 in a pre-Series A funding round){kind=link}
South African medtech company AI Diagnostics has raised R85 million (about $4.6 million) in a pre-Series A funding round to accelerate deployment of its artificial intelligence-powered tuberculosis (TB) screening technology across Africa and other emerging markets.
The funding will be used to expand clinical validation, strengthen regulatory approvals, and scale production of the company’s Ostium digital stethoscope and AI.TB software, which uses lung sound analysis to flag potential TB cases at the point of care.
The round was led by The Steele Foundation for Hope, with participation from iFSP Group and the Global Innovation Fund, alongside follow-on investment from early backers including Africa Health Ventures and Savant.
AI Diagnostics said its system is designed for use by frontline health workers, including nurses, pharmacists, and community health workers, particularly in low-resource settings where access to radiology and specialist clinicians is limited.
The company has South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) approval and has screened more than 1,000 patients in South Africa. It is currently running clinical studies across more than 10 countries in Africa and Asia.
South Africa remains one of the world’s highest TB burden countries. According to the World Health Organization’s 2025 Global TB Report, an estimated 249,000 people fell ill with TB in 2024, while about 54,000 people died from the disease.
AI Diagnostics said late diagnosis remains a key challenge, with many infections going undetected until advanced stages, particularly in communities with limited access to diagnostic infrastructure.
“The AI model flags individuals whose lung sounds show signals associated with TB in real time, allowing immediate referral for confirmatory testing,” said Braden van Breda, CEO of AI Diagnostics.
Investors said the technology could help close critical gaps in early detection and reshape frontline screening in underserved regions.
“This puts real diagnostic capability in the hands of nurses and community health workers,” said Joe Exner, CEO of The Steele Foundation for Hope. “In communities without X-ray infrastructure or specialist clinicians, this changes what is possible at primary care level.”
The company, founded and based in South Africa, said it is also exploring broader applications of its technology beyond TB, including screening for cardiovascular and respiratory conditions, positioning the digital stethoscope as a potential next-generation diagnostic tool.
“We anticipate the stethoscope will evolve significantly over the next decade,” said Rowena Luk, Managing Partner at Africa Health Ventures. “AI Diagnostics could be at the forefront of that shift.”
Investors framed the raise as part of a broader trend toward commercial investment in global health technologies, particularly those addressing high-burden diseases in low- and middle-income countries.
“TB has historically been underfunded relative to its burden,” said van Breda. “This signals that investors increasingly see global health not just as philanthropy, but as a viable and scalable commercial opportunity.”
Global Innovation Fund said solutions developed in Africa are often better adapted to real-world constraints.
“South Africa is becoming a hub for health innovation,” said Lily Steele, Managing Director of Investments at GIF. “AI Diagnostics demonstrates that globally relevant, commercially viable solutions can be built from within the continent.”