Brain health startup Ivory has raised $1 million in seed funding to accelerate the development of its early detection and cognitive care platform. The round saw participation from a diverse group of investors, including Draper Associates, SAGE Venture Fund, MoSJE, IFCI Ventures, and SIDBI.
This latest injection of capital follows a string of successful raises for the Mumbai-based company, which previously secured $1 million in April 2023 and $500,000 in February 2024. The startup, which gained national visibility following an appearance on Shark Tank India, has now raised a total of $2.5 million to date.
Strategic Growth and Product Expansion
According to a company statement, the new proceeds are earmarked for three primary pillars: strengthening the technology stack, expanding clinical capabilities, and enhancing product offerings. Specifically, the team aims to build scalable, evidence-based solutions that can be integrated into routine preventive care.
Founded in early 2023 by Issac John and Rahul Krishnan, Ivory bridges the gap between traditional neurology and preventive wellness. The platform utilizes a multidisciplinary approach—combining neuroscience, neuropsychology, and data-driven interventions—to help users track and optimize cognitive well-being before significant decline occurs.
The Funding Trajectory
Ivory’s financial journey reflects rapid acceleration in the Indian “age-tech” and cognitive health sector. Within its first few months of inception in early 2023, the company secured $1 million in a round co-led by IIM-A Ventures and Capital A. This initial capital allowed the founders to establish a core clinical team spanning neuroscience, neurology, and general medicine.
The momentum continued into 2024 with a $500,000 bridge round from Capital A. This phase coincided with the startup’s appearance on Shark Tank India, which served as a national platform to highlight the critical need for proactive brain health. The current $1 million seed round represents a maturation of the business, attracting a wider pool of institutional backers and government-linked entities.
Disrupting Traditional Diagnostics
Ivory is positioning itself as a digital-first alternative to traditional “pen-and-paper” cognitive tests like the MoCA, MMSE, and ACE-III. By digitizing these assessments, the company aims to make cognitive screening accessible and trackable through its proprietary app.
The startup recently signaled its intent to integrate into the broader healthcare ecosystem through a partnership with Metropolis Healthcare. The collaboration resulted in the “TruHealth Mind & Body” package, which bundles standard pathology diagnostics with Ivory’s neuroscience-based assessments. While Ivory faces competition from global digital health players like Cogstate and BrainCheck, its localized focus and strategic clinical partnerships provide a distinct edge in the burgeoning Indian healthcare market.
By: Sandhya Bharti
