Skleo Health

Skleo Health, a German health-tech company established in March 2024, is working to eliminate preventable blindness by increasing access to preventative care. The company's founding team, which came together through an Antler founder residency in Berlin, consists of Dr. Steffen E. Künzel, an ophthalmologist from Charité University Hospital; Fabien Vogl, an engineer with a background in healthcare digitization at Air Liquide; and Dr. Alex Hein, a mathematician and economist formerly with Boston Consulting Group. Dr. Künzel's experience in the clinic, witnessing the consequences of late-stage diagnoses, was a direct impetus for the company's creation.

The company operates on a B2B2C model, equipping partners like opticians, pharmacies, retail stores, and corporations to offer eye screenings to the public. Skleo Health addresses a significant gap in the German healthcare market, where millions suffer from preventable eye conditions, and long wait times for specialists can lead to delayed treatment. Its primary service is a rapid, six-minute eye screening that uses a two-step validation process. An initial analysis is performed by a CE-certified AI, which is then medically validated by a licensed ophthalmologist to ensure clinical accuracy. This service not only detects eye diseases such as glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy but can also identify early indicators of systemic conditions like hypertension and diabetes. Beyond screening, the platform connects individuals who receive concerning results directly with specialist care, creating a seamless process from detection to treatment.

Since its inception, Skleo Health has expanded into Germany's 50 largest cities, screening over 11,000 individuals and identifying more than 3,000 cases requiring medical attention. The company secured €3 million in a seed funding round led by ophthalmology service provider Sanoptis, with participation from Antler and angel investors. This capital is intended to expand the partner network, aiming for a capacity of 30,000 monthly screenings, and to further develop the company's AI diagnostic technology and nationwide patient-doctor connection platform.

Keywords: eye screening, preventative healthcare, health-tech, medical AI, ophthalmology, digital health, preventable blindness, glaucoma detection, diabetic retinopathy, medical diagnostics, tele-ophthalmology, remote patient monitoring, CE-certified AI, healthcare platform, corporate wellness, pharmacy services, optician technology, early disease detection, specialist referral, Sanoptis, Antler