Stories you may like
Six AI healthtech startups in India making diagnostics faster, cheaper
While India has one of the world’s most affordable healthcare facilities, for many, accessibility is tough, and the costs are still high. Apart from finances, many deal with crowded diagnostic labs and wait times.
A new wave of AI-powered healthtech startups, however, is rewriting that experience by making diagnostics faster, cheaper, and more accessible, especially for people living in non-metro regions.
Using technologies like machine learning, computer vision, portable diagnostic devices, and cloud-based platforms, these companies are turning complex lab tests into quick, point-of-care solutions.
AI algorithms can now read X-rays, MRIs, or CT scans in minutes with accuracy comparable to radiologists, while smart diagnostic kits detect conditions like anemia, diabetes, or infections on the spot. Some startups even integrate wearable sensors and smartphone-based imaging, enabling continuous health monitoring outside hospitals. The impact is profound. Among other things, AI promises to lower testing costs, bridge doctor shortages, and give millions in Tier II and III cities access to reliable diagnostics. What was once limited to urban labs is now reaching villages, powered by AI.
Qure.ai
Qure.ai, founded in 2016 by Prashant Warier, is a Mumbai-based health technology startup with an additional headquarters in New York. The startup develops AI tools to interpret medical imaging such as X-rays, CT scans, and ultrasounds, helping clinicians detect conditions like tuberculosis, lung cancer, COPD, stroke, heart failure, and traumatic brain injuries. Its flagship product, qXR, can analyse chest X-rays in under a minute to identify more than 50 abnormalities, while other algorithms support neurocritical care and emergency cases.
Qure.ai’s technology integrates with hospital systems and is used across clinics and hospitals on both pay-per-use and on-premises models, enabling quicker diagnosis and reducing pressure on radiologists. Its products are certified by regulatory bodies, including the US FDA and CE, and have been recommended by the WHO.
SigTuple
SigTuple, founded in Bengaluru in 2015 by Tathagato Rai Dastidar, Rohit Kumar Pandey, Apurv Anand, and Pranat Bhadani, develops AI-driven diagnostic solutions that automate microscopic examination of biological samples such as blood, urine, and semen. Its flagship product, AI100, combines digital microscopy with cloud-based AI algorithms to analyse samples, helping reduce turnaround times and minimize manual errors.
The integration of robotics and microfluidicsfurther automates sample handling, lowering operational costs and easing reliance on routine manual work. By enabling remote analysis and supporting diagnostic workflows, SigTuple’s technology is aimed at making medical testing faster, more accurate, and accessible, particularly in regions with limited access to pathologists. The startup has secured patents, partnerships with hospital networks, and in 2023 received US FDA clearance for its AI100 platform with the Shonit™ model.
AarogyaAI
AarogyaAI, founded in 2019 in Bangalore by Dr. Praapti Jayaswal and Avlokita Tiwari, develops AI- and genomics-based tools for diagnosing antimicrobial resistance, with a focus on diseases such as tuberculosis. Its platform, AAICare, analyses genomic sequencing data from patient samples to identify pathogens and their drug susceptibility profiles, significantly reducing diagnosis time from weeks to hours.
The system also detects novel genetic mutations linked to drug resistance, enabling more accurate treatment decisions. Built on AWS cloud infrastructure, AarogyaAI’s pipelines use tools like SageMaker for model development and deployment.
The startup works with clinical and commercial partners and is backed by investors including Redstart Labs and Entrepreneur First UK, with the broader aim of making advanced diagnostics more accessible and contributing to improved infectious disease management.
Docturnal
Docturnal, a Hyderabad-based healthcare technology startup founded in 2016, develops non-invasive, point-of-care diagnostic solutions for lung health. Its tools use machine learning to analyse cough sounds and clinical data for early screening of conditions such as tuberculosis, pneumonia, COVID-19, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, and asthma.
The startup's flagship product, TimBre, screens for TB without relying on sputum or skin tests, providing real-time results that improve accessibility in resource-limited settings. Alongside TB, Docturnal is working on solutions for other infectious and chronic respiratory diseases. The startup was founded by Rahul Pathri, Balakrishna Bagadi, Arpita Singh, and Vaishnvi Reddy Gutha, and is headquartered at T-Hub, Hyderabad.
User's Comments
No comments there.