Barcelona-based Impress has secured €40 million in venture debt from the European Investment Bank (EIB), strengthening its position in digital orthodontics and providing additional resources to develop its artificial intelligence capabilities. Announced on 27 October 2026, the financing will support the company’s technological development and its expansion across European markets.

Founded in Barcelona in 2019, Impress has built its business around combining specialised orthodontic clinics with digital technologies. Its approach brings together in-person dental care, 3D intraoral scanning, personalised treatment planning and remote patient monitoring. By connecting clinical services with its own digital platform, the company aims to make orthodontic treatments more accessible, predictable and efficient.

The company was founded by Vladimir Lupenko, Diliara Lupenko and Khaled Kasem. It has developed an international network of more than 110 clinics and has treated over 500,000 patients. Its operations extend across ten countries in Europe and the United States, with Spain remaining an important market.

This article explores the company’s business model, its October 2026 financing, the funding rounds that supported its development and the lessons its growth offers to entrepreneurs building technology-driven healthcare businesses.

What this article covers:

• Impress’s digital orthodontics model and its combination of technology and clinical care.
• The €40 million EIB venture debt financing announced in October 2026.
• The company’s previous private investment rounds and capital-raising history.
• How its financing strategy supports technological development and international expansion.
• Lessons from Impress’s funding journey for entrepreneurs in healthtech and other regulated sectors.

Combining healthcare services with digital technology

Impress operates at the intersection of healthcare, orthodontics and digital technology. Rather than positioning itself solely as a provider of clear aligners, the company has developed an integrated model in which clinical services and technology work together throughout the patient’s treatment.

The process combines initial assessments and 3D intraoral scans with personalised treatment planning. Patients can then follow their progress through digital tools, while clinical professionals remain involved in monitoring and adjusting treatments.

This combination is relevant to a sector in which traditional orthodontic services can involve repeated appointments, lengthy treatment periods and significant coordination between patients and healthcare professionals.

Impress’s model seeks to simplify that experience through digital monitoring and more efficient clinical processes. Its technology also supports the collection and analysis of clinical information, creating opportunities to improve treatment planning and the management of its clinic network.

The company’s next development phase places particular emphasis on artificial intelligence. The EIB financing is intended to strengthen the platform used for orthodontic diagnosis and treatment, helping Impress further integrate technology into its clinical operations.

Impress secures €40 million in EIB venture debt in October 2026

On 27 October 2026, the European Investment Bank announced a €40 million venture debt agreement with Impress. The operation is backed by the InvestEU programme and forms part of the EIB’s wider strategy to support technological innovation and digitalisation in Europe.

The financing is particularly significant because it is structured as venture debt rather than a conventional equity investment. Instead of issuing additional shares to investors, Impress receives debt financing that can support its development while avoiding the immediate dilution associated with an equity round.

The EIB identified two main priorities for the funding:

• Artificial intelligence and technological development: strengthening Impress’s proprietary platform for orthodontic diagnosis and treatment.
• International growth: supporting the company’s expansion strategy, particularly in northern European markets.

The investment also reflects the growing importance of digital technologies in healthcare. For Impress, technology is not simply an additional feature of its service: it is central to the way the company coordinates patient care and manages its international operations.

The EIB’s involvement is also relevant from a public-financing perspective. The institution is providing financing through a European policy framework designed to mobilise investment in innovation. This differs from the private venture capital and growth investments that supported Impress during its earlier development.

Impress’ private funding journey before October 2026

The company’s development has been supported by several substantial private investment rounds.

Its early financing began with a €5 million round in October 2020, involving TA Ventures, Bynd Venture Capital and Sabadell Venture Capital. This initial investment helped the company develop its operations and establish its position in the digital orthodontics market.

In May 2021, Impress secured approximately €41 million in a Series A round. CareCapital, Nickleby Capital, UNIQA Ventures, TA Ventures and Bynd VC participated in the financing. The round was particularly important for the company’s expansion ambitions and was reported at the time as one of the largest Series A investments in Spain and southern Europe.

The next major milestone came in 2022, when Impress raised approximately €123 million in a further capital operation. The financing involved investors including TA Ventures, Media Digital Ventures, LBO France, Norgine Ventures, UNIQA Ventures, Nickleby Capital and Claret Capital Partners.

In November 2024, the company secured another significant financing package. Its funding history includes approximately €70 million in late-stage investment, alongside a €40 million debt facility from Trinity Capital. Investors included Bynd Venture Capital, TA Ventures, LBO France, CareCapital and other financial partners.

The October 2026 EIB agreement therefore represents a new stage in the company’s financing strategy. Impress is continuing to combine private capital with debt financing, while also accessing funding from a European public financial institution.

It is important to distinguish these financing instruments: venture capital provides equity in exchange for ownership, while venture debt provides repayable financing. Both can support growth, but they have different implications for a company’s ownership structure and financial obligations.

What Impress’ funding journey shows

The company’s financing history offers several lessons for entrepreneurs developing businesses that combine technology, services and healthcare.

– A clear business model can attract different types of investors. Impress has developed a model that combines physical clinics, digital services and proprietary technology. This provides several dimensions through which investors can assess its potential.

– Technology can become a central part of operational growth. Its investment in AI and digital monitoring is closely connected to the company’s ability to coordinate care across a large international network.

– Funding needs change as a company matures. Early equity investment supported the development and expansion of the business, while later financing included larger growth investments and debt facilities.

– Public financing can complement private investment. The EIB agreement demonstrates how European financial institutions can support established innovative companies alongside private investors.

– International expansion requires financial planning beyond the initial product launch. Building a presence in several countries involves operational infrastructure, clinical capacity, technology and local market development.

For entrepreneurs, the main lesson is that raising capital should be connected to clearly defined business objectives. A funding round is most valuable when the company can explain how the resources will strengthen its competitive position, improve its operations and support sustainable growth.

Impress also illustrates why businesses in regulated sectors need to consider financing options carefully. Healthcare companies must balance technological innovation with clinical standards, patient trust and the operational requirements of delivering services across different markets.

How Fundingtrip can help entrepreneurs prepare for growth

Impress’s journey demonstrates that building a successful company requires more than developing an innovative product. Entrepreneurs also need to understand how to identify suitable investors, prepare funding strategies and combine private investment with public financing opportunities. At Fundingtrip, we help entrepreneurs develop these capabilities through practical funding courses. Explore our programmes at Fundingtrip Courses and learn how to prepare your business for its next financing milestone.

About the author of this post

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Sara Gavidia
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Hello! I’m Sara 👋🏻

I’m FundingTrip’s Content creator. I write posts about technology, funding and innovation. If you liked this one, subscribe to our newsletter to receive more updates!

Post reviewed by David Arias, funding expert.