Top 40 “Healthcare” Startups in Australia!!

Australia’s health system is one of the best in the world. It provides quality, safe and affordable health care for you and your family. It’s a key reason why we enjoy one of the longest life expectancies in the world.

Healthcare services in Australia are funded by the Australian Government and by private health insurance. Australia’s public healthcare system is called Medicare. Medicare provides healthcare for Australian residents for free, or at a reduced cost. It is paid for out of taxes that every Australian pays.

Medicare covers many essential treatments but not all of them. It covers things like medically necessary hospital procedures in public hospitals, visits to the doctor and some medicines. It does not cover treatments in private hospitals, ambulance services and extras services like glasses, dental treatment and natural therapies. This is why many Australians choose to have private health insurance.

The benefits you get when you have OSCH are similar to the cover Australians get through Medicare. 

Top 40 HealthCare Startups in Australia:

  1. Atomo Diagnostics

Atomo Diagnostics was founded in 2010 by John Kelly. Atomo Diagnostics was established to capitalise on a core belief that healthcare products offering significantly improved levels of convenience, simplicity and user experience are disproportionately disruptive and have the potential to be very successful commercial market entrants. In 2013, Atomo introduced AtomoRapid, a range of safe, simple professional use tests that deliver fast and accurate results in both clinical and community settings.

In 2014, AtomoRapid HIV won Best in Show at the Medical Device Excellence Awards (MDEA) and Atomo was named Australian Emerging Company of the Year for 2014 by Johnson & Johnson Innovation. Their leading investors are Grand Challenges Canada, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Allan Moss and Global Health Investment Fund.

2. LBT Innovations

LBT Innovations was founded in 2004 by Lusia Guthrie. LBT Innovations is an Australian medical technology company which is publicly listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX: LBT). Using artificial intelligence (AI) to deliver automation in healthcare, the company has developed a patent protected machine learning and intelligent imaging platform technology to deliver the only FDA cleared instrument utilising AI technology in clinical microbiology.

The company is developing a pipeline of AI based solutions for Microbiology, with APAS® Independence in early global commercialisation.

3. OncoRes Medical

OncoRes Medical was founded in 2016 by Brendan Kennedy, Christobel Saunders and Katharine Giles. OncoRes Medical is developing an intraoperative imaging tool that translates the surgeon’s sense of touch into a microscale image – improving surgical accuracy and reducing complication rates. Founded in 2016, OncoRes is a medical device company funded by the Medical Research Commercialisation Fund, developing patent-protected technology in collaboration with leading researchers at the University of Western Australia, the Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research and breast cancer surgeons from the Western Australian Department of Health. Their leading investors are Medical Research Commercialisation Fund.

4. SomnoMed

SomnoMed Logo 300dpi | SomnoMed.com

SomnoMed was founded in 2004. SomnoMed provides treatment solutions for Sleep-related Breathing Disorders including obstructive sleep apnea, snoring and bruxism. SomnoMed was commercialized on the basis of extensive clinical research. Supporting independent clinical research, continuous innovation and instituting medical manufacturing standards has resulted in SomnoDent® becoming the state-of-the-art and clinically proven medical oral appliance therapy for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

More than 400,000 patients around the world have treated their mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) with SomnoDent oral device therapy. Worn during sleep and fitted by a dental sleep specialist, the SomnoDent line of oral appliances are customized to offer superior comfort and quality to each individual patient.

5. Oventus Medical

Oventus Medical was founded in 2012 by Dr. Christopher Patrick Hart. Oventus is a Brisbane-based medical device company that is commercialising a unique treatment platform for sleep apnoea and snoring. The Company has a collaborative Sleep Physician/ Dental strategy that streamlines patients’ access to treatment. The Oventus lab model incorporates digital technology via intra oral scanning to achieve operational efficiencies, accuracy and ultimately patient outcomes. Unlike other oral appliances, Oventus O2Vent devices manage the entire upper airway via a unique and patented built-in airway.

