Unlike traditional wearable brands such as Oura, Whoop, and Garmin, DUSQ chose a different path by developing what it describes as the world’s first closed-loop sleep regulation system. Instead of merely tracking sleep patterns, the company’s wearable device actively improves sleep quality through real-time physiological monitoring and adaptive nerve stimulation.

Moreover, DUSQ designed, engineered, tested, and clinically validated the lightweight behind-the-ear device entirely in India through its in-house sleep laboratory. Following its successful Kickstarter debut, the company has started shipping the device to US backers ahead of its planned nationwide retail launch in September 2026.

The record-breaking campaign also positions DUSQ among a select group of Indian consumer hardware startups that have gained meaningful traction in the highly competitive US market. Additionally, the company surpassed every previous Indian healthtech campaign on Kickstarter, including Ultrahuman’s Ring campaign, which raised nearly USD 500,000.

Since securing a three-Shark deal on Shark Tank India less than two years ago, DUSQ has rapidly expanded its presence. Furthermore, the company has already served more than 2,000 first-generation commercial users in India while building a Kickstarter waitlist exceeding 10,000 prospective customers.

DUSQ’s flagship sleep regulation system weighs only 12 grams and measures 7.2 millimetres, enabling users to wear it comfortably behind the ear throughout the night. The device continuously monitors the autonomic nervous system and immediately responds whenever sleep disruptions occur. Consequently, it delivers adaptive vagus and vestibular nerve stimulation to help users return to deeper sleep before they even notice the interruption.

Unlike conventional sleep trackers that provide post-sleep analytics, DUSQ focuses on improving sleep while it happens. The company developed this technology entirely through its proprietary research infrastructure.

To support its innovation, DUSQ’s in-house sleep laboratory has collected more than 50 million physiological data points. Additionally, the company has completed one clinical trial while conducting another ongoing study. It also holds CDSCO certification in India and utilizes an FDA-cleared stimulation modality for insomnia treatment.

According to the company, its double-blind controlled clinical trials demonstrated impressive outcomes, including 31% more deep sleep, 38% improvement in heart rate variability, and 22% fewer nighttime awakenings.

Furthermore, DUSQ introduced Sleep Quotient (SQ), its proprietary metric that measures the body’s ability to generate restorative sleep rather than simply evaluating sleep quality after the fact. Developing SQ required expertise across hardware engineering, signal processing, biostatistics, and real-time artificial intelligence algorithms, making it one of the company’s key technological differentiators.

Commenting on the milestone, Dr. Siddhant Bhargava, Co-founder and CEO of DUSQ, said, “We did not enter a category. We built one. From India. That is what these million dollars represent, not a product win or a category win.”

Meanwhile, Gursakhi Lugani, Chief Taste Officer at DUSQ, said, “Sleep is too personal to be sold through hype. Most brands borrow desire from culture; we had to build our own. A million-dollar opening tells us people were willing to believe in a future of sleep they hadn’t experienced yet.”

The company’s growth has also attracted strong investor backing. DUSQ previously secured approximately USD 3 million in seed funding through a round led by Fireside Ventures, with participation from Antler India and Climber Capital.

As it prepares for its broader US retail expansion, DUSQ is significantly strengthening its India-based workforce. The company currently has more than 50 open positions across hardware engineering, embedded systems, biotechnology, signal processing, product design, growth, customer success, sleep coaching, operations, and content.

Highlighting the company’s engineering vision, Mitansh Khurana, who leads technology at DUSQ, said, “The problems we are solving here do not exist as job descriptions anywhere else. We are building the sensing, stimulation, and intelligence layers simultaneously on real human physiology in real time. If that sounds hard, it is. That is exactly the point.”

Similarly, Shalmali Kadu, who leads product at DUSQ, emphasized the company’s interdisciplinary approach, stating that solving complex healthcare challenges requires combining engineering, science, empathy, and curiosity.

Additionally, Ronak Shah, Growth Advisor at DUSQ, said, “I have helped scale consumer brands to nine figures in revenue, and I have never seen a product where the technology this early actually matches the ambition of the pitch. If you want to build something that has to work, not just look good in a deck, this is the place to do it.”

DUSQ’s rapid success on Kickstarter demonstrates the growing global recognition of India’s innovation in consumer health technology. By combining AI-driven sleep science, clinical validation, and proprietary hardware, the company has established itself as a strong contender in the global sleeptech market. As DUSQ accelerates its US expansion and strengthens its India-based operations, it is well-positioned to redefine the future of sleep technology while elevating India’s presence in the global medtech and wearable technology industry.

