AI Diagnostics Secures R85m to Expand AI-Powered TB Screening Technology
AI Diagnostics Secures R85m to Expand AI-Powered TB Screening Technology. A South African medical technology company, AI Diagnostics, has raised R85 million in a pre-Series A funding round to advance the rollout of its artificial intelligence-powered tuberculosis screening tool.
The funding round was led by The Steele Foundation for Hope, with participation from iFSP Group and Global Innovation Fund, alongside follow-on investment from early angel backers.
The company will use the capital to accelerate deployment of its AI-enabled Ostium digital stethoscope, a device designed to support early TB screening without the need for specialist equipment or infrastructure.
Funding will also support clinical research and validation, further development of the product and its AI model, and the operational systems required to scale across South Africa and into emerging markets in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia.
AI Diagnostics previously secured backing from Africa Health Ventures and Savant in earlier funding rounds.
The company’s technology is aimed at addressing persistent challenges in tuberculosis detection and access to care. According to the World Health Organization, 249,000 people in South Africa fell ill with TB in 2024, while an estimated 54,000 deaths were recorded.
Detection remains a major barrier, with many cases going unnoticed until later stages. A national TB prevalence survey found that 58 percent of individuals who tested positive reported no symptoms, limiting the effectiveness of symptom-based screening.
Access to diagnostic services is another constraint, particularly in high-burden communities where clinics often face staff shortages and limited equipment. The situation is further complicated by the HIV-TB co-epidemic, with more than half of TB cases in parts of southern Africa occurring in people living with HIV.
AI Diagnostics developed its Ostium device and AI.TB software to support frontline healthcare workers, including nurses, pharmacists, and community health workers, who serve as the primary point of care for many patients.
The system analyses lung sounds in real time and identifies signals associated with tuberculosis, enabling healthcare providers to refer patients for further testing immediately.
The company has received approval from the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority and has screened more than 1,000 patients locally. Clinical research is currently underway in more than 10 countries across Africa and Asia.
While the technology is initially focused on TB, AI Diagnostics is exploring broader applications across lung and heart conditions. Investors backing the company have highlighted the potential of point-of-care diagnostics to expand access to healthcare and improve early detection in underserved regions.
