Cipher
MicroFuseTech is a health-technology startup developing AI-powered, non-invasive diagnostic tools to make early disease detection accessible anywhere - without specialists, labs, or expensive equipment. We spun out of independent research combining computer vision, medical imaging, and embedded AI systems, and have since grown into a clinically validated, regulatory-cleared company operating at TRL 9.
About Us
MicroFuseTech is a UK-registered medical device innovator with global reach across Africa, Europe, and emerging markets. We are a small but highly technical founding team with deep expertise in AI, medical imaging, and clinical practice - supported by advisors from the NHS and mentors from Johnson & Johnson. We are not a research group or a student project; we are a commercial, product-ready health-tech company with a clear mission: bring early diagnostics to every point of care.
Our Experience & Distinction
What sets us apart is the combination of engineering depth, clinical insight, and execution speed:
AI & Product Engineering:
Founder Emmanuel Ugwu has built Cipher end-to-end, from algorithm development to hardware design, on-device AI optimisation, and regulatory compliance. His background spans AI/ML, computer vision, and medical device development, allowing the team to move faster and more cost-efficiently than competitors reliant on large engineering departments.
Clinical Expertise:
Dr. Benita, our clinical advisor, is an NHS doctor with over 10 years of frontline experience in primary care, chronic disease management, and health-system workflows. Her input shapes product relevance, clinical safety, and adoption pathways.
Regulatory & Commercial Maturity:
Cipher has already achieved CE Marking and FDA clearance, a major barrier for most early-stage medical AI companies. This positions us not as an experimental technology, but as a product ready for procurement, deployment, and scale.
Global Validation:
We have secured $117,000 in early funding, including grants from Grand Challenges Canada, ASME, UN SDSN, and investment from Startupbootcamp Amsterdam, and have run paid pilots with hospitals, clinics, and screening programs. Demand has been validated through Letters of Intent, repeat pilot requests, and growing distribution interest.
Where We Fit
MicroFuseTech sits at the intersection of AI, preventive healthcare, and point-of-care diagnostics. Unlike conventional devices that require trained ophthalmologists or lab infrastructure, Cipher uses retinal imaging + AI to screen for diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular risk, and early-stage neurological conditions - using a simple handheld device.
Our solution is ideal for hospitals, clinics, community health programs, and low-resource settings where early diagnosis is most needed.
Why We Are the Right Team
We combine:
technical competency (AI, hardware, medical imaging)
clinical relevance (NHS insights, real-world patient care)
practical execution (regulatory success, manufacturing readiness, paid deployments)
This rare mix allows us to build fast but responsibly, bridging cutting-edge AI with real health-system impact.
Cipher is a non-invasive AI diagnostic platform that uses a simple retinal image to detect early signs of systemic diseases - including diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, kidney disease, and neurological risks. Our guiding principle is to shift healthcare from reactive treatment to proactive early detection, using the eye as a window into whole-body health. With a handheld retinal camera and offline AI, Cipher delivers instant diagnostic insights without blood tests, laboratories, or specialist involvement.
What makes the solution innovative?
Cipher combines on-device predictive AI, multi-disease detection from a single scan, and regulatory approval (CE Mark + FDA clearance) in a portable format that works anywhere, even without internet connectivity. Unlike existing tools focused on specific eye conditions, Cipher analyzes cross-system biomarkers, acting as a universal screening gateway that takes less than 10 seconds per patient. This makes specialist-grade screening accessible in clinics, pharmacies, community health centers, and mobile care units.
Stage of development
Cipher is fully developed (TRL 9) and deployed in paid pilots across hospitals and screening programs.
We have:
– CE Mark + FDA clearance
– A granted patent + another patent pending
– $117K in funding
– 3 paid pilots and 5 more in pipeline
The system is being prepared for broader commercial rollout in Europe and Africa.
Uniqueness compared to other solutions
Cipher stands out because it:
– Works completely offline on a handheld device
– Screens for multiple systemic diseases from one retinal photo
– Requires no specialists, making it ideal for frontline settings
– Is already clinically validated and regulatory-approved
– Operates at a fraction of the cost of traditional diagnostics
Implementation in a real-world laboratory
In a real-world setting, Cipher can be integrated quickly:
Staff receive a 30–60 minute onboarding.
The device is deployed at triage or intake points.
Patients are scanned in seconds, and risk scores appear instantly.
Results can be used for early intervention, referrals, or follow-up studies.
Cipher enhances early disease detection, strengthens community health resilience, empowers non-specialist workers, and reduces diagnostic costs, making it an excellent fit for a real-world lab focused on innovation and public impact.
