Julieta

Salva Health

Julieta

Julieta is a portable, smart medical device that bridges the gap in early breast cancer detection, even in remote areas where a mammogram can't reach.

Bogotá, Colombia

Colombia

For-profit, including B-Corp or similar models

The problem that we seek to address is breast cancer: the leading cause of cancer death in women worldwide. Our research found that in 2020, 2.3 million cases were diagnosed, and 685,000 women died. Furthermore, it is estimated that by 2050, deaths will increase by 68%, exceeding one million annually, disproportionately impacting developing countries, where 70% of deaths from this disease occur (IARC, 2023). We know that the root of the problem is late detection: 60% of cases are identified in advanced stages, reducing the survival rate from 90% to 30%. In Latin America alone, between 40% and 50% of cases are detected late, resulting in a mortality rate of 13.3 per 100,000 women. In Colombia, the figures are similar, attributing a monetary expenditure of USD 65.6 million annually to treatment alone (Revista Colombiana de Cancerología, 2016). It is worrying that less than 5% of Colombian women access screening because mammograms cost between $25 and USD 100, and there is only one mammogram per 100,000 women, well below the WHO standard of 2.5—of which 20% are inoperative (IARC, 2020).

Julieta is our portable medical device that helps detect breast cancer early, without radiation and painlessly, and does not require specialized personnel for implementation. Unlike traditional mammograms, Julieta is small, lightweight, and can be used anywhere, even in rural areas without internet access. It utilizes a technology called electrical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), which allows the sensor to be placed on a woman's breast to send an imperceptible electrical current that analyzes the breast tissue's response. This information is processed by an artificial intelligence system trained with thousands of exams to identify abnormal patterns that could indicate cancer risk. The test takes only 7 minutes and provides immediate results. Additionally, our technology allows data to be stored and automatically synchronized when connected, facilitating monitoring in remote areas. Julieta has been clinically validated with more than 2,300 women in Colombia and has demonstrated 82% accuracy. It is a noninvasive technology with an ergonomic design, reusable, and affordable: each test costs only $1.60 in-house and only $20 per screening, making it a viable solution for low-income populations. In this way, we seek to democratize access to early detection of breast cancer by eliminating geographical, logistical, infrastructural, and economic barriers.

Our solution is designed to serve women in vulnerable situations in Latin America, especially in remote areas, where health gaps are most acute. We focus on women between 40 and 69 years old, the highest-risk group, but also, as in the Colombian case, on those under 50 who are excluded from public screening programs. This contributes to only 48% of women accessing mammograms, and even worse, in peripheral regions of the country, there isn't even the infrastructure to perform these tests. The problem is critical: in Colombia, 33% of cases are detected in advanced stages, and survival rates plummet from 90% to 30%. With Julieta, our portable, radiation-free, artificial intelligence-based technology, we are breaking down these barriers. Together with the Colombian League Against Cancer—present in 22 departments—we can bring early diagnoses to women who previously had no options in different parts of Colombia. With more than 2,300 patients already evaluated in clinics in Colombia, with an accuracy rate of 82%, we are forging a path to positioning ourselves in the country and the region.