IMAI awarded CHF 150,000 Kick to disrupt cancer diagnosis

Cancer causes millions of deaths yearly. 2D histopathology, the main method for detecting cancer in tissue, involves the analysis of thin tissue slices. However, only a small percentage is examined, leading to false-negative results. The consequences are poor decisions, suboptimal treatments, and cancer recurrence. With its novel interdisciplinary approach combining biomedicine and mechanical engineering technologies, IMAI aims to enable doctors to adopt digital and 3D histopathology, enhancing accuracy, treatment outcomes, and ultimately improving survival rates.

The global histology and cytology market is valued at USD 16 billion with an annual growth rate of 15% from 2023 to 2030. In the 1st phase, IMAI will globally target 125 biomedical research laboratories by 2028. In the 2nd phase, once medically certified, it will additionally target clinical pathology laboratories.

IMAI will invest the CHF 150,000 from Venture Kick to scale up the hardware prototype capabilities, bring the prototypes to the design freeze, acquire customers, further validate the business model, and continue developing AI features for the image analysis software.

The team, led by Co-Founders Francesca Catto (CEO), Robert Axelrod (COO), and Sascha Brun (CTO), developed an automated platform for fast tissue processing, cancer detection labelling, and advanced software for cell counting, measuring cancer mass, and 3D visualization—vital for clinical and research use.

“At every stage of the Venture Kick, we received constructive and valuable inputs for our business case,” highlighted Robert Axelrod. “Everything was organized incredibly well and the communication throughout the accelerator program was excellent”.

(Press release / ES)

IMAI's Co-Founders from left to right: CEO Francesca Catto, COO Robert Axelrod, and CTO Sascha Brun