Cooler Heads Raises $11M to Scale Portable Scalp Cooling Technology

Medical device company Cooler Heads has closed an oversubscribed $11 million Series A funding round to accelerate the rollout of its FDA-cleared Amma™ Portable Scalp Cooling System. The financing, led by Cleveland-based Mutual Capital Partners, will enable the company to scale manufacturing and expand its commercial team as it addresses a critical unmet need in cancer care.

The funding comes at a pivotal time for scalp cooling technology. The American Medical Association's decision to elevate scalp cooling reimbursement codes to Category I status beginning January 2026 signals growing recognition of the treatment as an emerging standard of care. This regulatory milestone creates significant market opportunity for Cooler Heads as the only company offering a portable FDA-cleared solution.

"Hair loss is so emotionally devastating that 8% of patients eligible for chemotherapy refuse treatment," said Kate Dilligan, breast cancer survivor, Founder, and CEO of Cooler Heads. "Amma™ is a user-friendly platform that helps infusion centers seamlessly add scalp cooling to their workflows. The American Medical Association's decision to elevate scalp cooling reimbursement codes to Category I starting in January 2026 creates powerful momentum for us, reinforcing scalp cooling as an emerging standard of care."

The Amma™ system works by cooling the scalp before, during, and after chemotherapy infusions, reducing blood flow to hair follicles and shielding them from chemotherapy drugs. Unlike traditional methods that require dry ice or frequent cap changes, Amma™ offers continuous cooling technology that makes the treatment more accessible and convenient for both patients and infusion centers.

The Series A round attracted a diverse group of healthcare-focused investors including SHD Partners, Crescent Ridge VC, Cal Innovation Fund, NuFund, Robin Hood Ventures, Golden Seeds, HIP VC, and an unnamed strategic investor. The investment will support increased manufacturing capacity, commercial team expansion, and development of next-generation product features.

"Our investment in Cooler Heads reflects our confidence in the ability of this leadership team to make scalp cooling available wherever patients are getting chemotherapy. Cooler Heads is not only improving care for patients, but for the first time making this therapy low friction for infusion centers," said Liz Todia Zambory who led the Mutual Capital Partners team's investment.

The company has strengthened its board with the addition of Mike Schotzinger from SHD Partners and Jason Pesterfield, CEO of Elucent Medical, as an independent director. These appointments bring additional expertise in medical device commercialization and healthcare innovation.

For patients undergoing chemotherapy, maintaining their hair represents more than cosmetic concern—it's about preserving identity and privacy during treatment. "In a process where so much is stripped away, scalp cooling helped me keep a part of myself intact, and that gave me strength," said Jennifer George, who used Amma during 16 cycles of chemotherapy while being treated for early stage breast cancer in 2024.

The San Diego-based company, founded by a cancer survivor, is positioned to transform how infusion centers deliver supportive care. With portable technology that eliminates infrastructure barriers and upcoming favorable reimbursement changes, Cooler Heads aims to make scalp cooling a standard offering wherever chemotherapy is administered.

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