Latest news with #medtech
Entrepreneur
3 days ago
- Business
- Entrepreneur
HealthKois Launches USD 300 Mn Healthcare-Focused Fund
Over the next four years, the firm aims to invest between USD 7 million to USD 25 million per company in early growth-stage businesses operating across healthtech, life sciences, medtech, healthcare delivery and climate health. You're reading Entrepreneur India, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media. In a major boost to India's healthcare investment landscape, HealthKois, a new healthcare-focused investment firm, has been launched with a target corpus of USD 300 million and an additional USD 100 million green shoe option. Spearheaded by the leadership team behind HealthQuad—Charles Janssen (Managing Partner), Ajay Mahipal (Partner), and Dr Pinak Shrikhande (Partner)—the firm aims to accelerate healthcare transformation through strategic investments in high-impact, technology-driven enterprises. As the successor fund to HealthQuad, HealthKois is set to invest between USD 7 million and USD 25 million per company over the next four years. The focus will be on early growth-stage businesses across healthtech, life sciences, medtech, healthcare delivery, and climate health sectors. The goal is to support ventures that deliver both robust clinical outcomes and sustainable infrastructure solutions. "HealthKois will back technology-led and innovative healthcare companies that address critical gaps in accessibility, affordability, and quality of care," said Charles Janssen. "With access to over 75% proprietary deal flow, we're well-positioned to leverage our deep networks and operational expertise to deliver both superior financial returns and societal outcomes." "HealthKois represents our deep belief that meaningful change in healthcare can only be achieved by scaling enterprises that blend purpose with performance," said Ajay Mahipal. "We're not just capital providers—we're long-term collaborators with founders, bringing strategic insight and sector knowledge to help unlock their full potential." Dr Pinak Shrikhande added, "Our experience has taught us that true innovation in healthcare is born out of empathy, evidence, and execution. We look for companies that go beyond intent to deliver real clinical and operational impact." HealthKois builds on the legacy of HealthQuad Funds I and II, which have collectively touched over 90 million lives and serve more than 8 million patients annually. While the earlier funds will continue under their current framework, HealthKois signals a new chapter in advancing healthcare innovation across India and other low- and middle-income countries.
Zawya
22-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
South African innovation in action: E Squared Investments backs medtech startup Impulse Biomedical
In a strategic move to accelerate local innovation aimed at solving pressing global health challenges, E Squared Investments along with ANZA Capital have invested in Impulse Biomedical, a pioneering Cape Town-based medtech startup that is redefining access to life-saving healthcare technology. Founded by engineering entrepreneurs Giancarlo Beukes and Gokul Nair, Impulse Biomedical is the force behind breakthrough devices that are reshaping emergency care. Their flagship products include the Easy Squeezy, an affordable and easy-to-use asthma inhaler that empowers patients to manage asthma more effectively, and the ZiBiPen, the world's first reloadable epinephrine auto-injector. This game-changing device provides a cost-effective, sustainable alternative to single-use auto-injectors, making treatment for allergic reactions more accessible to those who previously could not afford it. Together, these innovations are closing critical gaps in emergency care, particularly for underserved communities in South Africa and beyond. 'At E Squared, we back scalable ventures that create both commercial value and measurable social impact,' said Pyi Maung, head of Investments at E Squared Investments. 'Impulse Biomedical's mission and innovation represent the kind of purpose-driven entrepreneurship South Africa and the world needs.' The funding will enable Impulse Biomedical to commercialise its products, navigate complex regulatory pathways, and expand internationally in preparation for a Series A capital raise. Importantly, it also supports job creation, skills development, and economic transformation – pillars of E Squared's broader mission to stimulate high-growth entrepreneurship in South Africa. With the medtech sector globally valued in the hundreds of billions of dollars, this investment positions South African talent at the forefront of health innovation – demonstrating that homegrown entrepreneurs can solve global problems while contributing meaningfully to the local economy. 'This partnership marks a pivotal step in our journey to deliver accessible, life-saving healthcare at scale,' said Giancarlo Beukes, co-founder of Impulse Biomedical. 'With a shared passion for impact, progress and a better tomorrow, we are excited to work with E Squared to place our innovations – present and future – in the hands of people around the world,' said Beukes. Impulse Biomedical's story is not just about life-saving devices, it's a blueprint for how local innovation, backed by intentional capital, can build businesses that transform lives and uplift economies.
