, a major moment of industry recognition. We also achieved CE marking and FDA 510(k) clearance for Relu® Creator, opening the door to regulated use in both Europe and the United States. To support our rapid growth in North America, we launched a new office in Boston, MA, now our fastest-growing market.

And that brings us to 2025. This year, we took center stage by exhibiting for the first time at IDS, the world’s largest dental trade fair. Next to that, we moved our new headquarters to the beautiful city centre of Leuven - a place where we can double our team. Our company was also named one of the Top 61 EU Medical Imaging Companies by HLTH and Albion VC.

And the journey is far from over: we’re now preparing for CE and FDA clearance for implant planning, along with the release of our next-generation design automation product and our first ever Relu booth at a big US Exhibition. Stay tuned → The first US booth is a big thing for us!