O2Vent devices allow for airflow to the back of the mouth while maintaining an oral seal and stable jaw position, bypassing multiple obstructions from the nose, soft palate and tongue. The devices reduce airway collapsibility and manage mouth breathing while keeping the airway stable. O2Vent devices are designed for any patient that is deemed appropriate for oral appliance therapy, but especially beneficial for the many people that suffer with nasal congestion, obstruction and mouth breathing.

6. Radetec Diagnostics

Radetec was founded in 2017. Radetec Diagnostics is a Melbourne-based biotech start-up specialised in the manufacturing of advanced luminescent nanoparticles called “quantum dots”, which can be used as labels for imaging and sensing applications. Radetec is using its own quantum dots to develop two point-of-care tests based on lateral flow technology: a rapid multiplex test for Chlamydia and Gonorrhoea (the two most prevalent sexually transmitted infections worldwide) and a rapid antigen test for COVID-19.

Radetec’s tests will allow users to test for these diseases accurately, inexpensively, quickly and conveniently — something that is considered the ‘holy grail’ of infectious disease diagnosis and prevention.

7. Sound Scouts

Sound Scouts was founded in 2014 by Carolyn Mee. Sound Scouts is a game designed to test the hearing of children, especially around the time they start school. Sound Scout’s Founder Carolyn Mee’s vision is to provide an accessible and fun hearing test for children. Undetected hearing loss in children greatly impacts their social development and education. It is crucial to identify hearing problems in children early in their lives in order to support growth and development throughout their school years.

Developed in collaboration with the National Acoustic Laboratories, Sounds Scouts looks and feels like a game, however, it incorporates advanced scientific principles that enable it to detect a range of hearing problems. While Sound Scouts is based on science, it’s the gameplay that encourages and enables a valid hearing check for children (aged 4yrs 9months and older).

8. Medinet

Medinet was founded in 2019. Medinet is on a mission to change the healthcare industry by giving everyone convenient access to health care at any time, from anywhere. Through their app, patients can connect online 24/7 with Australian qualified GPs and access additional health services such as medication delivery, specialist referrals, pathology collection and medical certificates.

9. Relectrify

Relectrify was founded in 2015 by Daniel Crowley and Valentin Muenzel. Relectrify is a developer and supplier of advanced control solutions that increase cycle life and reduce cost in energy storage solutions for homes, industry, the power grid and beyond. Supported by leading energy investors, Relectrify solutions have attracted interest by global energy storage manufacturers including 4R Energy Japan, power utilities including American Electric Power and Counties Energy New Zealand, and automotive companies, including VW Group Germany and Nissan US.

10. Device Technologies

Device Technologies is an established distributor of quality and technologically-advanced medical equipment and consumables. The company is Australian-owned and employs more than 600 healthcare specialists and support staff in Australia and New Zealand. All products are professionally supported by qualified Product Managers and specialists, trained to work in surgical and operating room environments.

Clinical Educators provide accredited training, in-servicing and ongoing clinical support, Technical Service personnel service and maintain our extensive range of capital equipment and Regulatory Affairs ensure all products are correctly listed with the TGA.

11. HealthMatch

HealthMatch was founded in 2017 by Manuri Gunawardena. HealthMatch is a digital health company transforming the way patients connect to clinical trials. Their platform allows patients to find clinical trials in the fastest and simplest way possible. Patients are matched in real-time to clinical trials tailored to their medical profile.

By applying machine learning and artificial intelligence to clinical data, HealthMatch aims to dramatically accelerate patient recruitment, and progress life-saving cures onto the market faster than existing practices allow. Their leading investors are Square Peg capital, Folklore Ventures and Nicky Carp.

12. Five Good Friends

Five Good Friends was founded in 2015 by Nathan Betteridge and Simon Lockyer. Five Good Friends is Australia’s First Successful Ageing Platform. Using technology, people and community we have reinvented ‘traditional home care’. Five Good Friends offers a modern, transparent and flexible solution so people can age in place engaged with the community, friends and life they love.