The investment marks a significant milestone for Alan as it continues to expand its footprint across international markets while accelerating the development of AI-powered healthcare solutions. The company currently operates in France, Canada, Belgium, and Spain, offering a range of services that include health insurance, telehealth, and digital healthcare management.

Alan reported annual recurring revenue (ARR) of €800 million (approximately $909 million) during the first quarter of 2026, highlighting strong business growth and increasing demand for digital health services across its operating markets.

The funding package includes a combination of primary and secondary equity investments. Through this capital infusion, Alan plans to strengthen its international expansion strategy, enhance its healthcare technology offerings, and accelerate the development of AI-driven products designed to improve customer experiences and healthcare accessibility.

In addition, Prosus will provide Alan with access to its Large Commerce Model, enabling the company to leverage advanced artificial intelligence capabilities and data-driven insights as it expands its product ecosystem.

The partnership reflects growing investor confidence in the digital healthcare and health insurance sectors, which continue to benefit from rising adoption of telehealth services, AI-powered healthcare platforms, and technology-enabled patient care solutions.

However, the transaction remains subject to regulatory approvals, including clearance from French financial authorities, before the deal can be formally completed.

With fresh capital, expanding international operations, and increased investment in artificial intelligence, Alan aims to strengthen its leadership position in the European healthtech market while driving innovation in digital health insurance, telemedicine, and personalized healthcare services.

Founded by Hari Subramaniam, LifeSigns has developed a predictive patient monitoring platform designed to address one of healthcare’s most persistent gaps: the inability of traditional periodic observation systems to detect rapidly changing patient risks in real time. The platform has already been deployed across more than 50 hospitals in India, particularly in tier 2 cities where healthcare infrastructure and staffing challenges remain significant.

The company’s US-FDA approved platform combines a medical-grade wearable device, a cloud-based monitoring dashboard, and a predictive AI engine capable of continuously tracking key patient vitals. These include ECG, heart rate, respiration, temperature, blood pressure, and oxygen saturation. By integrating real-time patient data into an AI-led analytics system, the platform can identify early signs of patient deterioration up to 26 hours in advance and flag critical risks within a four-hour window.

The technology is designed to function across the full healthcare continuum, including ambulances, emergency rooms, intensive care units, general wards, and home-care environments. In addition, a central monitoring command centre enables hospital staff to remotely oversee multiple patients simultaneously, helping healthcare providers address the ongoing shortage of nursing and clinical personnel, particularly in non-metro regions.

According to the company, the platform has generated more than 87,000 life-saving alerts to date, reduced code blue incidents by nearly 90%, and lowered ICU readmissions by close to 78%. These outcomes reflect the growing role of AI, predictive analytics, and digital transformation in reshaping healthcare delivery and improving patient safety.

LifeSigns also operates on a frugal, occupancy-based pricing model, allowing hospitals to pay based on patient volumes rather than fixed subscription costs. This approach is aimed at making advanced patient monitoring technology more accessible to smaller hospitals and healthcare facilities across emerging markets and underserved regions.

The investment comes amid a broader surge in demand for AI-enabled healthcare infrastructure, as providers increasingly prioritise data-driven decision-making, operational scalability, and preventive care models. With predictive monitoring gaining traction globally, healthtech startups leveraging AI and cloud-based systems are expected to play a larger role in the future of connected healthcare.

“No patient should deteriorate silently because systems are not designed to continuously monitor them. That belief built LifeSigns. Our platform has demonstrated both clinical impact and scalability in India. With HealthQuad and Quadria, we now have the strategic depth to take this model global and make predictive care the standard,” said Hari Subramaniam, Founder and CEO of LifeSigns.

Rahul Agarwal, Partner at HealthQuad, said, “Healthcare today is built on periodic observation while risk is real time. The future lies in continuous monitoring led predictive intelligence. LifeSigns is building that layer to detect deterioration early and enable timely intervention which can significantly improve outcomes and reduce healthcare costs at scale. This is a globally relevant model and where the next wave of healthcare will be built. With access to Quadria’s ecosystem, we are well positioned to help Hari and LifeSigns team to scale across global markets.”

The funding round was co-led by Bpifrance through its Digital Prevention Fund and Go Capital, while Inco Ventures and existing investor Faraday Venture Partners also participated. Through this strategic backing, Axomove aims to strengthen its position in the fast-growing digital health and medtech ecosystem.

