Cent raises $15M Series A, acquires Medsee to scale AI preventive scans

Healthtech startup Cent has secured $15 million in new funding, with Blume Ventures and South Park Commons taking the lead. The round also included backing from high-profile figures like a former Vodafone executive and an ex-OpenAI leader. The Bengaluru-based company, launched this year by Practo’s cofounder Shashank ND along with former Ola Electric and Lenskart executives, also announced it had bought Medsee, an AI-powered radiology platform, to improve its reporting efficiency as demand grows.

The funds will go toward research and expanding Cent’s teams in AI, engineering, and clinical roles. The startup offers a package that bundles full-body MRI, low-dose CT, DEXA scans, ECG, and echocardiography into a single two-hour session, priced at ₹27,500. The service aims to detect over 300 potential health risks—including heart disease, cancer, and neurological conditions—before symptoms appear. Its proprietary protocol uses AI to analyze findings from different diagnostic tools and generate risk assessments at the organ level, with a focus on reducing scan times and catching serious conditions early.

Since its launch, Cent has conducted thousands of preventive whole-body scans in major cities like Bengaluru, Mumbai, and Delhi NCR. The company has set an ambitious target for the next decade, though reaching it will depend on significant growth in infrastructure and partnerships. It also plans to use the data from these scans to create reference points for healthy individuals, refine its AI models for earlier risk detection, and contribute to medical research. The acquisition of Medsee is expected to help manage the increasing volume of scans by speeding up and standardizing reporting.

This funding round follows an earlier $5 million seed raise from OneFlow Holdings and South Park Commons. Cent’s approach aligns with a broader shift in healthtech toward using AI to move from reactive to preventive care. However, its model faces challenges, including high costs, regulatory hurdles, and the need to convince both clinicians and patients of its value—especially in a market where traditional preventive checkups are far more affordable.

While Cent’s technology focuses on early detection, its pricing limits its reach to a premium segment, raising questions about how it will scale. The company’s long-term success will likely hinge on whether it can demonstrate clear benefits over conventional screening methods. Additionally, as it expands, it may face scrutiny over how it handles sensitive health data, particularly given India’s evolving regulatory environment.

For now, Cent’s funding and acquisition highlight the growing intersection of AI and preventive healthcare. If it succeeds, it could influence how startups use diagnostics, AI, and data to improve early disease detection. But its ambitious goals will require careful execution to balance innovation with practical challenges.

Sources: inc42.com