They are a business with a very clear, purposeful and much needed mission and fight: To re-invent in home help and care for individuals as well as the family so that everyone is kept informed, in touch and most importantly in control. Their leading investors are Investible.

13. CancerAid

CancerAid - Targeting Cancer

CancerAid was founded in 2015 by Nikhil Pooviah and Raghav Murali- Murali-Ganesh. CancerAid empowers the cancer community through digital empathy-driven innovation on a global scale. CancerAid has quickly become the go-to resource for people affected by cancer and is the Number 1 cancer app currently on the Apple Store in Australia, the US and the UK. The app addresses issues faced in oncology through science-based technology solutions. Over 20,000 users across 53 countries are already engaged with the CancerAid platform.

CancerAid has been fortunate to achieve growing recognition of its work. CancerAid has won a number of awards including Best Global Startup 2017 (Talent Unleashed), judged by Steve Wozniak and Sir Richard Branson, AusBiotech Emerging Company of the Year 2017, and has been featured by leading media outlets including TechCrunch, Shark Tank (Australia) and HealthXL.

14. Saluda Medical

Saluda Medical was founded in 2013 by John Parker. Saluda Medical is a global neuromodulation company leading the development and commercialization of data-driven, personalized therapies for patients with chronic pain. The company’s first product, Evoke®, is a closed-loop spinal cord stimulator (SCS) system designed to treat chronic pain, a condition that affects more than 540 million people globally.

SCS treats the condition by stimulating the spinal cord and altering the transmission of pain signals to the brain. Evoke is designed to optimize pain relief by measuring and recording each patient’s unique response to stimulation, and then makes millions of real-time adjustments per day to maintain a consistent level of therapy. Their leading investors are Redmile Capital, Boston Scientific, Medtronic and Action Potential Venture Capital.

15. Harrison.ai

Harrison.ai was founded in 2018 by Aengus Tran and Dimitry Tran. Partnering with leading healthcare organisations, harrison.ai creates AI-as-a-medical device solutions that have a global impact and support clinical excellence. They are a clinician-led healthcare artificial intelligence company that innovates efficient and accessible solutions and services. By combining exceptional deep learning expertise with clinical experience we deploy healthcare AI solutions.

They partner with world-class healthcare providers to make medical care more accurate and accessible. Our intuitive AI-enabled tools support clinicians and healthcare providers to deliver improved patient outcomes. Their leading investors are Blackbird Ventures.

16. Ellume

Ellume was founded in 2010 by Sean Parsons. Ellume is an Australian based Health Technology company that develops and manufactures connected real-time diagnostics for doctors and consumers. They achieve this by combining next-generation quantum dot diagnostics with connected care technologies.

Their products are distinguished by their simplicity of design, ease of use, rapid time to result and connectivity.

17. ImpediMed

ImpediMed was founded in 1999 by Melvyn Bridges. ImpediMed Limited is the world leader in the development and distribution of medical devices employing bioimpedance spectroscopy (BIS) technologies for use in the noninvasive clinical assessment and monitoring of fluid status. ImpediMed’s primary product range consists of a number of medical devices that aid surgeons, oncologists, therapists and radiation oncologists in the clinical assessment of patients for the potential onset of secondary lymphoedema.

Pre-operative clinical assessment in cancer survivors, before the onset of symptoms, may prevent the condition from becoming a lifelong management issue and thus improve the quality of life of the cancer survivor. ImpediMed had the first medical device with an FDA clearance in the United States to aid health care professionals in the clinical assessment of secondary lymphoedema of the arm and leg in female and male cancer patients.

18. Voxon Photonics

Voxon Photonics was founded in the year 2012 by Alan Jackson, Gavin Finlay Smith, Ken Silverman, Sean Kean and Will Tamblyn. Voxon Photonics are creators of The Voxiebox VX1 – the world’s first three-dimensional (3D) volumetric display. Incorporated in 2013, they have teams based in Australia and the US that have been developing the 3D volumetric technology for more than nine years.