“The confidence of leading institutional investors validates the relevance of our strategy and reinforces our ambition to become a standard of care in prevention and rehabilitation,” said Boris Lévêque, co-founder and CEO of Axomove.

Founded in 2019, Axomove delivers a personalised care pathway that integrates digital health tools with continuous follow-up by healthcare professionals after a hospital episode. As a result, the company addresses the growing demand for hybrid healthcare models that combine remote monitoring, patient engagement, and clinical support.

Moreover, the company reports measurable clinical outcomes, as its solution doubles patients’ functional capacity and increases treatment adherence fivefold. In addition, Axomove generates significant economic and social benefits, including a 50% reduction in absenteeism and a threefold decrease in healthcare expenses, thereby making it highly relevant for employers, insurers, and healthcare systems.

“Since our entry in 2022, Axomove has demonstrated very strong execution capabilities, validating its proposition both clinically and commercially. The combination of a digital solution and healthcare support is effectively addressing a structural issue, such as musculoskeletal disorders, with tangible impact on patients and companies. The project’s evolution, together with the quality of the team and their ambition, reinforces our conviction to continue supporting them in this new phase of growth,” said Gonzalo Tradacete, CEO and founder of Faraday Venture Partners.

Previously, in 2022, the company raised €1.6 million with support from Faraday Venture Partners, alongside home care group Santélys and Groupe JLO, which helped lay the foundation for its current growth trajectory.

With the newly raised capital, Axomove will actively expand its commercial presence across corporate, insurance, and healthcare provider segments. At the same time, the company will extend reimbursement coverage to additional musculoskeletal conditions and metabolic diseases, particularly obesity. Furthermore, it will enhance its technology platform by integrating advanced motion capture capabilities and gamification features to improve user engagement and patient outcomes.

Currently, Axomove serves over 150 clients, including hospitals, corporations, and insurers such as Air France, Thales, Allianz, Alliance Klesia-Generali, CHU de Lille, and Ramsay Santé, collectively reaching 75,000 users. Importantly, the French Social Security already reimburses its solution for patients suffering from lower back pain, which further validates its clinical effectiveness and accessibility.

Axomove currently employs a team of 30 professionals and plans to double its workforce over the next three years, signaling strong growth ambitions in the digital health and rehabilitation technology space.

Axomove’s €4 million Series A funding marks a pivotal step in scaling its digital healthcare solutions and advancing preventive care models. As demand for digital therapeutics, remote patient monitoring, and rehabilitation platforms continues to grow, Axomove is well-positioned to emerge as a key player in transforming patient outcomes, reducing healthcare costs, and driving innovation in the global healthtech sector.

The company has developed the 7,000 sq. ft. Bengaluru facility as a dedicated, single-purpose prevention centre aimed at identifying life-threatening conditions in asymptomatic individuals. Unlike traditional diagnostic laboratories and hospital-based check-up units that conduct fragmented testing within shared infrastructure, CENT has designed this centre to deliver an integrated and focused screening experience.

At the core of CENT’s offering lies its proprietary CCNM Protocol, which covers cardiac, cancer, neurological, and metabolic screenings. The company delivers these services through a tightly integrated workflow, ensuring efficiency and accuracy in preventive diagnostics.

Each screening session combines advanced diagnostic tools, including whole-body MRI, ultra-low-dose cardiac CT, DEXA scans, and ECG, along with more than 120 blood and biomarker tests. Subsequently, the system compiles the results into an AI-powered ‘Tru10’ organ-level risk report, followed by a physician consultation, all within a two-hour timeframe, according to the company.

CENT has stated that its system operates at an ‘early detection index’ of 83%, which it claims ranks among the highest globally for screening protocols. This metric highlights the company’s focus on leveraging artificial intelligence in healthcare to improve early diagnosis and patient outcomes.

Meanwhile, CENT has strengthened its collaboration with Siemens Healthineers to enhance imaging and diagnostic capabilities across its planned network. The company stated that the partnership extends beyond equipment supply and focuses on co-developing preventive imaging protocols while deploying advanced software solutions to improve scan efficiency and diagnostic accuracy.

Additionally, the collaboration aims to reduce costs as the company scales operations, thereby addressing one of the major barriers to the widespread adoption of preventive healthcare services in India.

“Early detection cannot be a side feature of a multipurpose diagnostic centre. It needs its own infrastructure,” said Anshul Khandelwal, Co-founder and Chief Business Officer at CENT, describing the Bengaluru facility as a blueprint for future centres.

