Optain | Eyetelligence

The company was launched in the U.S. in May 2023 through Ascertain, a partnership between venture studio Aegis Ventures and Northwell Holdings, the venture arm of Northwell Health. This launch was supported by an initial $12 million in seed funding. Optain has since raised a total of $23 million over two seed rounds. Key figures in the company include CEO Jeff Dunkel, who has a background in strategy and influencing healthcare policy, and Professor Mingguang He, a renowned ophthalmologist and researcher who serves as Chief Medical Officer. Jason Sun, who co-founded Eyetelligence, is the Chief Operating Officer.

Optain's core business revolves around a non-invasive retinal imaging technology that uses artificial intelligence to detect early signs of various diseases. The technology analyzes full-color retinal images captured by a portable fundus camera to screen for over 140 systemic and eye conditions, including diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration, and cardiovascular diseases. The process is designed to be quick, with results generated in under a minute, providing clinicians with a risk assessment report to aid in diagnosis.

The business model targets several client types, including healthcare providers, patients, and insurers. For providers, the platform aims to standardize care and reduce missed diagnoses. For insurers, it offers a tool for screening and risk stratifying member populations. The company provides its AI-enabled Software as a Medical Device (SaMD) and a portable camera as an all-in-one solution, designed for easy integration into clinical workflows. This technology has already received regulatory approvals in markets such as Australia, New Zealand, and Europe.