Based in Gurugram and New York City, the startup was founded by Ria Rustagi and Bhavya. The company is developing what it describes as the world’s first closed-loop neuromodulation wearable built in a headphone-style format for everyday use, positioning itself at the intersection of neurotech, AI-driven wellness, and consumer healthcare.

At the centre of the company’s product ecosystem is a wearable device that combines neurostimulation, biometric sensing, and adaptive artificial intelligence to analyse and respond to users’ mental states in real time. The platform integrates technologies including transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), binaural beats, and heart rate variability (HRV) biofeedback to create personalised neuroadaptive experiences focused on reducing stress, improving concentration, enhancing sleep quality, and supporting cognitive wellness.

According to the company, the newly raised capital will be utilised to strengthen marketing initiatives, scale manufacturing operations, expand research and development efforts, and support its upcoming global Kickstarter launch planned for May 2026.

Over the past six months, more than 100 early adopters have reportedly tested the product, enabling the startup to refine its hardware systems, stimulation technology, and AI-powered adaptive algorithms through continuous real-world feedback and usage data.

The company has also achieved a significant regulatory milestone after receiving approval from the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation, granting the product medical device status in India. In addition, Sychedelic has filed multiple international patent applications that currently remain under patent-pending status.

With operations already established across India and the United States, the startup is now preparing for a broader international expansion as it seeks to strengthen its position within the rapidly evolving neuro-wellness and wearable technology market.

The funding reflects a broader shift within the global healthtech ecosystem, where startups focused on mental wellness, AI-powered healthcare, biometric intelligence, and neurotechnology are increasingly attracting investor attention amid rising consumer demand for proactive and personalised wellness solutions.

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.

Founded in 2023 by Issac John and Rahul Krishnan during an Antler residency program, Ivory leverages artificial intelligence and neuroscience to build a platform that delivers measurable and trackable cognitive insights. Specifically, the platform evaluates key brain functions such as attention, memory, and executive function, thereby offering a comprehensive view of mental performance.

Moreover, Ivory provides users with a baseline cognitive score benchmarked against age and gender. In addition, the platform delivers a detailed breakdown of cognitive abilities along with actionable recommendations, enabling users to improve their mental fitness over time. Consequently, this data-driven approach positions Ivory as a leading preventive health solution in the growing brain health and digital health segment.

“Our goal is to make cognitive testing a routine part of healthcare, starting as early as the 40s. Today, most people seek help only when symptoms become severe, which limits intervention,” Krishnan said. “If we can bring cognitive screening into preventive care, we can potentially delay or reduce the incidence of serious conditions like dementia.”

Furthermore, Ivory recently secured $1 million in funding from Draper Associates and SAGE Venture Fund. The round also saw participation from the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment and was managed by IFCI Venture, a subsidiary of IFCI Limited, along with Small Industries Development Bank of India. This funding will enable the company to enhance its product capabilities, expand clinical validation, and develop intellectual property focused on cognitive screening technologies.

Amid rising institutional interest in preventive healthcare and scalable health-tech solutions, Ivory has partnered with Metropolis Healthcare to integrate its cognitive assessments into preventive health packages. Additionally, the startup is actively engaging with diagnostic chains, insurance providers, and corporate wellness platforms to expand its reach. At the same time, it collaborates with performance and longevity-focused platforms such as Ultrahuman to broaden its ecosystem.

“The broader idea is to embed cognitive assessment across different healthcare touchpoints—diagnostics, insurance, corporate wellness, and even sleep and longevity programmes,” John said.

Importantly, Ivory has designed its screening tools to help clinicians differentiate between early cognitive decline and temporary lifestyle-related issues such as brain fog, stress, or poor sleep. As a result, healthcare providers can make more accurate and timely interventions.

In line with its vision, the company is shifting from traditional subjective questionnaires to objective, data-driven cognitive measurements. Currently, Ivory is developing clinically validated tools that combine digital markers with voice-based biomarkers, while simultaneously conducting trials in hospital settings to establish robust baseline datasets.

Ivory is emerging as a key innovator in the brain health and preventive healthcare space by leveraging AI-powered cognitive assessments. With strong investor backing, strategic partnerships, and a focus on clinical validation, the startup looks ahead to redefine cognitive screening and make brain health monitoring an integral part of routine healthcare.