CENT’s founder Shashank ND said the company’s strategy is a structural shift in healthcare delivery.

“Healthcare today is built to respond to illness. That is the wrong starting point for most of what kills people,” he said, arguing that existing technologies are underutilised due to the lack of standardised delivery systems.

Following the Bengaluru launch, the company has planned to establish additional centres in Mumbai and Delhi-NCR. Furthermore, CENT aims to expand its presence to 15 cities across India, with a long-term vision of enabling 10 million scans and contributing to saving 1 million lives by 2035.

Preventive healthcare in India has gained momentum due to the rising prevalence of non-communicable diseases and increased consumer awareness around early diagnosis. However, the sector continues to face challenges such as fragmentation, lack of standardisation, and inconsistent clinical depth. CENT’s hub-based model seeks to address these gaps by offering a structured and technology-driven approach to preventive screening.

The company reported that its existing partner-led network has already conducted more than 2,000 scans across seven cities since early FY26. Notably, 26% of these scans identified clinically meaningful findings, while 3% flagged critical conditions requiring immediate medical intervention, primarily among individuals without visible symptoms.

CENT’s entry into clinical infrastructure marks a significant step in transforming India’s preventive healthcare landscape. By combining AI-driven diagnostics, integrated screening protocols, and scalable infrastructure, the company aims to redefine early disease detection and improve healthcare outcomes. As demand for preventive health solutions rises, CENT’s model positions it as a key player in advancing accessible, efficient, and technology-led healthcare in India.

Additionally, existing investors W Health Ventures, Endiya Partners, and Rebright Partners also participated in the round, reaffirming their confidence in the company’s model and execution.

With this fresh capital, the Delhi-based health-tech startup plans to expand its clinic network across multiple Indian cities. At the same time, the company aims to strengthen its clinical and operational infrastructure and further develop minimally invasive pain management procedures.

This round follows Nivaan Care’s USD 4.25 million seed funding raised in February 2025, which Endiya Partners led with participation from W Health Ventures. Together, these investments significantly enhance the company’s ability to scale its specialized care delivery model.

Founded in 2023 by Nivesh Khandelwal and Vishwas Singh, Nivaan Care focuses on non-surgical and minimally invasive treatments for chronic pain. The startup operates single-specialty clinics that address conditions such as back, knee, and neck pain through a multidisciplinary care model.

Notably, Nivaan Care brings together pain physicians, physiotherapists, psychologists, nutritionists, and care coordinators, who collaborate to deliver personalized treatment plans. Currently, the company operates clinics across Delhi-NCR and Mumbai, while also serving satellite markets such as Jaipur and Lucknow.

According to the startup, it has already completed over 40,000 patient consultations and performed around 5,000 minimally invasive procedures. Moreover, a significant proportion of patients have reported noticeable pain reduction and improved daily functioning following treatment.

“Chronic pain affects nearly one in five adults in India, yet care delivery remains fragmented, often oscillating between basic physiotherapy and invasive surgery,” said Nivesh Khandelwal, co-founder and CEO of Nivaan Care. He added, “At Nivaan, we are building a dedicated, evidence-led middle layer of care that focuses on minimally invasive interventions, such as radiofrequency ablation and platelet-rich plasma therapy, delivered through a multidisciplinary model.”

Meanwhile, Vishwas Singh, co-founder and COO, emphasized operational rigor as the company scales. “As we scale, our focus is on execution excellence, strong operating systems, and seamless patient journeys across locations,” he said, while also noting that the company plans to enter new markets, including Bengaluru.

Importantly, the founding team brings deep experience in scaling healthcare and consumer-focused businesses. Previously, Khandelwal served as chief operating officer at Ridge IVF, while Singh held leadership roles at Tata 1mg and Shuttl, equipping them with operational and consumer-tech expertise.

Overall, Nivaan Care’s latest funding round positions it strongly to address India’s growing chronic pain burden through specialized, minimally invasive, and evidence-led care. As the company expands into new cities and refines its operating model, it aims to emerge as a leading national platform in interventional pain management.

The newly secured capital will help the company strengthen its healthcare communication system and drive its expansion into the US market.

Founded in 2024 by Dhruv Mehra and Ashish Tripathy, Pype AI develops voice-based AI agents that automate key administrative functions, including appointment scheduling, follow-ups, treatment preparation, and 24/7 patient support. The team trains these agents on medical conversational datasets to ensure accurate, empathetic interactions.

