Brain health startup Ivory has secured $1 million in a funding round co-led by IIM-A Ventures and early-stage VC firm Capital-A, which is also an existing investor.
The round also included participation from 1Crowd, Stanford Angels, and several other angel investors. The newly raised capital will be used to enhance Ivory’s clinical-grade assessment technology and to expand its distribution network.
Ivory wants to tap what it sees as a clear gap in the market. “Science says that, just as we lose muscle mass over time, our brain also shrinks in volume by about 5% every decade post our late 30s,” cofounder Issac John said. “One of the things we’ve realised—especially in a young, demographically rich country like India—is that there is a lack of widespread adoption of clinical-grade assessments.”
Founded in 2022 by John and Rahul Krishnan, Bengaluru-based brain health startup Ivory focuses on brain health solutions for individuals aged 30 and above. The brain health startup offers two flagship products, the first being a cognitive assessment tool designed to provide users with a detailed understanding of their cognitive profile—identifying strengths, areas for improvement, and early indicators of accelerated neurodegeneration.
The second offering from Ivory is a subscription-based daily companion app that fosters cognitive well-being through regular brain training exercises. In addition to enhancing mental fitness, the app helps users monitor and track their overall health and wellness.
“We are adding more layers to this product, because cognitive decline cannot be arrested solely by playing games or keeping your mind active with puzzles like Sudoku—which, of course, are helpful as they stimulate cognitive function,” said Krishnan. “But it’s equally important to look at your overall lifestyle. So, going forward, we will be adding more lifestyle-related features, such as stress management, sleep management, and more.”
As of now, Ivory has conducted over 18,000 cognitive assessments across India, according to Krishnan. The company plans to expand into new regions, enhance its AI capabilities to offer more personalized assessments, and increase investment in research.
“Today, our product is primarily a tier-one product. Unfortunately, it is probably only meant for the urban educated. But our goal is to make it as language-agnostic and culture-agnostic as possible,” John added.
Commenting on the investment, Vipul Patel, partner, IIM-A Ventures, said, “Of the four horsemen of chronic illness, neurodegenerative diseases remain the least understood and most difficult to reverse. Ivory’s vision to bring early, accessible cognitive screening into everyday preventive health is both timely, and essential.”
“There is a growing awareness that brain health is a core pillar of preventive care and yet solutions remain limited,” added Ankit Kedia, founder and lead investor, Capital-A. “Ivory is bringing a data-led, clinically grounded platform to the table, and we believe their work will play a crucial role in shaping the future of aging and mental wellness.”
