AI fundraising achieves €2 million for developing AI-driven cardiovascular imaging technology
In a significant stride towards preventative healthcare, Finnish medtech startup AIATELLA has secured €2 million in funding for the development and scaling of its groundbreaking AI-powered cardiovascular imaging technology. The funding round, led by Helsinki-based Nordic Science Investments, aims to bring early detection of cardiovascular problems to millions of people in a cost-effective way.
AIATELLA's unique technology specialises in AI-powered analysis of cardiovascular CT imaging, utilising advanced computer vision and deep learning algorithms to automatically detect and measure key cardiovascular structures such as vessel diameter, wall thickness, and blood flow characteristics. This innovation significantly reduces the time needed for these measurements from 30–45 minutes manually to just a few minutes automatically, improving diagnostic efficiency and allowing doctors to focus on clinical decisions.
The company's future plans involve expanding its AI technology beyond CT scans to include MRI and ultrasound imaging, broadening its applications to other cardiovascular imaging techniques. This move towards more diverse imaging modalities, including ultrasound-based preventative screening, indicates a key area of ongoing development for AIATELLA.
Acknowledging and working to close the gender and ethnicity health gap is a key priority for AIATELLA. The startup is committed to gaining essential insights into differences in how cardiovascular diseases present and progress between different ethnicities and sexes.
The portable screening technology, already used in partnership with medical professionals in Finland and the UK, has the potential to make early cardiovascular disease detection a routine part of regular health checkups. It can be utilised in diverse settings, such as occupational health, insurance assessments, and healthcare initiatives.
In partnership with healthcare professionals, AIATELLA's technology has helped identify tens of individuals potentially at risk, who were then referred for further evaluation. The technology's capabilities extend beyond detection, as it can quantify abnormalities and changes over time in at-risk patients using its multi-modal Automated Image Measurement (AIM) technology, which analyses vascular imaging from MRI, CT, and ultrasound.
With up to 80% of global cardiovascular deaths being preventable through early detection and treatment, AIATELLA's technology is tackling one of the most significant opportunities in medicine: using AI to transform radiology and lead the shift from reactive to preventative cardiovascular care. The startup's vision is to expand its coverage to every blood vessel in the body, ultimately aiming to streamline workflow by automating measurements in cardiovascular imaging, saving clinicians significant time per scan.
The funding will be used for conducting clinical trials and developing an ultrasound-based preventative screening that detects and quantifies carotid artery narrowing in minutes. This development is a testament to AIATELLA's Partner at Specialist VC, Kaspar Hanni's, statement that the startup's preventative screening services aim to bring early detection of cardiovascular problems to millions of people in a cost-effective way.
The lead investor, Nordic Science Investments, was particularly drawn to AIATELLA's unique combination of cutting-edge technology, clinical insight, and a clear path to impact. The funding round also included participation from Specialist VC, Harjavalta Ventures, Business Finland, and a syndicate of angel investors.
As AIATELLA's technology continues to evolve, it is poised to play a crucial role in the future of cardiovascular care, bringing preventative screening to the forefront of healthcare and potentially saving countless lives.
- AIATELLA is expanding its AI technology to include MRI and ultrasound imaging, broadening its applications beyond cardiovascular CT scans.
- The startup is committed to gaining essential insights into differences in how cardiovascular diseases present and progress between different ethnicities and sexes, recognizing and working to close the gender and ethnicity health gap.
- The portable screening technology developed by AIATELLA can be utilised in diverse settings such as occupational health, insurance assessments, and healthcare initiatives, with the potential to make early cardiovascular disease detection a routine part of regular health checkups.
- The funding will be used for conducting clinical trials and developing an ultrasound-based preventative screening that detects and quantifies carotid artery narrowing in minutes, aligning with the startup's vision to streamline workflow by automating measurements in various medical imaging techniques.
