Artelus, an AI-driven healthtech startup, has been named the winner of the Drishti HealthTech Challenge, a joint initiative under Startup India by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) and Roche Pharma India. The startup will receive a financial grant of INR 35 lakhs to co-develop and pilot its pioneering solution in partnership with Roche.
Challenge Details and Selection Process
The Drishti HealthTech Challenge received over 80 applications from startups in digital health. A jury comprising retinal health experts, startup mentors, and Roche India leadership evaluated entries based on problem relevance, impact potential, market readiness, leadership credibility, and regulatory, legal, and IP moats. Artelus emerged as the winner through a rigorous multi-stage evaluation.
Award Ceremony at Swiss Embassy
The award ceremony took place at the Swiss Embassy in New Delhi, attended by Her Excellency Mrs. Maya Tissafi, Ambassador of Switzerland to India and Bhutan. She highlighted the Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement between EFTA and India, stating, "It creates a ground for exactly the kind of innovation we see today - such as this initiative by Roche Pharma India and Startup India, which creates platforms for entrepreneurs and supports opportunities for collaboration and brings us closer to real-world impact." She congratulated Artelus, noting its work makes early diagnosis more accessible.
Government and Industry Support
Shri Ateesh Kumar Singh, Additional Secretary, DPIIT, emphasized, "Fostering an ecosystem where advanced technology seamlessly integrates with grassroots healthcare delivery is key to sustainable economic development. Initiatives like the Roche Drishti HealthTech Challenge underscore the immense potential of the Indian startup community to deliver high-impact solutions." Rajji Mehdwan, Managing Director & CEO of Roche Pharma India, added, "Retinal diseases are stealing sight across India. ... Artelus solves that. Their offline AI technology brings screening to places we've never been able to reach before. No patient should lose their vision to something preventable."
Winning Solution: DRISTi
Artelus's winning innovation, DRISTi (Diabetic Retinopathy Screening), is a CE Class 1 AI product that operates fully offline without internet or cloud connectivity. It uses a unique 'AI on a Chip' technology, alongside backpack-friendly 5G-enabled OCT systems, to bring retinal diagnostics to remote areas. Diabetic Retinopathy is a growing public health crisis in India, with delayed diagnosis leading to preventable blindness.
Girish Somvanshi, Co-Founder & VP of Artelus, said, "Breakthrough therapies save vision only when patients access treatment in a timely manner. The Roche Drishti Healthtech Challenge recognizes the critical importance of closing that gap. At Artelus, we are building the infrastructure to ensure every patient is identified, referred, treated, and followed up - at a population scale optimized for India and the rest of the world."
About the Initiative
The Drishti HealthTech Challenge invited applications in AI-driven early screening, referral, and treatment pathways for retinal diseases, and a unified, interoperable real-world evidence platform. Artelus's solution aims to democratize healthcare by enabling early detection and integrated management of retinal diseases at scale.
