iSono Health, a San Francisco based Y-Combinator alum and venture-backed medical devices startup, was pioneering a 3D ultrasound body-scanning technology to revolutionise breast cancer screening. Despite their cutting-edge science, iSono faced a familiar startup hurdle: demonstrating real commercial traction, a critical requirement for both next-stage fundraising and regulatory preparation.
The system, called ATUSA, allows women to quickly and easily undergo preventive examinations even in areas with limited access to healthcare. The screening takes two minutes, and the results are evaluated immediately, speeding up the detection of potential breast tumors. More than two million breast cancer cases are diagnosed worldwide every year.
“I am convinced that in the Czech Republic we should be grateful for the quality of our healthcare system, because it is not a given even in developed countries like the United States. In the Czech Republic, approximately 7,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer every year, and early detection increases the chance of cure to more than 90%. I urge all women in the Czech Republic – after the age of 45, you are entitled to preventive mammography every two years. Take advantage of the fact that we have high-level preventive care and healthcare,” said Simona Kijonková, founder of JSK Investments, on her Linkedin post in connection with the investment.
Worldwide, more than two million new cases of breast cancer are diagnosed annually, and early detection significantly increases the chance of survival. ATUSA™, approved by the U.S. FDA, allows doctors to view 3D tissue images on any internet-enabled device. Thanks to automated scanning and analysis, the examination is reduced to just two minutes and is suitable for hospitals, clinics, and home use.
“What if she had ATUSA™? That question keeps echoing in my mind and it touches me deeply. Not only because I’m a woman, but because I’ve seen this illness up close, more than once in my family and among my friends. That’s why I’m truly proud that we can support a technology that’s accessible, portable, and incredibly precise. And the fact that it’s led by a female founder is just the cherry on top. Beautiful example of women supporting women” commented Petra Cihlarova, Head of Venture Capital at JSK Investments.
Kijonková announced the investment in the American startup on the podcast Ve vatě. She revealed that she paid tens of millions of Czech crowns for an unspecified stake and is counting on an investment horizon of ten or more years. “The story really resonated with me because both founders are scientists and both lost loved ones to breast cancer,” the investor told Seznam Zprávy.
