How AI4Health.Cro supported a micro-enterprise through technical, clinical and business development.
A promising healthcare technology often needs different types of support at different stages. Early on, the key need may be technical. Later, clinical validation becomes critical. Finally, the company must prepare for commercialisation, investment and market entry.
Digicyte d.o.o., a Croatian micro-enterprise, is developing software that doubles the resolution of medical microscopy images without expensive hardware upgrades. Its proprietary Sparse Deconvolution algorithm is designed to help clinical pathology laboratories improve diagnostic image quality in a cost-effective way.
Despite scientifically validated technology, Digicyte needed more direct feedback from pathologists and real-world hospital validation, and a stronger commercialisation strategy and resources.
AI4Health.Cro supported Digicyte through a progressive three-phase partnership that evolved with the company’s maturity.
In the first phase, from October 2023 to April 2024, AI4Health.Cro provided foundational support, including workshops in digital health technologies, Digital Maturity Assessment, access to a GPU cluster at the Ruđer Bošković Institute with four Nvidia GPUs, and hospital demonstrations at Dom zdravlja Zagreb-Centar.
In the second phase, from June 2024 to June 2025, the focus moved to technical development and clinical validation. AI4Health.Cro provided extended infrastructure access, systematic performance analysis, usability testing, concept verification at Sestre milosrdnice University Hospital Centre and OŽB Požega, and a three-month clinical pilot at Sestre milosrdnice University Hospital Centre. The pilot generated real-world evidence from practising pathologists.
In the third phase, from July 2025 to January 2026, Digicyte received commercialisation support, including visioning and strategy development for international expansion, continued technical optimisation, project development guidance, legal and regulatory guidance, and strategic networking through a customised Discovery Matchmaking Event.
Digicyte is now positioned for market entry and seed fundraising, with medium-term goals targeting Croatian commercial sales and regional expansion to Slovenia, Austria and Italy. The long-term vision is European market leadership in software-based microscopy enhancement, with potential global expansion.