Guest contributor |
AI has the potential to transform healthcare by accelerating drug discovery, personalising medicine and improving patient care. Yet, startups often lack the resources and expertise needed to scale solutions and healthcare operations.
Microsoft for Startups, a global and free programme, aims to bridge this gap by providing free access to technology, training and mentoring. Similarly, NVIDIA Inception supports startups with advanced technology. With a shared goal of advancing innovation, Microsoft has partnered with NVIDIA to equip health and life sciences (HLS) startups with industry-specific tools to grow their businesses.
The primary aim of this partnership is to drive AI-powered innovation in the HLS sector. Several startups are already engaged in both programmes, including hospital automation solution developer Artisight and Pangaea Data, provider of an AI platform (Pallux) configured on clinical guidelines to find more untreated patients across hard-to-diagnose conditions at the point of care.
“Working with both Microsoft for Startups and NVIDIA Inception has been transformative for Pangaea Data,” says Dr Vibhor Gupta, founder and CEO of Pangaea Data. “By combining resources and access to cutting-edge AI models, we are able to accelerate development and deliver real-world value to our joint customers. Leveraging AI tools from Microsoft and NVIDIA, we apply clinical guidelines to find previously overlooked patients at the point of care who need treatment or access to clinical trials, ultimately improving patient outcomes.”
Pangaea Data’s Pallux platform leverages AI tools from Microsoft and NVIDIA to find more untreated patients for screening and treatment at the point of care
Andrew Gostine, co-founder and CEO of Artisight, says that: “Collaborating with Microsoft for Startups and NVIDIA Inception represents an incredible opportunity for Artisight to elevate healthcare delivery. We can use the combined tools to transform productivity for healthcare providers and deliver meaningful outcomes to our customers. This partnership enables us to scale our smart hospital solutions more rapidly, from operating rooms to patient rooms, ultimately creating a future where technology empowers clinicians to focus more on patient care and less on operational hurdles.”
Other startups benefiting from both programmes include Beekeeper AI, which provides secure access to real-time healthcare data, and Niramai, a firm that produces medical devices for breast cancer screening. Beekeeper AI’s EscrowAI is a secure collaboration platform for healthcare providers where an algorithm is protected as it is sent by the algorithm owner to computer on curated, encrypted, information in the data provider’s environment. The result is both the IP and data remain secure. Meanwhile, Niramai has developed a novel AI-based medical device to detect breast cancer at a much earlier stage than traditional methods or self-examination. Its imaging method is radiation free, non-touch, not painful and works for women of all ages. This unique solution can be used as a cancer diagnosis test in hospitals, for regular preventive health checkups, and for large-scale screening in rural and semi-urban areas.
One of the key benefits for eligible startups participating in these programmes is access to up to $150,000 in Microsoft Azure credits. These credits can be applied towards leading AI models, including Azure OpenAI Service, Meta’s Llama and Microsoft’s own small language model, Phi. This enables rapid and efficient scaling using cloud services tailored for AI, big data and healthcare applications. Furthermore, startups will also receive 10,000 credits on NVIDIA’s GPU resources. This includes discounted access to the NVIDIA AI Enterprise Stack, which encompasses the full suite of NVIDIA Clara HLS computing platforms, software and services. Startups will also benefit from bespoke HLS go-to-market support, ensuring they have the necessary tools and guidance to bring their innovative solutions to market.
The partnership between Microsoft for Startups and NVIDIA Inception is a testament to the power of collaboration in driving innovation, especially in highly regulated industries like HLS. By combining strengths and resources, Microsoft and NVIDIA are creating a supportive ecosystem for startups to thrive. This collaboration is not just about providing tools and resources; it is about empowering startups to make a real difference and improve access to high-quality care, around the globe.
Sally Ann Frank is worldwide lead for health and life sciences at Microsoft for Startups
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