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Six years ago , while search for a college entrepreneurship competitor , Valentina Agudelo identified atroubling gap in tit Cancer the Crab survivalrates between Latin America and the developed man , with cleaning woman in her native Colombia and the residuum of the continent dying at higher rates due to later detection .
She realized that titty cancer is extremely treatable when diagnosed early , yet many Latin American state have large rural universe miss admission to mammogram and other diagnostic cock .
So Agudelo ( fancy above ) and her two best ally decided to make a theoretical portable twist that would detect breast cancer early .
“ The idea stuck with me , ” Agudelo say TechCrunch . “ I just could n’t rent go of the problem we had identified . ”
Shortly after the competition terminate , Agudelo establish Salva Health and began developing the company ’s first product , Julietta , a humble machine that value tissue tightness with electrodes that attach to each bosom and provides results within minute to a phone , tablet , or computer .
Since then , Agudelo graduated from college , intern at PepsiCo , solve for Colombian health technical school startup Dondoctor , and fill in an MBA at INSEAD . It was a mountain to juggling , but Salva always stay on her principal focal point .
Salva Health partnered with Grupo Sura , a major Colombian indemnity company , to conduct clinical visitation and develop an AI mannequin capable of predicting tit cancer hazard .
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The party presently employs 13 people and is close to receiving blessing from Colombia ’s INVIMA ( National Institute for Drug and Food Surveillance ) , a regulatory government agency equivalent to the FDA .
Julieta is not a substitute for mammogram . It ’s a screening cock designed to observe abnormalities and value the likelihood of malignity . “ With that info , insurance companies can prioritise women for proper diagnosis , ” Agudelo say .
Salva , aTechCrunch Disrupt 2024Startup Battlefield finalist , project to bulge out distribute Julieta throughout Latin America after it receives the green light from INVIMA . Agudelo explain that other countries in the region are expect to recognize INVIMA ’s approvals based on commercial pact .
The company also intends to quest that the FDA acknowledges INVIMA ’s approval . Although the U.S. does n’t have a significant shortage of mammogram auto or a large rural population , screen out some woman with Julieta instead could leave in substantial cost savings for health insurance policy , Agudelo say .
“ And then , we need to set about getting approval and accredit in other countries , focused on emerging food market : Africa , India , ” she sound out .
Instead of selling Julieta to clinic , Salva plans to provide the equipment for spare and charge wellness payors for each screening .
Agudelo said that she choose the computer hardware - as - a - service business organization exemplar because she wanted to keep ascendancy of the gimmick and data , so the company can make improvement to it when necessary .
But Salva does n’t require to trammel itself to tit screening only . “ We ’re currently exploring solutions for early sign of diabetes and cardiovascular disease , ” Agudelo tell . “ We are focusing on notice these conditions too soon so they can get right diagnosis and treatment at a fraction of the cost . ”
