Deep-Tech Startup Voxelgrids Redefines Medical Diagnostics with Helium-Free, Cost-Effective MRI Scanners

BENGALURU — India’s medical device sector has historically suffered from high import dependency, particularly for capital-intensive diagnostic infrastructure such as Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Computed Tomography (CT) scanners. Traditional clinical MRI systems, which operate on a standard magnetic field strength of 1.5 tesla (T), routinely require heavy financial outlays running into several crores of rupees. Furthermore, these conventional units demand complex installation, substantial cooling infrastructure, and immense structural floor-load capacities due to weights scaling between four to six tonnes. Addressing this critical gap in the domestic healthcare ecosystem, Bengaluru-based deep-tech startup Voxelgrids Innovations is fundamentally re-engineering medical imaging from the ground up.

Founded in 2016 by Arjun Arunachalam, Swathy Padarthi, and Shankar Murthy Udupa, Voxelgrids took a radically different path. Instead of attempting to manufacture a cheaper variant of existing systems, the founding team reimagined the underlying engineering that traditionally makes MRI machines cumbersome, heavy, and expensive. Arunachalam, who pursued his PhD in the United States and previously worked at GE Research—the birthplace of the world's first 1.5 T MRI scanner—leveraged his deep domain expertise to pioneer a proprietary "dry" magnet approach. By developing a method to deliver standard 1.5 T field strength without relying on liquid helium for cooling, Voxelgrids has successfully built a compact diagnostic unit weighing approximately 2.3 tonnes.

The engineering breakthrough yields profound commercial and operational advantages. Voxelgrids’ advanced MRI scanner reduces build and operating costs by roughly 40 percent. More importantly, the elimination of liquid helium removes a major logistical bottleneck and recurring operational hazard. The reduced weight and compact footprint allow the equipment to be deployed in confined spaces and easily integrated into mobile diagnostic units capable of reaching remote, underserved tier-2 and tier-3 locations across India. Transforming an engineering prototype into a fully compliant, regulated medical device, however, proved to be an arduous multi-year journey involving rigorous testing, pandemic-related supply chain disruptions, and stringent regulatory hurdles.

Voxelgrids’ tenacity paid off when the enterprise secured a commercial manufacturing and distribution licence from the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) in 2023. The startup’s financial trajectory reflects strong institutional backing across various phases of its growth. Early validation came from Social Alpha and Tata Trusts, followed by a strategic grant in 2019 from the National Biopharma Mission under the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC). The firm subsequently attracted venture investments from software major Zoho, alongside prominent global backing from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

The commercial phase is now fully underway. Voxelgrids achieved a major milestone with its first commercial installation going live in November 2025 at the Tata Cancer Care Foundation in Chandrapur, Maharashtra, with subsequent deployments slated for Bengaluru. Armed with an initial order book of six systems and rising market interest, the company is actively scouting for expanded manufacturing facilities to scale its operations. As domestic deep-tech startups mature, Voxelgrids stands out as a prime example of how indigenous engineering prowess can solve complex infrastructural challenges, democratizing high-end healthcare delivery for millions of patients.

"The remarkable journey of Voxelgrids Innovations underscores the immense potential of Indian deep-tech startups in solving complex healthcare challenges through indigenous engineering. By completely rethinking the underlying mechanics of traditional MRI systems—specifically eliminating liquid helium dependency and slashing weight and operational costs by 40 percent—Voxelgrids is not merely building a product; they are democratizing access to high-end diagnostic care. As India continues to reduce its reliance on medical equipment imports, innovations of this caliber will attract massive investor confidence from both venture capital and philanthropic funds. At StartupLanes, we believe that deep-tech ventures bridging hardware innovation with scalable healthcare delivery represent the future of India's entrepreneurial landscape, opening up massive domestic and global market opportunities." — Dr. Shishir Gupta, Founder & CEO, StartupLanes