The startup has also introduced Whispey, an open-source observability platform featuring more than 40 evaluations to ensure compliance and performance. By integrating with hospital electronic medical record systems, Pype AI helps reduce missed appointments, lower operational costs, and enhance patient retention.

Currently deployed across multiple Indian healthcare institutions, Pype AI says it now automates over 85% of patient queries. The company is integrating with major systems such as Zocdoc, Epic, and Cerner, and onboarding clinic networks in the United States.

Looking ahead, the startup aims to partner with over 50 hospitals and clinic chains by mid-2026, and furthermore, it is collaborating with medical professionals to publish research on AI-driven improvements in patient adherence.

Following an extensive evaluation of India’s most promising digital-health ventures, Ivory emerged as the Winner and Best HealthTech Startup 2025. Curebay Technologies earned the position of 1st Runner-Up, and Plus91 Technologies secured 2nd Runner-Up.

This year’s Challenge carries added significance as it has been formally recognised as a Pre-Summit Event for the India–AI Impact Summit 2026 hosted by MeitY and IndiaAI, placing the initiative at the forefront of India’s evolving AI-led healthcare landscape.

Top Innovations on Demo Day

The finalists showcased cutting-edge solutions spanning cognitive health, digital interoperability, AI-driven diagnostics, and hybrid rural care:

• Ivory – AI-powered cognitive screening built on neuroscience-based assessments

• Plus91 Technologies – ABDM-ready digital health infrastructure (MediXcel™)

• HeyDoc AI – ABHA-linked personal health records and wellness platform

• BrainSight AI – AI + neuroscience diagnostics for psychiatry and neurology

• Curebay Technologies – Hybrid care delivery network for rural communities

Speaking about the cohort, Vishnu Saxena, Founder & CEO, DHN & ScaleHealthTech, said, “This year’s cohort demonstrates that India’s most transformative healthcare solutions are emerging from deep-tech founders who understand both clinical realities and technological possibilities. What we are seeing now is not experimentation; it is scalable, implementable innovation.”

Aditya Vyas, CEO, IITI Drishti CPS Foundation, added, “These startups are directly addressing India’s critical healthcare gaps, whether it is early-stage detection, interoperable data, or rural accessibility. Deep-tech health innovation is no longer optional; it is essential for India’s development trajectory.”

The company will utilize the funds to advance product development, expand its medical knowledge base, and boost customer acquisition. August AI also aims to reinforce its data infrastructure, enhance model precision, and improve user experience across diverse languages and regions.

Founded in 2022 by Anuruddh Mishra, August AI provides an AI-based chatbot that seamlessly supports users throughout their healthcare journey — from identifying symptoms and interpreting medical reports to effectively managing ongoing treatments.

The platform allows users to access reliable medical information and guidance anytime, combining AI-powered insights with a network of doctors and partner hospitals to ensure accuracy. Users can also upload medical documents directly to the chatbot for detailed explanations, making healthcare information more accessible and easier to understand.

Currently, August AI serves over 3.5 million users across 160 countries, thereby underscoring its remarkable and rapid global expansion.

Vaidya.ai uses open-source base models ranging from 30 to 70 billion parameters. It has been trained on over 650,000 images and 200,000 text inputs, enabling it to understand languages like Hindi, Kannada, Tamil, and Telugu, said co-founder and CEO Srikanth Velamakanni.

“It’s not even in the foreseeable future that we will have a situation where we don’t need doctors, and AI may tell you what to do. AI is far from that. The problem we are solving is very different. It’s about aiding consumers in accessing healthcare information which is more reliable than any other sources of information,” he explained. 

Alongside Fractal’s established product, Qure.ai, which detects conditions such as tuberculosis, lung cancer, heart failure, and stroke, Vaidya.ai has the potential to be a unique enterprise solution.

Currently, however, Vaidya.ai remains an AI research project rather than a commercial product, according to Velamakanni.

Regarding the accuracy of Vaidya.ai’s responses, Velamakanni mentioned that evaluations are based on PG NEET exam questions.

“PG NEET is the most competitive medical exam with 200,000 postgraduate doctors take every year. Fractal currently ranks at par with top 500 in that system with 83% accuracy,” he said.

Suraj Amonkar, Chief AI Research and Platforms Officer at Fractal, said, “The development involved training models and frameworks using LLM and VLM architectures and validating the models on 20+ years of PG NEET/ PG Medical examination papers, among other metrics to measure how well the models performed. While it offers valuable insights and information, it always encourages users to consult healthcare professionals for medical advice.”