News.com.au
21-05-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
ASX medtechs chasing FDA De Novo for a shot at big US markets
Nanosonics scores FDA De Novo approval in March EMVision is also targeting De Novo for its brain scanner The company's big potential in the US When Nanosonics (ASX:NAN) landed FDA De Novo clearance for its CORIS system back in March, the market took notice, and for good reason. The CORIS system is not only a world-first device designed to clean the complex inner channels of endoscopes. It also walked the De Novo path – a route the US FDA reserves for genuinely new technologies. De Novo (which literally means "from new" in Latin) is not a simple clearance. This one is for devices without a predicate – i.e. no similar product already on the market. That means the FDA has to classify and assess the technology from the ground up. In short: it's hard to get, and a big deal if you do. Investors responded in kind, with Nanosonics' share price jumping by 13% on the news that day. Other ASX medtechs are also currently chasing De Novo clearance. PainChek (ASX:PCK), for instance, is waiting on a mid-2025 decision for its pain-assessment app. TrivarX (ASX:TRI) is also pursuing the De Novo path, with a pivotal trial in the works for its mental health wearable. Just a few years earlier, in 2016, another Aussie medtech, ProMedicus (ASX:PME), also made inroads in the States, thanks to a key partnership with none other than the prestigious Mayo Clinic. Since 2016, ProMedicus shares have gone on a jaw-dropping tear, up by more than 9000% today. Filling the CT and MRI gap Now, the $145m market capped EMvision Medical Devices (ASX:EMV) is quietly walking a similar path. We're not suggesting EMvision is about to pull a Nanosonics or do a ProMedicus victory lap. But, with De Novo ambitions of its own and an eye on cracking the US, it's probably one stock worth keeping on the radar. The Brisbane-based company is in the thick of a pivotal trial at Mayo Clinic in Florida, UTHealth in Houston, as well as the Royal Melbourne in Australia. Mayo Clinic joined the trial after clinicians there reached out to the company, having come across EMVision's EMU product. EMU is a portable, bedside brain scanner that aims to help detect strokes and bleeds where access to CT and MRI is limited or simply not practical. 'It has a physical footprint similar to a cart-based ultrasound system, and it's designed to support point-of-care diagnosis for stroke and stroke-like symptoms," EMV CEO Scott Kirkland told Stockhead. The company is also currently chasing De Novo approval for the device. But if you're wondering whether this could eventually compete with CT or MRI, the answer is… not really. And that's the point. 'We're not trying to replace a CT or an MRI. In fact, we're here to fill a gap where they are not available," said Kirkland. EMU's trials and First Responder EMU isn't just a 'me-too' device – a term for products or drugs that make minor modifications from a better known prototype. It's going after stroke, one of the biggest health problems on the planet. One in four adults will suffer a stroke in their lifetime, and most don't walk away unscathed – two out of three lead to lasting disability. What makes it worse is that many patients, especially in the regions, can't get timely access to imaging. The nearest CT could be hours away. EMU is now in a pivotal trial, aiming to enrol 300 patients across six sites; three up and running, three more to come. The primary endpoint of the trials is its ability to detect the presence or absence of haemorrhage. 'We have a gold-standard reference diagnosis expert panel that assesses all the ground truths, which are then compared with our diagnostic output to determine our sensitivity and specificity. "The minimum performance criteria is to exceed 80% sensitivity and 80% specificity. That's the minimum, but there's nothing to stop us from going as high as possible." Stroke's not the only target for EMV. One of EMVision's four trials is also focused on traumatic brain injury. Then there's the First Responder. It's backpack-sized, battery-powered, and built for use in ambulances and aeromedical units, not hospital wards. The device has already been tested with the Royal Flying Doctor Service and the Australian Stroke Alliance in outback South Australia. Next up is a trial inside a Melbourne stroke ambulance, the kind with a CT scanner in the back. 'First Responder doesn't require a specialist operator, such as a radiographer, and the output can be sent back to a neurologist to guide decision making – whether that's triage, transfer or potentially treatment at the scene," Kirkland said. Mapping the US market Crucially, EMVision isn't just taking a punt on the US, it has a clear plan for where its technology belongs. Kirkland reckons there are around 10,000 EMU opportunities across US stroke wards, ICUs and EDs. 'Within our first targets, there are really two ends of the spectrum. "One is comprehensive and primary stroke centre, the other are critical access hospitals, which are small regional clinics with 25 beds or less,' he explained. The First Responder has an even bigger runway – about 60,000 units, covering both road and air ambulances. And every scan comes with a consumable (a cap and coupling media), adding recurring revenue of around US$25 per scan for EMU, and closer to US$50 for First Responder. Kirkland is clear-eyed about what comes next. 'We've guided that we expect to head to the market kind of late calendar year 2026,' he said. 'It's a very, very large market. You can do the numbers, and if we can achieve 10% of the market, it is a very large business indeed.' With De Novo ambitions, a top-shelf US trial, and the Mayo Clinic in its corner, EMVision is playing a long game. No aggressive claims, just data collection and careful steps. But in the world of medtech, careful steps in the right direction can sometimes lead to very big leaps.
