Founded by Valentina Agudelo and her two colleagues, Salva Health emerged from a troubling discovery during a college entrepreneurship project: the significant disparity in breast cancer survival rates between Latin America and developed nations.
The company aims to bridge this healthcare gap by providing early detection capabilities to underserved rural populations. Breast cancer, after all, is highly treatable when detected early.
The startup’s solution centers on a portable diagnostic device designed to make early breast cancer screening accessible in areas lacking traditional mammogram facilities.
Salva Health emerged victorious from an initial field of 200 startups, beating out 19 other finalists who presented live demos to multiple panels of venture capitalists and tech leaders.
The final round saw five companies competing before an elite panel of judges, including representatives from Mayfield, SignalFire, Construct Capital, Floodgate, and Notable Capital.
Runner-up Gecko Materials impressed judges with their innovative dry-adhesive technology inspired by gecko feet, capable of supporting great weight without leaving residue.
Salva Health joins an illustrious group of Startup Battlefield alumni that includes tech giants Dropbox, Discord, Cloudflare, and Mint. The competition’s track record is impressive, with past participants collectively raising over US$29 billion in funding and achieving more than 200 successful exits.