Their 3D volumetric technology brings digital content to life and helps empower people to visualise, communicate, learn and have fun in a collaborative manner with no barrier to the 3D experience, and no glasses required. Their leading investors are Fortis argo, Techstars and Microsoft for Startups.

19. ResApp

ResApp was founded in 1990 by Tony Keating. ResApp Health is developing digital healthcare solutions to assist doctors and empower patients to diagnose and manage respiratory disease. They are creating easy to use, affordable, clinically-validated and regulatory-approved diagnostic tools that only require a smartphone. Their solutions can be easily integrated into existing telehealth solutions by telehealth providers. They are also working on apps to provide clinical quality respiratory disease diagnosis and management directly to consumers.

20. Opthea

Opthea was founded in 2012 by Leon Serry. Opthea is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company committed to developing innovative therapies to help improve visual function in patients suffering with retinal diseases. Their first in class novel therapeutic called OPT-302, is a VEGF-C/D ‘trap’, to be used in combination with existing standard of care anti-VEGF-A therapies to improve vision in patients, many of whom respond sub-optimally or become refractory to existing treatments. Millions of people around the world suffer from impaired vision as a result of diabetes and old age. Their mission is to improve vision leading to a better quality of life.

21. Mindset Health

Mindset Health was founded in 2018 by Alex Naoumidis, Chris Naoumidis and Dan Borthwick. They are on a mission to help the billion people with access to a phone but not good healthcare. They’re building hypnosis-based digital therapeutics for chronic health conditions like IBS, Menopause and Depression.

They are also creating the future of healthcare, helping thousands (soon to be millions!) of people manage their health from home, without drugs. Their leading investors are James Beshara, Giant Leap Fund, Fifty Years and Banana Capital.

22. Navi medical Technologies

Navi Medical Technologies was founded in 2017. Navi Medical Technologies is a medical device development company incorporated in 2017 in Melbourne, Australia. Since forming in early 2016 the team behind Navi have been developing the Neonav, the first medical device of its kind for the neonatal and pediatric market that provides clinicians with real-time feedback on the location of central lines during the procedure.

The talented Navi team is compromised of award-winning biomedical engineers, experienced business professionals and a senior neonatologist.

23. Health Horizon

Health Horizon was founded in 2016. Health Horizon is available to anyone to find and follow the latest health and medical innovations from all around the world. They curate evidenced based innovations daily from hospitals, universities, NGOs, startups and health / healthcare providers. They are a marketplace for innovations in digital health, medtech, devices, service delivery, public health and associated fields, from breakthrough research to full commercial availability.

After completing alpha testing with members of the International Hospital Federation and select universities from 2015, they publicly launched in late 2016.

24. Vaxine

Vaxine was founded in 2002 by Nikolai Petrovsky. Vaxine Pty Ltd is a rapidly growing Australian biotechnology company based in Adelaide that has developed an impressive pipeline of vaccines against infectious disease, allergy, and cancer . Vaxine has developed the Advax range of proprietary polysaccharide adjuvants and is currently applying this state of the art adjuvant technology to development of vaccines against hepatitis B, pandemic influenza, Japanese encephalitis, West Nile virus, malaria, HIV and rabies, amongst others.

25. HealthEngine

investment-logo-healthengine | Stirk Medical Group

HealthEngine was founded in 2006 by Adam Yap, Dr Marcus Tan and Mike Cadogan. HealthEngine is transforming Australia’s access to healthcare. In a word, they’re making it easier. Easier for you to connect with your healthcare online, at your convenience. The HealthEngine Network is Australia’s largest patient network. It’s the place where patients are already online, connecting with their favourite healthcare providers through the HealthEngine website and app.

26. Omniscient Neurotechnology

Omniscient was founded in 2019 by Michael Sughrue and Stephane Doyen. They create enterprise grade clinical and research solutions applicable to a variety of brain-related disorders, including depression, chronic pain, cancer, bi-polar disorder, Alzheimer’s, dementia, and PTSD, with the goal of bringing predictive analytics to the world faster. They are a data company and aim to radically change the care of patients with brain disease by turning loose Machine learning/AI and big data to actually provide useful information to doctors.

