Tell us a little bit about Aurora Health Systems. What is the problem? What solution are you offering? What populations are you serving? Our innovation at Aurora Health Systems focuses on addressing the pressing issue of cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of death worldwide, responsible for 33% of all fatalities. In Africa alone, approximately 25 million people live with cardiovascular disease, a chronic condition that requires timely and proactive management. The unique challenge with cardiovascular disease, particularly with arrhythmias, is that 99% of them are asymptomatic, meaning they often go undetected until they lead to more severe complications like heart attacks.
Aurora Health's solution is a remote monitoring device designed for early detection of arrhythmias and other cardiac irregularities. Our technology enables continuous, real-time monitoring, allowing patients and healthcare providers to detect potential issues before they escalate into critical conditions. Time is of the essence in cardiac care, and our device offers a life-saving advantage by catching these silent arrhythmias early.
Initially, our device was developed for home use to empower patients to monitor their heart health from the comfort of their homes. However, through market feedback, we discovered that our early adopters were clinics, especially those lacking access to advanced ECG equipment typically found in larger hospitals. Furthermore, we found an unexpected yet impactful use for our technology in monitoring fetal heart rates, with pregnant women becoming another key user group.
In essence, we are serving a diverse population—cardiovascular patients needing early diagnosis, clinics seeking affordable and accessible monitoring solutions, and pregnant women who benefit from continuous fetal heart monitoring.
One of the current successes we are celebrating is being ranked among the top 10 companies in Qualcomm’s Making Africa accelerator program for 2024. Qualcomm, the world’s largest chip manufacturer, has recognized our innovation and is assisting us with the manufacturing of our medical device. This recognition from such a global leader in technology is a huge achievement for us, especially in the medical device space.
We are also celebrating the improvement of our device's accuracy, which has increased from 70% to 87%, thanks to continuous development and clinical validation supported by MP Shah Hospital. These advancements are critical as we work toward ISO certification, another milestone in progress. Additionally, winning the HealthTech Hub Africa competition and receiving a $50,000 grant has allowed us to partner with the Ministry of Health in Kenya to digitize data collection tools for chronic kidney disease patients, a project we're excited to be part of.
Aurora Health is currently navigating several primary challenges common to early-stage medical technology companies. One significant hurdle is the complex regulatory landscape for medical devices, where obtaining essential certifications like ISO can be both time-consuming and resource-intensive. Securing sufficient funding poses a particular challenge; while we've received some grants and support, relying on these sources can limit our growth potential.
The statistics are alarming—only 2 to 3% of female-led startups receive funding worldwide, and for a Black female entrepreneur in Africa, these challenges are even more pronounced. Lastly, raising market awareness and encouraging the adoption of our remote monitoring technology for cardiovascular diseases are also crucial. Educating potential users and healthcare providers about the benefits of our solution can be difficult, especially in regions where awareness of these conditions is still developing.
One key lesson I've learned while developing our innovation is the importance of building credibility, especially as an early-stage company. Without substantial funding, partnerships become critical. I’ve realized that being innovative and collaborating with the right partners can significantly boost your portfolio and enhance your credibility. This credibility is essential when it comes to securing future funding, which is vital for growth. I’d advise other innovators to focus on forming strategic partnerships early on, as they can open doors, provide resources, and make it easier to attract investors down the line.
Villgro has played a significant role in our growth, particularly in shifting our focus from being purely research-driven to a more business-oriented company. When we joined the MedTech cohort, they helped us prioritize the business aspects of Aurora Health, an area we hadn't concentrated on before. One of the most impactful ways Villgro has helped us is by establishing proper documentation protocols for testing our device. Prior to this, we were conducting tests without clear guidelines, but Villgro’s support has ensured that everything is now documented according to international standards, which is crucial for our progress toward ISO certification.
Additionally, Villgro has connected us with valuable partners and provided essential guidance on aligning our processes with global best practices. Their expertise has been vital in helping us take significant steps toward commercializing our medical device.
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