SHAAR Innovation Program — a hub run collaboratively by Jerusalem’s Shaare Zedek Medical Center, its innovation subsidiary Madait and investment firm Arieli Capital — recently graduated its first 10 startups, which have collectively secured $25 million in funding.

SHAAR, designed to foster innovation and support emerging ventures in the healthcare sector, provides business and clinical mentorship, access to a shared workspace within the medical center, and potential investment avenues.

The first cohort focused on critical medical challenges such as lung cancer, brain stents and post-surgical infections.

“Innovation is the tool that makes humanity special — and each of the startups that have come to the program represents groundbreaking innovation in its field,” said Or Haviv, Partner and Head of Innovation at Arieli Capital. “Over the past week, each of the ten startups has participated in hundreds of business meetings all with a single goal – to save lives.”

“Each of the startups participating in the first cohort of the SHAAR Innovation Program will change or save the lives of people around the world, all thanks to the technological and medical advancements that we are witnessing today,” he added.

The companies in the inaugural cohort are developing the following projects:

BeCapio: a noninvasive solution for fecal incontinence, leveraging both passive and active mechanisms to prevent leaks, restore control and enhance quality of life.

CaleeTech: innovative solutions for obesity and diabetes, aiming to enhance glycemic control and weight loss by reducing calories, blood sugar, and fat levels while prioritizing quality of life.

Gento Gel-LR: injectable, biodegradable antibiotics for preventing and treating local infections using a sustained-release technology designed to combat infections effectively while minimizing potential side effects.

Luseed Vascular: a neurovascular product, LuSeed DOME, that aims to eliminate the need for dual anticoagulants, minimizing complications and enhancing long-term patient safety.

Panacea-ml: an AI-driven SaaS platform to help pharmaceutical companies and contract research organizations expedite clinical trial design and execution. The system is disease- and treatment agnostic, undergoing validation in various conditions such as ALS, diabetes and cancer.

Predicta Med: an AI-powered platform for early detection and intervention selection for autoimmune diseases. The method streamlines the diagnostic process, reducing the timeframe significantly.

Sherman Diagnostics: detecting pathogens from any biological sample. The system allows for testing of infectious diseases accessibly and affordably.

Snipe Medical: a transcatheter ablation solution for lung cancer, offering a minimally invasive alternative to traditional surgical methods to improve treatment options and outcomes.

Sorlis: early detection of pressure ulcers, aiming to reduce patient suffering, streamline medical staff workflows, and cut healthcare costs related to preventable conditions.

Techno Pulm: a complete system for conducting all lung function diagnostic tests at both the doctor’s office and the patient’s home, using a compact handheld device.

“Our goal is to assist entrepreneurs and startups by providing them with access to resources for developing their technologies, such as medical data, samples, pilot studies, clinical trials and medical guidance,” said Renana Ofan, CEO of Madait.

“We are excited about the opportunity to promote leading and groundbreaking startups in smart medicine, to help patients and improve the face of medicine.”