Zawya
09-05-2025
- Health
- Zawya
Dr. Nadia Boutaoui, Healthcare Innovation Leader, joins ProvenMed's Advisory Board
Dubai, UAE – ProvenMed, the MedTech innovator pioneering smart wearable solutions for continence care and home-based urine analysis, is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Nadia Boutaoui to its Board of Advisors. This strategic addition underscores ProvenMed's commitment to advancing medtech innovation and its global mission to transform health outcomes through dignity-first technology. Dr. Boutaoui is a globally recognized expert in medical genetics and public health, with deep leadership experience spanning biotechnology, clinical research, and healthcare equity. She has held influential advisory and executive roles where she successfully bridged breakthrough research with scalable, patient-centric solutions. 'We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Boutaoui to our Board,' said Amine Staali, CEO of ProvenMed. 'Her deep scientific expertise, global perspective, and passion for inclusive innovation align perfectly with ProvenMed's vision. As we accelerate the expansion of our Livv® and ActivGo® platforms across the MENA region and beyond, her guidance will be instrumental.' This appointment comes at a pivotal time for ProvenMed, following: The advancement of the Livv® Smart Analysis Kit, enabling intelligent home urinalysis. The upcoming international launch of ActivGo®, a discreet wearable urinary incontinence device. With these innovations, ProvenMed is strengthening its position as a leader in intelligent home diagnostics and dignified health management. 'Innovation has the power to change lives; but only when it reaches the market. Provenmed delivers practical, science-based, people first solutions that are fast, focused and private. I'm proud to help scale that impact.' said Dr. Nadia Boutaoui. About ProvenMed ProvenMed is a medical technology company developing breakthrough solutions in continence care and digital health diagnostics. Its flagship products include: ActivGo® – A discreet wearable for urinary incontinence. Livv® – A smart urinalysis testing kit for home use. Together, they empower users with autonomy, privacy, and real-time health insights, promoting dignity and health access across all populations.
News.com.au
08-05-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
ASX medtechs transforming brain diagnostics for better outcomes
ASX medtechs are taking brain diagnostics beyond the hospital or clinical settings to the front lines of care EMVision's First Responder portable brain scanning technology aims to speed up stroke detection for better patient outcomes Cogstate's Cognigram Digital Cognitive Assessment System is used by physicians to detect changes in cognitive function From sporting fields to ambulances, ASX medtech innovators are pushing brain diagnostics beyond hospital walls. They are reimagining how we detect, monitor and understand brain health using real-time technologies that bring speed, precision and accessibility to the front lines of care. Whether it's scanning for stroke in the critical golden hour, tracking concussion impacts in athletes, or measuring subtle cognitive decline in increasingly ageing populations, these companies are tackling complex challenges in neuroscience. Leading the charge are EMVision, Cogstate, HitIQ and Compumedics, each tackling brain health from a unique angle and driving a shift toward improving brain health evaluation. EMVision to speed up stroke detection with portable scanners According to the World Health Organization, 15 million people suffer a stroke each year, with five million dying, and another five million left permanently disabled. Speed is critical. If treatment can be given during the "golden hour" – the first 60 minutes after a stroke occurs – patients tyically see far better outcomes. That is where EMVision's First Responder technology is uniquely positioned to make a positive impact. The company was founded in 2017 by CEO and managing director Scott Kirkland and colleagues who acquired the technology from UniQuest, the University of Queensland's commercialisation arm, making its ASX debut in December 2018. The company has started a pivotal trial to support US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) de novo (new device) approval for its first commercial bedside device, the emu, which is named after the fast-running native bird and is an abbreviation of "electromagnetic unit". EMVision's emu and First Responder portable brain scanners deliver point-of-care neurodiagnostic capability in hospitals, regional clinics, ambulances, or emergency settings. "Easier access to this type of information ensures patients get the care they need as quickly as possible," Kirkland told Stockhead. In March EMVision announced that the First Responder device had successfully undertaken volunteer scans in aeromedical environments. As part of an ethics approved clinical study, the First Responder device withstood the rigours of aeromedical use in remote locations, in collaboration with the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) and the Australian Stroke Alliance (ASA). "We're excited to bring our technology to leading research centres in Australia and the United States and we look forward to future clinical use of our devices benefiting patients worldwide," Kirkland said. Cogstate detecting cognitive function The CogState (ASX:CGS) Cognigram Digital Cognitive Assessment System is used by physicians to detect changes in cognitive function in patients by measuring processing speed, attention, visual learning, working memory, visual motor function and executive function. The Cognigram system can be used to assess cognition on a single occasion or cognitive change over periodic assessments. You may have even seen