eNext ICU won the inaugural IHH Catalyst healthtech startup cohort by IHH & Fortis Healthcare. RNT Health Insights & Cartogene Therapeutics were runners-up.
Launched in February as the first regional edition of IHH Healthcare’s global incubator platform, the programme received 195 applications from across India, out of which 10 startups were selected for the inaugural cohort, a statement said.
The 10 startups were Cartogene Therapeutics, CarePal Money, Tatvacare, MicroHeal, RNT Health Insights, Nalagenetics, Sunfox Technologies, eNext ICU, Kubo Care and Cureous Labs.
At the Demo Day on Thursday, these startups presented their solutions, following a structured 12-week accelerator programme involving mentorship, clinical validation, operational refinement and real-world testing opportunities within the Fortis ecosystem.
eNext ICU emerged as the winner of the cohort. The startup is addressing the critical shortage of intensivists, particularly in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities, through a 24×7 Tele-ICU platform.
The platform enables remote monitoring and management of critically ill patients by experienced specialists.
First Runner-Up was the RNT Health Insights, which is developing AI-powered medical devices that enhance the early detection of upper gastrointestinal (GI) cancers during routine endoscopic procedures, the statement read.
By providing real-time clinical decision support, the solution acts as an intelligent second set of eyes, helping clinicians identify subtle lesions that may otherwise be missed, improve diagnostic accuracy, ensure comprehensive visualisation, and standardise reporting, the statement added.
Second Runner-Up was Cartogene Therapeutics, which developed an advanced CAR-T cell therapy that is more accessible and affordable for patients with blood cancers in India, according to the statement.
This solution reduces the vein-to-vein treatment timeline to around 8-10 days, enabling faster treatment for patients with aggressive cancers while maintaining high clinical and manufacturing standards.
Speaking at the event, Ashok Pandit, Group Chief Corporate Officer, IHH Healthcare, said, “Healthcare is entering a defining era where innovation, technology and collaboration are redefining the future of patient care.”
“Through IHH Catalyst, we are creating a platform that enables innovators to work alongside clinicians and healthcare providers to solve real-world healthcare challenges,” he said.
Dr Ashutosh Raghuvanshi, Managing Director and CEO, Fortis Healthcare, said, “The future of healthcare will be shaped by solutions that improve patient outcomes while enhancing accessibility, efficiency and scalability.”
Ms Elizabeth Han, Group Innovation Head, IHH Healthcare, said, “The success of the inaugural Fortis India Edition demonstrates the immense potential of India’s healthcare innovation ecosystem and reinforces our commitment to nurturing solutions that can improve access, quality, efficiency, and patient outcomes not only in India, but across the wider IHH network globally.”
“As the India anchor partner, Fortis Healthcare played a key role in enabling startups to test and refine their solutions within real healthcare environments,” the statement said.
As the platform continues its regional expansion, the next edition of IHH Catalyst is set to take place in Hong Kong, it added.
