Testmate Health: The Venture Leader Medtech developing the first OTC urine home test for common STIs

"Our platform test kit can be adapted to detect any DNA or RNA sequence, STIs are just the beginning!"

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Can you tell us who your product or solution helps, and how? 
STI rates have soared in recent years, partly due to a reduction in access to easy and affordable testing. Yet, it is asymptomatic in nearly 80% of women and causes preventable complications during pregnancy and childbirth. Testmate Health is developing the first OTC urine home test for common STIs, that can be performed anywhere, at any time, providing PCR-quality results in minutes. Our platform test kit can be adapted to detect any DNA or RNA sequence, STIs are just the beginning!

What market are you addressing and what is the potential of your startup in that market?
Testmate has crafted a strategic approach to market penetration, employing both B2B and B2C channels. Our B2B pathways involve partnerships with university clinics, LGBTQ+ clinics, NGOs, and governmental organizations. On the B2C front, we utilize our own online marketplace, while also collaborating with established telehealth service providers.

How and where did you come up with the idea for your startup?
I first discovered the barriers related to STI testing when working as a medical doctor, and again when I took part in research alongside the WHO to review the accuracy of current available rapid tests. There, it became evident that there was no test that was low-cost, accurate and easy enough to use to that it could be distributed to everyone.

 

Our interest in being a part of Venture Leaders MedTech stems from our desire to include STI testing in the discourse of MedTech, to further increase US presence and network with US industry leaders, gain tactical insight and develop a roadmap for US expansion and connect with ecosystem players that can support commercialization planning. Additionally, it would provide a fundamental understanding of legal, operational, financial and cultural considerations of an expansion to the US specifically by a Swiss startup. These components would then allow Testmate to gain insights to build a deployable roadmap for US expansion.
 

What are your team’s key achievements to date?
We have an alpha lab prototype that we have validated at the University Hospital of Geneva that demonstrates we can achieve sensitivity equivalent to PCR. We have performed human factors testing to show the acceptability and ease of use of a home test design. We are working on developing a solid price architecture across different channels and value propositions, in addition to testing our multi-phased business model.

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"We believe the knowledge and connections we garner from the Venture Leaders will yield important building blocks & stepping stones to achieving our vision to expand access to sexual health testing."

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What is the most challenging and rewarding aspect of being a founder?
The most rewarding part of being a founder is seeing the direct fruits of your labour. For example, seeing an idea develop into a tangible prototype, and knowing that it is a result of a team that you have put together and the vision that was once only a dream. The challenging part is that the journey to achieving those results is far from linear, and each day can feel like a new obstacle course to navigate. But, I think that overcoming those obstacles makes reaching the finish line that much more satisfying! 

What is the most important lesson you have learned as a founder?
To have a laser focus on product, team and cash flow. 

What is your favourite productivity hack/tool and why?
At the beginning of each week, I take a simple A4 piece of blank paper. I use a ruler and draw lines on the paper to split it into 12 boxes. I label each box e.g. Financials, Corporate Governance, Team, Assay etc. This means I can see everything that needs to be done on a single piece of paper!

What was your dream job when you were a child?
I aspired to make a meaningful impact through my career, and my dream job was to be a part of Médecins Sans Frontières. The idea of contributing to humanitarian efforts and providing medical assistance to those in need has always resonated deeply with me.

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ABOUT THE PROGRAM
The Venture Leaders Medtech 2023 were chosen from over 80 applications by an expert jury. The roadshow in Boston provides a unique opportunity for entrepreneurs to accelerate their startups' expansion in the US while expanding their professional network and profiting from workshops with investors and industry leaders. This year's Venture Leaders Medtech program is organized by Venturelab in collaboration with Swissnex Boston and is supported by EPFL Lausanne, ETH Zurich, Hansjörg Wyss, Kellerhals Carrard, Swissnex Boston, and the Canton of Vaud.