Healthcare startup lands million-dollar investment: Helping women deal with the effects of breast cancer

Aarhus-based healthtech startup Cacto Health has raised DKK 3 million in investment to develop a new solution to help breast cancer survivors with an often overlooked secondary disease: Lymphedema. With support from business angels, EIFO and Innovation Fund Denmark via Innobooster, the company is now ready to take the next step towards the market. Cacto Health announces this in a press release.

Behind Cacto Health is Ida Grønborg, PhD and former researcher, who in 2022 chose to leave academia to work full-time with her startup. Together with industrial designer Mads Skak, she is developing technology to detect the onset of lymphedema. It’s a chronic condition of fluid retention that affects one in five women who survive breast cancer. Treatment is often lifelong and involves wearing tight compression sleeves for up to 23 hours a day.

“It affects both your body and your identity. When you wear a sleeve every day, you’re constantly reminded that you’ve been ill. And you’re asked about it by others. It can make it difficult to move on,” says CEO and co-founder of Cacto Health Ida Grønborg and continues:

“We created Cacto Health with women – for women. It’s their realities we listen to and their voices we build on.”

An overlooked disease

Cacto Health’s solution allows for early detection of fluid retention at home, before the swelling becomes visible and permanent. Today, lymphedema is primarily measured manually and often only after the damage has been done. Cacto Health’s digital measurement method will allow patients and healthcare professionals to intervene earlier and reduce lifelong discomfort.

“As a woman, mother and researcher, I had everything that looked good on paper – but I didn’t feel I was making enough difference. I wanted to go out and use my professionalism for something that actually helps people,” says Ida Grønborg.

The idea came about when the founders realized during an innovation course in the hospital world how little attention lymphedema gets – despite the many patients.

“It’s an uphill battle to stand in front of an investor group and explain why fluid in the arm is serious. Many see it as cosmetics – but it’s about pain, mobility, mental well-being and quality of life. It should be common sense,” she says.

The new capital will be used to finalize product development and plan clinical trials.

Indlægget Healthcare startup lands million-dollar investment: Helping women deal with the effects of breast cancer blev først udgivet på TechSavvy.