This involves both facilitating research, and providing high quality data based guidance to clinicians. Their leading investor is Will Vicars.

27. Mable

Mable was found in 2014 by Peter Scutt and Tony Charara. Mable is an online platform allowing people to connect with care and support in their local community. Founded in 2014, Mable has become Australia’s largest online community of independent support workers who offer their services directly to people who are seeking aged care or disability support. Through their easy-to-use, simple online platform, they provide communities an effective means of connecting so people seeking care and support can find the right worker.

At the same time, Mable gives independent workers the opportunity to build their business and be their own boss as an aged care or disability support worker. Their leading investors are General Atlantic, Ellerson Capital and Tony Wales.

28. QBiotics

Qbiotics was founded in the year 2000. QBiotics is an Australian life sciences company, inspired by nature to improve human and animal health. Their research and development program is based on compounds derived from the Australian tropical rainforest. Their product focus address unmet medical needs for humans and companion animals. They are currently concentrating on the global health priority areas of cancer, specifically solid tumours, and chronic wound management.

29. Hireup

Hireup was founded in the year 2014 by Jordan O’Reilly and Laura O’Reilly. For too long, people with disability have had to accept support on someone else’s terms. At Hireup they decided to fix that, by investing in technology and their community and bringing together as many Australians as possible to share in our vision. Together they are redefining what it means to be connected. To be supported. To be a community empowered by a system that matches people not just on qualification but on shared interests.

The Hireup story starts with Jordan and Laura O’Reilly, who grew up alongside a brother with disability. Managing support workers was part of their family routine. Sometimes the support workers were a great fit but more often than not, they weren’t. Their leading investors are SEEK.

30. Seer

Seer was founded in 2016 by Dean Freestone and George Kenley. Seer Medical is creating technology that revolutionises the diagnosis and management of neurological conditions, with a special focus on epilepsy. Mission is to empower people by delivering personalised deep clinical insights by utilising the latest technology. Their technology consists of wearable devices, a cloud platform and machine learning systems. These systems are at the core their at-home video EEG monitoring and diagnostic service – the first of its kind.

Seer has already made a big impact across the east coast of Australia over the last 2 years, and is now building for international expansion. Their leading investors are Cochlear, EWM Group and Giant Leap Fund.

31. Vaxxas

Vaxxas was founded by Mark Kendall in 2011. Vaxxas is commercializing novel technology that dramatically enhances the performance of existing and next-generation vaccines. The company believes its innovative needle-free technology will help the world in rethinking what’s possible with vaccines.

Vaxxas’ HD-MAP technology uses a patch with thousands of vaccine-coated microprojections that is applied to the skin for a few seconds to efficiently deliver vaccine to the abundant immune cells immediately below the skin surface. Their leading investors are Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, One Ventures, Healthcare ventures and Brandon Capital partners.

32. MedAdvisor

Medadvisor was founded in 2013 by Josh Swinnerton. MedAdvisor is a world-class medication management platform focused on addressing the gap and burden of medication adherence. Founded with a desire to simplify medication management, the highly automated and intuitive Australian software system connects patients to their local pharmacy, providing them with real time visibility and access to their personal medication records.

Its smart reminders, skip the queue and pre-ordering capabilities have seen high engagement from users and a 20% increase in medication adherence. Their leading investors are HMS and Eos Group.

33. PainChek

Painchek was founded on Jan 1, 2016 by Jeff Hughes and Kreshnik Hoti. PainChek® is a secure smartphone or tablet based medical device that uses artificial intelligence and your input, to assess a person’s level of pain. PainChek provides a pain score in real time, which will help you gauge whether treatment is required. This information is then securely stored in the cloud and if you chose to, can be shared with your GP or healthcare professional.

