The story of Kardi Ai began over a glass of wine, when cardiologist Prof. MUDr. Tomáš Skála, Ph.D., FESC, and American entrepreneur Stephen Burke discussed how complex and expensive long-term heart monitoring can be. Their vision to create a device that would be accessible, accurate, and comfortable to wear led to the founding of Kardi Ai. They were soon joined by Pavel Digaňa and David Skála – together, the four co-founders laid the foundation of the company. One of the first investors, Vlastimil Hrabal, later joined the team as Chief Operating Officer (COO) and eventually took on the role of CEO.
The startup has already helped detect over 250 serious cases of arrhythmia that would have otherwise gone unnoticed, potentially leading to life-threatening consequences such as stroke, heart failure, or early-onset dementia. Kardi Ai combines real ECG measurements using a chest strap with a smart app and its own AI models for ECG processing and evaluation.
One of Kardi Ai’s key advantages is its ability to significantly increase the chances of detecting heart issues, which often strike without warning. Traditional methods like single 24-hour Holter monitoring capture arrhythmias in just around 5% of cases, partly due to the limited time span. With Kardi Ai’s ability to be used daily and analyse real ECG data through AI, the detection rate among users reaches up to 29%. Continuity and simplicity play a crucial role in uncovering issues that would otherwise remain hidden.
“Traditional single 24-hour period monitoring often isn’t enough. Arrhythmias appear randomly and if you don’t catch them at the right time, it’s like they never existed. With Kardi Ai, users can measure every day, dramatically increasing the chances of early detection,” explains Prof. Tomáš Skála, co-founder and Chief Science Officer of Kardi Ai.
Along with the investment comes a major change in leadership. Vlastimil Hrabal, an experienced entrepreneur and manager with international reach, has been appointed the new CEO of Kardi Ai. Hrabal was one of the startup’s first friends and family investors and served as its Chief Operating Officer (COO) over the past year. He replaces Stephen Burke, who will continue to serve as Executive Director and Chairman of the Board of Directors, continuing to play a strategic role in the company’s development.
“Kardi Ai has an exceptional, proven product that’s already helping save lives. Now it’s time to take this technology beyond the Czech Republic. We want to become the European leader in continuous heart monitoring. We believe this unique combination of data, clinical validity, and simplicity can change the way we prevent cardiovascular disease,” says Vlastimil Hrabal, the new CEO of Kardi Ai.
In the first phase, Kardi Ai is targeting familiar markets: Poland, Slovakia, Bulgaria, and Romania. In the second wave, it plans to enter the United Arab Emirates and India, where there is strong demand for affordable technologies supporting cardiovascular prevention and early diagnosis.
“This expansion comes at a key moment. The markets we’re targeting face similar challenges to the Czech Republic – high rates of cardiovascular disease, overloaded healthcare systems, and growing interest in digital health. We believe Kardi Ai can make the biggest difference right there,” adds Hrabal.
The company is currently preparing a clinical trial at university hospitals in Olomouc and Ostrava and collaborates with over 20 hospitals and approximately 130 cardiologists across the country. Kardi Ai is entering a new phase – backed by significant investment, a strong leadership team, and a clear expansion vision. With its unique combination of real ECG data, AI-driven analysis, and everyday usability, the company is able to uncover arrhythmias that traditional methods often miss.
The new funding will support not only the completion of clinical study and return to the European medical market but also entry into key international markets where demand for smart, affordable cardiology solutions is immense. Kardi Ai is proving its potential to become Europe’s leader in long-term heart monitoring – and to save thousands more lives.
