SciFocus / Pune / November 13, 2024
Venture Center hosted a successful ‘AI in Healthcare’ Workshop, bringing together industry experts, healthcare innovators, and investors to explore AI’s vast potential to revolutionize healthcare. Supported by BFI-BIOME, the event delved into the opportunities, challenges, and diverse applications of AI across drug discovery, diagnostics, patient care, and public health, providing practical insights and valuable networking for startups and innovators focused on AI-driven healthcare technology.
Keynote: Dr. Anand Deshpande
The workshop opened with a perspective talk by Dr.
Anand Deshpande, Founder and Chairman of Persistent Systems, who highlighted the massive $208 billion potential AI holds in healthcare by 2030.
“That’s not just impressive — it’s transformative,” Dr. Deshpande said, setting an optimistic tone for the sessions that followed.
He emphasized the need for AI-driven solutions that could shift healthcare from reactive spending to preventive care, urging careful investment in AI infrastructure, hardware, and skilled talent to unlock its full potential.
Exploring AI’s Role in Healthcare – Opportunities and Challenges
The panel discussion examined AI’s role in improving drug discovery, refining clinical trials for better outcomes, and enhancing both patient and provider experiences. Panelists emphasized the importance of integrating AI into healthcare workflows to maximize its impact, citing strides already made in non-invasive diagnostics and imaging accuracy.
Ethical considerations and regulatory frameworks were also discussed to ensure patient privacy and equitable access. The panel featured: Santosh Dixit, Nandini Sahasrabuddhe, Gaurav Tripathi, Ashutosh Pathak, Pankaj Doshi, and Kedar Medhi.
Startup Mixer Spotlights Emerging AI-Driven Solutions
One of the workshop’s highlights was the Startup Mixer, where ten early-stage startups presented lightning pitches showcasing AI’s versatility in healthcare — from public health delivery and digital health solutions to diagnostics and traditional medicine.
CareNx and Adiuvo Diagnostics took top honors, with award support generously provided by Indus Biotech.
Investor Perspectives on AI in Healthcare
In the final session, a panel of investors shared perspectives on evaluating and supporting AI-driven healthcare startups. Emphasizing a cautious yet optimistic approach, they discussed the importance of identifying genuine use cases where AI can effectively address real-world problems.
Topics included data sustainability, the development of evaluation frameworks for AI companies, and regulatory clarity to drive larger AI-focused investments. Panelists included
Maneesh Bhandari, Madhukar Bhatia, Kiran Deshpande, Sanjay Kanvinde, Tanvi Ghate, and Amey Mashelkar.
“This is an evolving space with exciting possibilities, and we’re thrilled to have facilitated this forum for knowledge-sharing and insights,” said Dr. Premnath, Director of Venture Center.
“We thank everyone who joined us today to explore AI’s transformative potential in healthcare.”
About the BFI-BIOME Workshop
The BFI-BIOME-supported Mixers and Ecosystem Development Workshops aim to bring together individuals passionate about addressing healthcare challenges through advanced technology. These events provide a platform for innovators to connect, discuss new ideas, and collaborate on projects that could make a lasting impact on healthcare.
Press Release: EDC/2024/11/07
Website: https://www.venturecenter.co.in/