PainChek allows you, the carer to identify and measure a person’s level of pain and supports you to assess and manage a person’s pain experience. PainChek calculates a pain score and intensity (ie No Pain, Mild, Moderate or Severe). This then allows you, the carer to intervene if pain is present and manage pain accordingly.

34. HotDoc

HotDoc was founded in July 27, 2012 by Simon Holland. HotDoc is Australia’s largest and most trusted patient engagement platform. We take pride in helping over 21,000 practitioners connect with more than 7 million patients. The HotDoc platform includes: online bookings, recalls, reminders, check-in, place in queue, online processing of repeat prescription requests, and Inform (a tool designed to encourage patients to take a more proactive interest in preventative health and chronic disease management).

HotDoc also provides free monthly webinars where practice managers, GPs, nurses and medical receptionists can earn CPD points. With over 20,000 registrations last year alone, HotDoc’s webinar series is the highest attended healthcare webinar series in Australia. Their leading investors are Right Click Capital and Air Tree ventures.

35. Prospection

Prospection was founded in 2012 by Eric Chung, Peter Cronin and Ricky Chen. Prospection is a Pioneer in healthcare data analytics. Using predictive analytics and machine learning with real world healthcare data to unearth insights that help research, develop and target better healthcare outcomes for patients.

Founded out of Sydney’s Cicada Innovations in 2012, Prospection works with government, pharmaceutical companies and the medical community across more than 70 therapy programs, including immuno-oncology, HIV and hepatitis. Their leading investors are Ellerston Capital, Horizons Ventures and Main Sequence.

36. AND Health

ANDHealth is a national digital health initiative established by a consortium of commercial and government partners to facilitate and support the development & commercialisation of clinically validated digital health technologies across Australia. They are federally and commercially funded and will be focusing on working with mid-stage digital health projects on proof of concept and pivotal clinical validation, investment readiness and market entry – with a specific focus on regulated digital health technologies which have a clear impact on clinical outcomes for patients.

37. FatSecret

FatSecret was founded in 2007 by Lenny Moses and  Rodney Moses. Their mission is to empower people to make healthy food and nutrition habits for life. They support a community of more than 50 million enthusiastic members with the highest quality tracking tools that reduce effort and create lasting healthy habits.

Through their free iOS and Android mobile apps and websites that let you track your food, exercise and weight as well as engage with a supportive community, FatSecret is unlocking the secrets of diet and weight loss for everyone. The FatSecret community enjoys access to the largest verified database of food and nutrition information globally covering all generic foods , branded products and restaurant items.

38. Coviu

Coviu was founded in Dec 21, 2015 by Nathan Oehlman and Silvia Pfeiffer. Coviu is a telehealth software solution for healthcare practices and organisations. Their software is browser-based, meaning no downloads are required and access to your digital practice is just a click away. Coviu video consultations are enhanced with a range of in-call clinical tools and workflow integrations for appointment bookings and payments. Their software integrates seamlessly with a range of practice management systems for patient record management.

Their ultimate goal is to increase healthcare access for all, and future-proof global healthcare systems through utilising video technology. Their leading investors are Equity Venture Partners, Mass Medical Angels, Main Sequence, CSIRO and Giant Leap Fund.

39. Nutromics

Nutromics was founded in Hitesh Mehta and Peter Vranes. They are an Australian MedTech company with a vision to create a world with zero preventable deaths due to the lack of timely molecular-level data. They are developing a Continuous Molecular Monitoring platform technology that can provide clinicians with real-time and continuous data for multiple targets.

To date, they have raised $10 million, won an award for Technology Platform Solution of the Year at the National iawards, and been a Top 5 finalist in the medTech Innovator program. Their team of 15 are currently working towards our first-in-human clinical trials. Their leading investors are Artesian VC, CP Ventures and MedTech Actuator.

40. Arli

Arli was founded in March 21, 2020. Arli is a platform that connects the user with a community that understands addiction. For making changes big and small with alcohol—they are the living proof of what’s possible.

For any Changes or Nominations, please mail isha@startuplanes.com