New Delhi, [India] November 19, 2025: The HealthTech Innovation Challenge 2025, organised by DHN and supported by IITI DRISHTI CPS Foundation, concluded its highly anticipated Demo Day today, marking a major milestone in India’s HealthTech innovation landscape. After a competitive final round featuring India’s most promising digital health solutions, Ivory, founded by Issac John and co-founded by Rahul Krishnan, emerged as the Winner and Best HealthTech Startup of 2025. Curebay Technologies (Oralcare) was declared the 1st Runner-Up, while Plus91 Technologies, led by Founder Aditya Patkar and Neelesh Bhandari, was recognised as the 2nd Runner-Up.
This year’s challenge was organised in partnership with W Health Ventures, CDAC, iCreate, and AWS, attracting applications from startups across AI-driven diagnostics, cognitive health, digital records, and hybrid healthcare delivery models. This year’s edition carries special significance. The DHN HealthTech Innovation Challenge 2025 has been officially recognised as a Pre-Summit Event for the upcoming India–AI Impact Summit 2026, hosted by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and IndiaAI.
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Finalists Who Took the Stage on Demo Day
The event showcased five future-ready innovations:
- Ivory– Neuroscience-based cognitive screening using interactive digital tools
- Plus91– ABDM-ready, interoperable digital health infrastructure
- HeyDoc AI– AI-led personal health records and wellness ecosystem
- BrainSight AI– Precision neuroscience diagnostics powered by AI
- Curebay Technologies– Tech-enabled hybrid care network for rural India
Commenting on this, Vishnu Saxena, Founder & CEO, DHN & ScaleHealthTech, said, “This year’s Challenge has reinforced something we have believed for a long time, that India is entering a phase where the most meaningful healthcare solutions will emerge not from legacy systems but from the bold, mission-driven founders building at the intersection of health and technology. What stood out about this cohort was their ability to blend clinical insight with technological innovation in a way that can truly shift outcomes on the ground. HealthTech in India is no longer about experiments or pilots; it is about scalable, implementable solutions that can serve millions. Today’s winner, along with the finalists, demonstrated not just innovation but clarity of purpose, market understanding, and a deep commitment to solving India’s most urgent healthcare challenges. As DHN, our goal is to give them a platform where their ideas can grow, mature, and impact real lives across the country.”
Aditya Vyas, CEO, IITI Drishti CPS Foundation, Said, “What we witnessed today was a reflection of India’s growing strength and maturity in deep-tech healthcare innovation. Each of these startups is solving a problem that is deeply rooted in the Indian healthcare system—whether it is accessibility in rural areas, early detection of chronic conditions, or the need for interoperable health data. The winning solution stood out because of its strong clinical relevance, its integration readiness with national digital health systems, and its ability to deliver impact at scale. At IITI Drishti CPS Foundation, we believe that fostering such innovations is not just an academic exercise but a national responsibility. Digital health is going to be central to India’s development story over the next two decades, and initiatives like this challenge play a critical role in ensuring that the technologies we build today are capable of supporting the healthcare system of tomorrow.”
The jury selected Ivory not just for its technological prowess but for its deep mission-driven purpose. Founded by Issac John, Ivory has built an AI-powered, neuroscience-based cognitive screening platform that can detect early signs of cognitive decline long before clinical symptoms manifest. In a country where cognitive impairments often go undiagnosed, Ivory’s clinically validated assessments and personalised brain-training interventions are helping make brain health a proactive habit rather than a late-stage reaction.
