# Cody Simmons

> Cody Simmons is the co-founder and CEO of DermaSensor, a Miami-based medical device company behind the first FDA-cleared, AI-powered handheld tool that helps primary care physicians evaluate skin lesions for cancer in seconds using elastic scattering spectroscopy. A bioengineer with a Brown degree, a Stanford master's and four years at Genentech, he took over the company in 2016 and spent nearly a decade shrinking a microwave-sized prototype into a point-and-click device, navigating FDA breakthrough designation, a De Novo clearance in early 2024, and a $16M Series B in 2025.

- **Role:** Co-Founder & CEO at DermaSensor
- **Organizations:** DermaSensor, Inc., Genentech, Verana Health
- **Nationality:** American
- **Education:** BA, Entrepreneurship (Bioengineering focus) and Economics, Brown University, Master's degree (bioengineering / health technology focus), Stanford University
- **Known for:** Led DermaSensor to the first-ever FDA clearance for an AI-powered skin cancer detection device for primary care (2024), First device cleared to evaluate all three common skin cancers: melanoma, basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, Secured FDA Breakthrough Device designation and EU CE mark; regulatory availability in Australia and New Zealand

## Career timeline

- **2012-2016** — Four years at Genentech - leadership development program, then US pricing and contracting strategy for oncology drugs
- **2016** — Recruited by entrepreneur Maurice Ferre to become CEO of DermaSensor and commercialize its handheld skin cancer detection tool
- **2018** — Named to Forbes 30 Under 30 healthcare list
- **2021** — Completed the first FDA pivotal study for primary care-focused skin cancer detection
- **2024** — DermaSensor receives FDA De Novo clearance - first AI device to evaluate all three common skin cancers; US commercial launch mid-2024
- **2025** — Raised $16M Series B, bringing total funding to roughly $43M; surpassed 20,000 lesions scanned

## Achievements

- Led DermaSensor to the first-ever FDA clearance for an AI-powered skin cancer detection device for primary care (2024)
- First device cleared to evaluate all three common skin cancers: melanoma, basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma
- Secured FDA Breakthrough Device designation and EU CE mark; regulatory availability in Australia and New Zealand
- Raised approximately $43M in total funding including a $16M Series B in 2025
- Forbes 30 Under 30 (Healthcare), 2018
- Grew US commercial deployment at roughly 117% per quarter, surpassing 20,000 lesions scanned

## Latest updates

- **2025-10** — DermaSensor announced a $16M Series B led by existing investors plus new institutional backers including Pier 70 Ventures, Kern Venture Group and GenHenn Capital, bringing total funding to about $43M.
- **2024-01** — DermaSensor received FDA De Novo clearance; commercial launch followed mid-2024.

## Links

- Website: https://dermasensor.com
- LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/codyvsimmons
- Twitter/X: http://www.twitter.com/dermasensor
- Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/dermasensor

---

Profile page: https://yespress.io/cody-simmons
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-06-14