The company will channel the fresh funds into bolstering technology, recruiting top talent, fortifying enterprise-grade security, and expanding AI-driven claims operations. Additionally, Plum aims to integrate seamlessly with HR and payroll systems. Meanwhile, it plans to widen its healthcare offerings, encompassing preventive care, primary care, mental wellness, and telehealth.

“We made a decision on day one that our north star would be the claims experience,” said Abhishek Poddar, co-founder and CEO, Plum. “This round gives us the capital to move faster on what we know works while expanding the platform across healthcare and employee benefits.”

Founded in 2019 by Poddar and Saurabh Arora, Plum delivers a robust employee health benefits platform. It enables companies to provide insurance and healthcare services effortlessly to their teams. Currently, Plum serves over 6,000 organizations—from nimble startups to giants like CRED, Meesho, PhonePe, and Swiggy—covering more than 600,000 employees.

Previously, the company raised $15 million in its Series A round in 2021, spearheaded by Tiger Global and supported by Peak XV’s Surge, Tanglin Venture Partners, Incubate Fund, and Gemba Capital. In FY25, Plum generated nearly Rs 70 crore in revenue and achieved six months of EBITDA profitability. This latest fundraise follows Plum’s milestone of its first full year of EBITDA and cash flow profitability, highlighting a promising shift toward sustainable growth in the insurtech landscape.

Since its launch, Plum has handled over 500,000 claims efficiently. It slashed median hospital discharge time to 47 minutes and shortened reimbursement turnaround to just 1.5 days. “Plum’s focus on claims and customer experience positions it strongly as enterprises increasingly prioritise employee wellbeing and efficient insurance delivery,” noted GV Ravishankar, managing director at Peak XV.

Plum’s strategic funding round not only fuels its technological edge but also cements its leadership in transforming employee health benefits. As businesses prioritize wellness and efficiency, the company stands poised for exponential growth, setting new benchmarks in India’s insurtech sector.

Notably, the inaugural cohort spans healthcare, climate, space, and longevity. This breadth underscores a deliberate focus on science-led themes that typically involve long development timelines and uncertain commercial pathways. The firms chose these six startups from a highly competitive pool of more than 2,000 applications.

Among the selected companies, Praan is developing advanced air infrastructure systems designed to improve indoor air quality through purification, sensing, and automated controls. Based in Mumbai, the startup has already secured backing from investors such as Social Impact Capital, Aera VC, and Avaana Capital, along with strategic investors and family offices.

Meanwhile, QOSMIC is building optical communication systems to enable high-speed data transfer between satellites and Earth. The Bengaluru-based company is working to significantly increase bandwidth while reducing latency in space-based networks.

In the space-tech segment, Ethereal Exploration Guild (EtherealX) is developing reusable orbital launch vehicles aimed at lowering the cost of accessing space. The startup recently raised $20.5 million in a Series A round led by TDK Ventures and BIG Capital, achieving a valuation of $80.5 million.

Additionally, Dognosis is innovating in cancer diagnostics by detecting multiple cancers through breath analysis. Its product, BreatheEasy, leverages dogs’ olfactory capabilities combined with robotics and AI. Patients breathe into a mask, and the system later analyzes samples in a lab to identify cancer-linked markers.

Further expanding into longevity, Ferra is developing a home-based strength-training system that helps individuals maintain mobility as they age.The system dynamically adjusts resistance levels based on a user’s performance.

In parallel, a sixth startup—currently operating in stealth—is working on brain-computer interfaces to enable direct communication between the human brain and external systems, signaling a bold step toward next-generation human-machine interaction.

Importantly, Accel and Prosus announced the program in October with the intention of backing startups that fall outside the traditional venture capital playbook. Instead of prioritizing ideas that are easiest to fund, the firms are focusing on high-risk, high-impact innovations.

As part of the initiative, Accel and Prosus are co-investing in each startup, with Prosus matching Accel’s contribution. Investment checks range from $500,000 to $2 million. Moreover, the firms structure the funding model to reduce early dilution for founders by deferring a portion of the capital, allowing founders to give up equity at a later stage.

