Wara Samar
7th May 2025
illumicell AI Secures $2M to Deliver Lab-Grade Fluid Diagnostics in Minutes at the Point-of-Care – starting with Male Fertility
In a significant step forward for male fertility care and point-of-care diagnostics, illumicell AI, a Swiss-American techmed startup, has successfully closed a $2M pre-seed funding round. This capital injection will accelerate the launch of its groundbreaking real-time AI platform for cellular diagnostics — starting with the fertility space.
Founded by Harvard-trained physician Dr. Michel Bielecki, former McKinsey consultant Jeyla Sadikova, and rocket scientist Loup Cordey, illumicell AI is tackling a critical, overlooked issue: the inefficiency and inaccessibility of male fertility testing. With only about 550 clinics in the U.S. able to process sperm tests (and millions of men referred annually) the need for faster, decentralized solutions has never been clearer.
“We raised $2M in our pre-seed round and will be announcing our seed round later this year. I’m especially proud that a significant portion of this funding comes directly from future customers: leading urologists, fertility experts, and Key Opinion Leaders. Their backing is a major validation of both our technology and market need,” said Jeyla Sadikova, co-founder at illumicell AI.
She added, “The investor introductions were made by people we met at MedTech Malta 2021.”
A New Era in Fertility Testing
At the core of illumicell AI’s innovation is a portable “cell scanner” paired with powerful AI-driven analysis, capable of delivering clinical-grade results within minutes — no specialized lab required. Their platform aims to deliver results 50 times faster at 20 times lower cost than current methods, opening access to fertility diagnostics to any doctor’s office, worldwide.
“Our real-time, lab-grade fluid diagnostics can be performed in any doctor’s office, reducing wait times and costs for patients, which radically improves the quality of healthcare across the board,” said Dr. Bielecki, co-founder and CEO.
The company’s early traction is impressive: its prototype has already outperformed legacy lab systems in clinical trials, and Letters of Intent (LOIs) have been signed with leading fertility clinics across the United States, Japan, and Switzerland. A submission to the FDA is planned for 2026.
Correcting a Longstanding Bias in Fertility Care
Despite the fact that male factors contribute to infertility in up to half of all cases, traditional diagnostics have overwhelmingly centered on women. illumicell AI is working to rebalance this disparity.
“Fertility remains rooted in traditional approaches, still placing the burden of fertility almost entirely on women. It’s a bias that’s culturally driven and scientifically flawed,” said Jeyla Sadikova. “We’re making fast, accurate, scalable male fertility diagnostics accessible anywhere, so diagnosis starts where it should: with both partners, equally.”
The company’s vision extends beyond fertility. Every scan with illumicell AI generates structured, labeled data — building what will become the world’s first real-time cellular dataset in reproductive health. This database opens the door for personalized fertility insights, early warnings of declining fertility, and monitoring recovery from treatments like chemotherapy.
Also Read: MedTech World Partners with NovaX Global for Hong Kong Roadshow 2025
Looking Beyond Fertility
While the initial focus is on semen analysis, the illumicell AI team sees broader potential. Their platform is designed to eventually extend to other body fluids — from urine to cerebrospinal fluid — unlocking real-time, decentralized cellular diagnostics across healthcare.
Backed by major early-stage healthcare investors including KOFA Healthcare, the Harvard Phoenix Venture Fund, and MedTechSyndicates, illumicell AI has also earned recognition from top innovation programs such as Harvard Innovation Labs, Techstars, and MassChallenge Boston.
With this $2M funding milestone, illumicell AI is positioned to redefine not just male fertility care, but the future of fluid-based cellular diagnostics. By marrying clinical-grade imaging with cutting-edge AI, they are transforming how medicine starts: at the cellular level.
MedTech World Bay Area, California
MedTech World heads to the Bay Area on 26–27 June 2025 at Signia by Hilton in San Jose, California, bringing together innovators, investors, and healthcare leaders for two days of focused dialogue and networking. Key panels include “What Investors Want in 2025: New Rules of MedTech Fundraising” and “The ‘No’ Behind the Smile: Why Promising Pitches Still Don’t Get Funded”, tackling today’s biggest investment challenges. Don’t miss your chance to be part of this dynamic event—join our investor ecosystem now.
MedTech Malta 2025: See You in Valletta
From 12–14 November, MedTech Malta returns to Valletta — and this year promises even more. Over three days, founders, investors, regulators, and industry leaders will come together for meaningful conversations, targeted networking, and real opportunities to collaborate and grow.
If you couldn’t attend in 2024, catch up through our latest ecosystem report.
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