SigTuple, a medtech startup specializing in digital microscopy solutions powered by artificial intelligence (AI), has secured Rs 33 crore ($4 million) in an extended series C funding round led by Sidbi Venture Capital. Existing investors, including Endiya Partners, also participated in the round.
The new funds will be used to drive the company’s geographical expansion, broaden its product portfolio, and support regulatory clearances. Founded in 2015 by Tathagato Rai Dastidar, SigTuple leverages AI and robotics to automate manual microscopic reviews. The company’s device captures high-quality images of diseased samples through a camera lens, which are then analyzed by AI. The results are delivered to experts via a cloud-based platform, streamlining the overall diagnostic process.
AI currently handles around 95% of the expert’s workload, significantly reducing the review time per sample. Where an expert might typically take five to ten minutes to review a sample and draw a conclusion, the process can now be completed within a minute. This efficiency allows the same expert, who previously reviewed 50 samples daily, to now potentially examine 300 to 400 samples.
To date, SigTuple has raised a total of $50 million. The company has already expanded into Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and North Africa, with plans to enter Europe and the Americas. In September 2023, its flagship product, AI100, received 510(k) clearance from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Recently, SigTuple beta-released its new device, AS76, which can analyze various sample types, including tissue, sputum, blood, and urine. The company also plans to enter the point-of-care (PoC) market next year, using microfluidic technology and imaging to conduct essential tests within minutes.
SigTuple integrates optics, robotics, microfluidics, and AI into healthcare. With the upcoming launch of its second product and developments in point-of-care technology, the company aims to cater to all digital health needs of the pathology department, including hematology, histopathology, and cytology.