According to Pratik Agarwal, partner at Accel, the model aligns with the needs of deep-tech startups. “More than capital, they require time to make those breakthroughs,” he said.

Similarly, Ashutosh Sharma highlighted the unique growth trajectory of such ventures. These companies often follow a non-linear path, where progress depends on achieving critical technical breakthroughs rather than steady, predictable growth.

Consequently, this cohort reflects a broader shift in venture investing toward long-horizon innovation, where patient capital and technical milestones take precedence over rapid scalability.

Accel and Prosus are not only redefining early-stage investing in India but also signaling strong confidence in deep-tech innovation. By backing unconventional ideas and restructuring capital deployment, they are enabling founders to pursue breakthrough technologies that could shape the future across industries.

Khandelwal, the cofounder and chief business officer of the healthtech startup, explained the startup’s focus and said, “Unlike most preventive healthcare services, we are solely focused on early detection of life-threatening diseases such as cancer and cardiac and metabolic conditions that comprise about 70–74% of deaths globally.”

Moreover, he clarified that the company follows a direct-to-consumer model. He stated, “Most healthcare companies in India are B2B, selling services to hospitals, insurers, or corporates. Our revenue comes directly from consumers. We do not earn commissions from hospitals, doctors, or insurers.”

The Bengaluru-based company began operations in the first quarter of FY26. Since then, the startup has completed more than 1,500 diagnostic scans, according to the company’s statement.

Additionally, the healthtech startup revealed that around 26% of these scans identified clinically meaningful findings. Furthermore, nearly 3–4% of the scans detected critical medical conditions such as cancer or severe heart blockages that required immediate treatment, even though the individuals showed no visible symptoms.

The founding team drew inspiration for the venture from personal experiences. Both Khandelwal and Shashank lost family members to cancer, and therefore they examined why medical professionals often detect serious illnesses at late stages despite significant advancements in medical technology.

Shashank explained the vision behind the company and said, “In the preventive space, we need dedicated infrastructure, the right technology, the right protocols, the right capital, built specifically for detection. That is the gap Cent is designed to close.”

The company built its platform around a proprietary screening protocol called CCNM, which stands for cardiac, cancer, neurological, and metabolic health. The system integrates full-body MRI scans, cardiac CT scans, ECG testing, DEXA scans, more than 120 blood and urine biomarkers, and genomic testing. Subsequently, artificial intelligence processes this extensive medical data, while radiologists and specialists review the results to generate a comprehensive organ-level health report.

Khandelwal further explained that the system produces a detailed 60–70 page diagnostic report that assigns a health score to each organ in the body.

At the same time, he pointed out that investors increasingly show interest in this healthcare segment because non-communicable diseases continue to rise globally, and artificial intelligence holds strong potential to transform diagnostic systems. He also highlighted that healthcare spending in India currently accounts for around 3% of the country’s GDP, which remains significantly lower than the spending levels seen in developed economies.

To evaluate the performance of its technology, the healthtech startup uses a proprietary metric known as the Early Detection Index (EDI). The company reports an EDI score of approximately 83%, whereas traditional annual health checkups typically achieve detection rates of only about 15–20%.

Meanwhile, the company has maintained strong growth momentum. Cent currently records around 50% month-on-month growth and has already reached an annualised revenue run rate of nearly $2 million.

With the newly secured investment, the company plans to launch dedicated early detection centres across major Indian cities. The first facility will open in Bengaluru in April, after which the company will expand to Mumbai, Delhi, and Hyderabad.

Khandelwal also outlined the company’s future funding strategy and said, “We expect the series A (growth-stage) to be roughly five to six times the size of the seed (early-stage) round, which will help us scale our network of early detection centres and also begin international expansion.”

Additionally, the startup continues to collaborate with global imaging equipment manufacturers in order to deploy and optimise advanced diagnostic technologies such as MRI systems specifically designed for preventive screening.

As the burden of non-communicable diseases continues to rise, the healtech startup seeks to enable earlier detection of life-threatening conditions and improve long-term health outcomes. With fresh funding and ambitious expansion plans, Cent is positioning itself as a key player in the rapidly evolving AI-driven health diagnostics ecosystem.

