Despite advancements in medical technology, India continues to grapple with high rates of infant and maternal mortality. The Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) in India remains a significant concern, standing at 30 per 1,000 live births as of 2019. Challenges such as low institutional births, high prevalence of low-birthweight babies, and maternal mortality persist, highlighting the need for innovative solutions in healthcare.
Janitri’s Mission
Janitri, a startup featured on Shark Tank India S2, is on a mission to address these challenges through innovative medical-grade fetal and maternal monitoring solutions. Founded by Arun Agarwal, the Bengaluru-based startup aims to leverage wearables and AI-enabled devices to provide accessible and affordable healthcare solutions for pregnant women.
Comprehensive Solutions
Janitri offers a range of products tailored to monitor fetal and maternal health throughout pregnancy and childbirth. The Keyar Patch, a silicone and plastic device, attaches to the pregnant woman’s stomach, monitoring fetal heart rate, maternal heart rate, labor contractions, and fetal movements. Priced at ₹29,000, the Keyar Patch provides real-time data crucial for maternal healthcare.
The Keyar Patch seamlessly integrates with Daksh, a mobile application available on Android devices. Daksh facilitates continuous monitoring of mothers during labor and postpartum periods, sending vital information to healthcare providers and generating critical alerts when necessary. With an annual subscription cost of ₹10,000, Daksh enhances patient care and enables timely interventions.
Impact and Innovation
By combining wearable technology with AI-driven software, Janitri empowers healthcare providers to remotely monitor fetal movements and maternal health, potentially saving lives. Agarwal emphasizes that timely monitoring during pregnancy and childbirth can significantly reduce complications, potentially saving 80% of women and newborns at risk.
Traditionally, hospitals rely on cardiotocography machines for fetal monitoring, which lack digital capabilities and require manual adjustments by nurses. Janitri’s innovative solutions offer a digital alternative, enhancing efficiency and accuracy in maternal healthcare.
Founder’s Vision and Achievements
Arun Agarwal’s journey with Janitri stems from his vision to revolutionize healthcare in India through technology. With a background in biomedical engineering, Agarwal is driven by a desire to address grassroots healthcare challenges. His dedication to innovation and patient care has garnered support from various stakeholders, including grants from esteemed organizations like the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
Support and Investment
Janitri has received significant support from investors, raising ₹7 crore to date from a combination of grants and equity funding. The startup’s commitment to research and development has resulted in multiple patents and a strong revenue stream, earning ₹1.03 crore in its first year of operation.
Shark Tank Success
During its appearance on Shark Tank India S2, Janitri received offers from prominent investors impressed by its innovative solutions. Ultimately, the startup accepted an offer from Namita Thapar of Emcure Pharmaceuticals, valuing the company at ₹30 crore. Thapar’s strategic partnership aims to propel Janitri towards achieving its ambitious sales targets and expanding its impact on maternal healthcare in India.
