Startup Battlefield: Finals - OmniVis

TL;DR

Omni Vis is revolutionizing disease detection with their handheld device that can accurately detect cholera in under 30 minutes.

Transcript

out cholera has no borders as an engineering PhD student I learned how in Haiti there was no cholera for 100 years until the 2010 earthquake after the disaster cholera spread through the country causing outbreaks and deaths to this day but Haiti's not alone there are 5 million cases of cholera every year in 41 countries all around the world and thi... Read More

Key Insights

• 😚 Cholera is a global problem, affecting 5 million people in 41 countries each year and causing billions of dollars in treatment costs and lost productivity.
• 🥳 Traditional methods of cholera detection take seven days and require extensive training, leaving communities vulnerable to contaminated water sources.
• 😀 Omni Vis has developed a handheld device, disposable test kit, and smartphone app that can detect cholera in water sources within 30 minutes, providing a faster and more accessible solution.
• 👨‍⚕️ The company has garnered interest and partnerships from major players in the cholera market, including ICD DRB and Doctors Without Borders.
• 💦 Omni Vis' unit economics are competitive, with test kits costing less than existing budgets of water testing laboratories.
• 🕵️ The company is focusing on cholera detection initially but has the potential to expand into detecting other waterborne pathogens.
• 💦 By revolutionizing disease detection, Omni Vis aims to save lives and improve access to clean water.
• 👨‍⚕️ While distribution may be challenging, partnerships with organizations like Doctors Without Borders provide a distribution network and expertise in reaching remote areas.

Questions & Answers

Q: How does Omni Vis detect cholera in water sources?

Omni Vis uses a handheld device that contains heating units and lenses to amplify the cholera toxin gene and visualize the viscosity change in the sample. This change is measured and analyzed using proprietary algorithms on a smartphone app.

Q: What partnerships does Omni Vis have in the cholera market?

Omni Vis has received letters of intent from major players in the cholera market, including ICD DRB, Doctors Without Borders, and the Emerging Pathogens Institute in Haiti. These partnerships provide credibility and potential avenues for distribution.

Q: What are the unit economics of Omni Vis' testing system?

Water testing laboratories, such as the Emerging Pathogens Institute, spend around $100,000 per year, while organizations like Doctors Without Borders have budgets ranging from $500,000 to $6 million per country. Omni Vis aims to provide a cost-effective solution below these budgets.

Q: Can Omni Vis detect other pathogens besides cholera?

Currently, Omni Vis focuses on detecting cholera due to its specific symptoms and resistance to chlorine. However, the company is expanding its research to include other water diseases such as E.coli and typhoid to address the larger issue of clean water access.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Cholera, a deadly disease, spreads through water sources and affects 5 million people in 41 countries each year, causing outbreaks and deaths.

• Current detection methods for cholera take seven days and require extensive training, leaving communities vulnerable to contaminated water.

• Omni Vis has developed a handheld device, disposable test kit, and smartphone app that work together to detect cholera in water sources within 30 minutes, revolutionizing disease detection.