SA’s AI Diagnostics Raises USD 5 M To Scale AI Stethoscope For TB Detection

Cape Town-based healthtech startup AI Diagnostics has raised ZAR 85 M (~USD 5 M) in a pre-Series A round to scale its AI-powered digital stethoscope, Ostium.

Founded in 2020 by Braden van Breda, Johan Coetzee, and Mark van Breda, the company combines hardware with proprietary AI (AI.TB) to detect tuberculosis in real time by analysing lung sounds, enabling frontline screening without specialist equipment.

The round was led by The Steele Foundation for Hope, with backing from iFSP Group, Global Innovation Fund, Africa Health Ventures, and Savant. Funds will support clinical validation and expansion across Africa and Asia.

With over 1,000 patients already screened and regulatory approval secured in South Africa, AI Diagnostics aims to close TB detection gaps and expand into broader respiratory diagnostics.