What is the name of your organization?
Sekai Solutions
What is the name of your solution?
QDerm
Provide a one-line summary or tagline for your solution.
QDerm: Bias-free anomaly detection for dark skin tones powered by AI and Quantum
In what city, town, or region is your solution team headquartered?
Boston, MA, USA
In what country is your solution team headquartered?
United States
What type of organization is your solution team?
For-profit, including B-Corp or similar models
Film your elevator pitch.
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What specific problem are you solving?
QDerm addresses the critical gap in accurate skin condition diagnosis for people with dark skin tones—a population grossly underrepresented in medical datasets and disproportionately affected by diagnostic bias.Skin conditions like bruising, cyanosis, inflammation, and especially severe illnesses like Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (SJS) often manifest differently in darker skin due to melanin-rich undertones, making early detection more challenging.
Globally, over 1.4 billion people identify as having dark skin tones, yet less than 5% of dermatology images in AI training datasets represent them. In the U.S., Black patients are 4x more likely to be misdiagnosed or diagnosed late for dermatological conditions. SJS, in particular, is fatal if not treated early—and early-stage symptoms like skin reddening or purpling are often misinterpreted or missed entirely in patients of color.
Compounding the issue, dermatology is often excluded from standard insurance coverage, especially in underserved communities, creating a systemic access barrier. QDerm aims to fill this diagnostic equity gap through a quantum-powered, AI-enhanced mobile platform designed specifically to detect subtle skin anomalies in people with dark skin tones—before conditions become life-threatening.
What is your solution?
QDerm serves people with dark skin tones—especially Black, Indigenous, and other people of color (BIPOC)—who are routinely underserved in dermatology. These communities, including those across Africa—the most genetically diverse continent—are often excluded from clinical studies and medical image repositories, despite their wide range of skin tones and undertones. This leads to frequent misdiagnoses, underdiagnoses, or delayed care, particularly for critical conditions like Stevens-Johnson Syndrome which can be fatal without early detection.
QDerm provides a mobile, AI-powered diagnostic tool precisely calibrated to the color complexities of melanin-rich skin. Using quantum color theory and hybrid quantum-classical AI models, QDerm can detect subtle skin anomalies often missed by traditional systems trained primarily on lighter skin tones.
The solution enables individuals to scan their skin using a phone, receive instant analysis, and get actionable recommendations—**without needing insurance, referrals, or access to specialists.** It also supports clinicians working in under-resourced settings by providing a tool trained for the populations they serve.
By focusing on historically excluded groups and the biological diversity of African and diasporic communities, QDerm helps bridge diagnostic gaps and ensures **equitable access to early skin health insights—worldwide.**
Who does your solution serve, and in what ways will the solution impact their lives?
QDerm serves people with dark skin tones—especially Black, Indigenous, and other people of color (BIPOC)—who are routinely underserved in dermatology. These communities, including those across Africa—the most genetically diverse continent—are often excluded from clinical studies and medical image repositories, despite their wide range of skin tones and undertones. This leads to frequent misdiagnoses, underdiagnoses, or delayed care, particularly for critical conditions like Stevens-Johnson Syndrome which can be fatal without early detection.
QDerm provides a mobile, AI-powered diagnostic tool precisely calibrated to the color complexities of melanin-rich skin. Using quantum color theory and hybrid quantum-classical AI models, QDerm can detect subtle skin anomalies often missed by traditional systems trained primarily on lighter skin tones.
The solution enables individuals to scan their skin using a phone, receive instant analysis, and get actionable recommendations—without needing insurance, referrals, or access to specialists. It also supports clinicians working in under-resourced settings by providing a tool trained for the populations they serve.
By focusing on historically excluded groups and the biological diversity of African and diasporic communities, QDerm helps bridge diagnostic gaps and ensures equitable access to early skin health insights—worldwide.