According to regulatory filings sourced from the Registrar of Companies, Temple attracted capital from leading investment firms such as Peak XV Partners, Steadview Capital, Dharana Capital, and Info Edge Ventures. In addition, more than 80 individual investors participated in the round, reflecting broad-based confidence in the company’s long-term vision.

Sharing details on social media, Goyal said that founder friends and early-stage Zomato investors made up the entire investor group and backed the project irrespective of its commercial outcome. More importantly, he highlighted that over 30 Temple employees invested their own money at the same valuation as external investors, signalling deep internal belief in the product and mission.

The list of individual backers includes several prominent startup founders such as Kunal Shah of Cred, Vijay Shekhar Sharma of Paytm, Nithin Kamath and Nikhil Kamath of Zerodha, Varun Alagh, Cars24 founders including CEO Vikram Chopra, podcaster Raj Shamani, and Urban Company cofounder Abhiraj Singh Bhal. Several current and former Eternal executives also joined the round, including CFO Akshant Goyal, district head Rahul Ganjoo, food delivery CEO Aditya Mangla, and the family office of former chief people officer Akriti Chopra.

Meanwhile, Goyal personally invested Rs 104 crore, accounting for 21% of the total funding. Following the transaction, he now holds a 28.5% stake in Temple, underlining his long-term commitment to the venture.

Earlier this month, Goyal stepped down as CEO of Eternal, the parent company of Zomato and Blinkit, with Albinder Dhindsa taking over the role. Subsequently, Goyal transitioned to vice chairman and announced plans to focus on higher-risk ventures across longevity and aerospace.

Besides Temple, he is backing the longevity research firm Continue with $25 million of his own capital. Notably, Temple emerged from the research work conducted at Continue. Goyal has also cofounded aerospace startup LAT Aerospace alongside former Zomato COO Surobhi Das.

Temple’s core product is a non-invasive wearable device worn on the temples that tracks blood flow in the brain. The technology builds on research exploring how gravity may influence human ageing. According to the underlying hypothesis, cerebral blood flow declines by up to 0.7% annually, leading to a cumulative drop of 20% to 40% between the ages of 20 and 80. Reduced blood flow to the brain, the research claims, correlates with nearly double the risk of mortality from all causes.

At the same time, Goyal announced an aggressive hiring drive, stating that Temple is building a high-precision performance-tracking wearable for elite athletes. The company claims the device will capture metrics that existing wearables cannot measure with comparable accuracy. Open roles span analog and electronics engineering, embedded systems, sensor algorithms, deep learning, computational neuroscience, computer vision, neuroimaging, machine learning, and product management, with an emphasis on hands-on design ownership using tools such as Figma.

With strong backing from founders, employees, and leading investors, Temple now moves into its next phase with both capital and conviction firmly in place.

Through this fund, W Health Ventures will actively support the creation, incubation, and expansion of healthcare startups that address critical gaps in clinical delivery and healthcare operations. Moreover, the firm will focus on developing technology-first, scalable healthcare solutions that can deliver long-term impact.

Commenting on the fund’s strategy, Managing Partner Pankaj Jethwani explained that the firm co-founds companies from inception, enabling founders to tackle underserved areas with deep operational involvement. “Our Fund I portfolio has already impacted 25 million lives globally, and we aim to scale this to a billion lives over the next two decades,” he added. In line with this vision, Fund II will incubate 8–10 new companies, deploying Rs 30–50 crore per venture.

As part of its early execution, W Health Ventures has already launched Everhope Oncology, a national oncology platform co-founded with Narayana Health, as the first company under Fund II. At the same time, the firm is incubating a stealth venture that is enabling US-based psychiatry clinics to expand access to advanced treatments for treatment-resistant depression.

Meanwhile, Partner Gaurav Porwal emphasised the firm’s strong backing from its limited partners and reaffirmed its focus on building foundational healthcare companies. He highlighted that W Health Ventures continues to prioritise high-impact sectors, including oncology, preventive healthcare, geriatrics, and chronic care management, where long-term innovation remains critical.

With the successful initial close of Fund II, W Health Ventures is reinforcing its position as a leading healthcare company builder, focused on scalable innovation and cross-border impact.