Links & Reference
Website: https://microfusetech.com
Pitch deck, images, demos, renderings are in attachments.
Cipher strengthens urban society by transforming how cities detect, manage, and prevent chronic diseases. Today, diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and neurological disorders are among the leading causes of disability and healthcare expenditure in urban areas. Cipher enables early, accessible, non-invasive screening using a single retinal image, directly within community clinics, pharmacies, public health hubs, mobile vans, and workplaces. This helps cities shift from expensive, reactive care to proactive early detection, improving population health and reducing long-term medical burdens.
Impact on the urban district and local revitalization
By placing Cipher devices in local health centers, community spaces, or public service points, residents gain immediate access to professional-level screening without needing specialists or hospital visits. This “diagnostic accessibility layer” strengthens underserved districts, increases footfall in local health infrastructure, and creates new touchpoints for preventive care. The presence of the device encourages participation in health programs, helping activate community engagement and revitalizing public spaces around health services.
Spatial integration and interaction
Cipher is designed for seamless integration:
- It fits on any counter or desk, requiring only power.
- A layperson can operate it, enabling use in kiosks, pop-up clinics, pharmacies, community centers, and municipal buildings.
- Residents interact with it by taking a simple retinal photo, receiving instant diagnostic insights.
The intervention is lightweight, modular, and mobile, making it adaptable to different environments without construction, renovation, or disruption.
Ecological benefits
Cipher replaces disposable diagnostic consumables and reduces unnecessary lab tests, blood draws, and transportation of samples. By enabling prevention rather than late-stage treatment, it lowers resource-intensive medical interventions, reducing the environmental footprint associated with chronic disease management.
Social benefits
- Provides equitable access to early diagnosis across socioeconomic groups
- Reduces health inequalities by bringing specialist-level screening into community settings
- Supports healthy aging and workforce productivity
- Empowers non-specialist workers and creates new skill opportunities
- Strengthens community resilience by enabling early identification of high-risk individuals
Economic benefits
For cities and companies
- Reduces hospitalizations and late-stage treatment costs
- Improves employee health and reduces absenteeism
- Saves time through instant screening
- Enables scalable public health programs at a low cost
- Supports local health-tech ecosystems and job creation
Overall, Cipher contributes to healthier urban populations, more resilient healthcare systems, and more inclusive community infrastructure, making cities smarter, more equitable, and economically stronger.
Our solution is already supported by several non-dilutive grants and technical partnerships that have enabled us to reach a fully developed, regulatory-cleared prototype ready for real-world deployment. These existing resources have covered R&D, clinical validation, and hardware development, and now provide a strong foundation for implementation within the real-world laboratory.
For the purpose of this application, all detailed funding amounts and grant documentation will be submitted only in the Protected Disclosures section as requested.
For implementation within the real-world laboratory, we anticipate the following resource structure:
Prototype & Deployment Readiness
Our hardware is complete (TRL 9), CE-marked, and operational. No additional R&D funding is required for the pilot; only placement, staff onboarding, and integration with the local workflow.
Implementation Requirements
- 1-2 Cipher devices placed on-site
- A technician or staff member trained (30 minutes)
- Access to anonymized evaluation metrics
- Basic power supply; no infrastructure changes
Projected Financing Path
For broader scale-up beyond the pilot, we are exploring:
- municipal health innovation funds,
- EU-level digital health adoption grants,
- partnerships with hospitals, clinics, and insurance groups,
- private investment for manufacturing scale-up.
Implementation Scope
We estimate that full integration within Berlin's real-world laboratory can be completed within 4-6 weeks, including installation, onboarding, and workflow calibration.
Overall, Cipher is fully ready for real-world implementation, with clear pathways for funding and minimal operational requirements.
Cipher can be effectively located at any public-facing point of foot traffic within the real-world laboratory, ideally in spaces such as health kiosks, community centers, public squares, mobility hubs, or mixed-use buildings where residents naturally gather. These locations offer a unique opportunity for preventive health engagement because they enable effortless participation without requiring a clinical appointment.
By situating Cipher in an accessible, high-visibility area, residents can perform a quick, non-invasive check using only a retinal image, gaining early insights into risks related to diabetes, cancer, hypertension, heart disease, or neurological disorders.
This placement transforms the chosen location into a public health touchpoint, offering:
- Increased community engagement
- Immediate preventive screening access
- A bridge between urban life and early diagnostic services
- Strengthened health literacy and awareness
In summary, the chosen location enables Cipher to function as both an on-site health innovation and a catalyst for healthier, more informed urban communities.
