Palo Alto founder invests in Israeli hyperbaric startup hit by Hamas attack
Bariks Health’s compact pressure chamber gets $7M boost, led by Nir Zuk, after October 7 devastation.
Palo Alto Networks founder Nir Zuk has joined the board of directors of Bariks Health and made a personal investment in the company, Calcalist has learned. Bariks Health recently raised $7 million in a new funding round led by Zuk, adding to a $3 million grant it received from the Israel Innovation Authority in the first half of 2023.
Bariks Health is developing a foldable, lightweight, and highly portable hyperbaric oxygen chamber. The entire system fits into two suitcases, making it suitable for use in clinics, homes, athletic facilities, and emergency scenarios such as explosions, diving accidents, or carbon monoxide poisoning. The chamber is also designed for use by athletes on the move. The company operates on both a direct sales and rental model.
Today, hyperbaric treatment typically requires patients to visit hospitals daily for six to eight weeks, a significant burden for elderly or disabled patients, as well as parents of young children. Bariks aims to flip that model: rather than patients traveling for treatment, treatment will come to them.
Founded in 2018, the company was established by Boaz Misholi (Chairman), Yedidia Yaari (former CEO of Rafael), Dr. Yehuda Melamed, and Amir Shukrun (CEO). Another shareholder is Nir Zohar, president of Wix.
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Bariks’ development center is located in Kibbutz Nirim, near the Gaza border, and was severely affected by the October 7 attack. Nadav Poppelwell, the company’s software manager, was kidnapped and murdered by Hamas. Many of Bariks’ employees and local residents were directly impacted by the war.