or heard of Cognigram referred to as the Cogstate concussion test and mentioned in footy coverage. Cogstate is also benefiting from the strong global interest in cognition-related clinical trials, especially for Alzheimer's disease. In its H1 FY25 results, Cogstate reported a 19% surge in revenue to a record US$23.94 million, with an EBIT of US$4.8m, up 167% compared to previous corresponding period (pcp). Alzheimer's trials accounted for ~70% of Cogstate's clinical trial revenue. The company is also targeting growth in trials for other indications such as multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, depression, epilepsy and oncology (where the studies have cognitive endpoints, such as for brain metastases). "Cogstate has shown solid revenue growth in our clinical business, which has delivered bottom line earnings growth," CEO Brad O'Connor told Stockhead . "The question is, given an aging population and increasing incidence of neurodegeneration caused by conditions like Alzheimer's, how are we empowering people in the community to both monitor and make decisions about managing their brain health?" O'Connor said a recent report from the Alzheimer's Association calls out that people want to know if something is going wrong as they're noticing the first symptoms. "Presently, we don't provide people with the tools, which is both a challenge and opportunity." Compumedics making waves in brain imaging with TCD tech While best known for its sleep technology, Compumedics (ASX:CMP) is also building a strong global reputation for its comprehensive neurodiagnostic solutions, spanning both clinical and research applications. Compumedics' DWL brain ultrasonic monitoring division has developed a transcranial doppler (TCD) which provides rapid, non-invasive, cost-effective repeatable, and real-time measures of cerebrovascular hemodynamics (blood flow dynamics in the brain's vascular system) with a high diagnostic accuracy. TCD is proving its value as a diagnostic tool across a wide range of brain-related conditions from stroke and mini-strokes to concussion, TBI, aneurysms and brain infections. "TCD can be efficiently and effectively performed at the patient, bedside, in the ICU or operating theatre," executive chairman and CEO David Burton said. Compumedics is releasing a new robotic artificial intelligence TCD featuring a portable module that supports use in various positions – lying, sitting, or standing – enhancing its versatility. "The lightweight bilateral units are designed to be easily attached to the patient's head, similar to placing on a set of music headphones, allowing repositioning on either side of the head or both," Burton said. "This provides a flexible application in diverse clinical scenarios like emergency rooms, intensive care units, sports fields, battlefields, and ambulances." New research shows that TCD can help doctors assess pressure inside the skull, making it easier to manage patients with suspected idiopathic intracranial hypertension. A study from the Neurology department at Chemnitz Medical Center in Germany found that intracranial pressure (ICP) could be estimated using continuous readings of blood pressure and blood flow in the brain, measured with Compumedics' DWL TCD device. "Imagine a football field where a player gets a knock to the head and the brain hits the inside of the skull, swelling like any bruised organism," Burton said. "However, because of restrictions of the skull and tight space, the brain soon becomes highly pressured, which is very dangerous." Burton said on a sports field this is often compounded by a player who may initially behave and feel quite normal. Once the brain starts compressing against the skull their condition can deteriorate very rapidly. "If the player gets another major or even minor knock this is referred to as a secondary concussion and can ultimately accelerate the high pressure within the skull region to health or life-threatening consequences," he said. "The use of AI and robotics to potentially bring TCD technology to sports fields could offer major benefits for protecting players' brain health." HITIQ targets growing concussion management market HitIQ (ASX:HIQ) is also capitalising on the expanding global concussion management market with a product suite that leverages advanced technology to support early identification, assessment, and monitoring of concussion risks. HITIQ's technology is used across various sports, with commercial agreements in place with the AFL, United Kingdom Sports Institute, and English Premier League. The company is now shifting its strategic focus to the consumer market, targeting amateur and community-level athletes. In its recent quarterly report, HitIQ announced the commercial rollout of PROTEQT, its consumer-focused concussion management system, scheduled for this month. PROTEQT aims to bring elite-level technology to grassroots athletes. 'PROTEQT incorporates an easy-fit boil-and-bite mouthguard that provides the protective qualities of a premium mouthguard whilst primarily functioning as state-of-the-art head impact surveillance technology, complemented by symptom assessment tools and teleconcussion services," said chief commercial officer Damien Hawes. "This addresses the critical need for accessible concussion management in community sports." HITIQ has secured a multi-year sponsorship-style agreement with the Victorian Amateur Football Association, covering 15,000 players aged 16–35, alongside a marketing agreement with Westfield Sports High School in Sydney. Hawes said that HITIQ was close to finalising agreements with other community and regional Australian football leagues, as well as rugby league and rugby union organisations, as part of its ambition to reach 100,000 athletes aged 12 and over in the first year of the PROTEQT rollout.
