Healthtech Startup 8chili Secures Funding From Angel Investor Karna Shinde

The startup claims its flagship product HintVR helps healthcare providers achieve significant return on investment (ROI).

Healthcare deeptech startup 8chili, with offices in San Ramon, California, and Bengaluru, has secured funding from angel investor and mentor Karna D Shinde.

The exact amount of the investment remains undisclosed.

Shinde, a legal expert turned investor, focuses on backing startups involved in artificial intelligence (AI) and virtual reality (VR) for surgical training and patient engagement.

The funds will be used to further develop 8chili's flagship product, HintVR, a VR platform designed to deliver immersive training across various medical disciplines.

HintVR offers significant advantages over traditional training methods, with a focus on faster content creation and a more cost-effective approach, as claimed by the startup

“We are excited to have Karna D Shinde's support as we push the boundaries of immersive training. His expertise and financial backing will allow us to accelerate our research and development efforts, expand our market reach, and forge key partnerships within the healthcare industry,” said Aravind Upadhyaya, founder and CEO of 8chili.

8chili's Offerings

Founded by Aravind Upadhyay, Aravind Upadhyaya, Abhita Batra, Amit Vohra, and Sanidhya Rasiwasia, in 2019 8chili specializes in AR/VR products with multiple use cases across the healthcare domain.

The startup claims its flagship product HintVR helps healthcare providers achieve significant return on investment (ROI).

The platform reportedly allows for 80% faster content creation compared to traditional methods, leading to cost savings and potentially breaking down barriers to wider VR adoption in training programs.

It has also said, the use of its platform led to 70% reduction in error rates as measured by randomized controlled trials.

The startup boasts a clientele that includes established names in the Indian healthcare and life sciences sector, such as Strides Pharma and Apollo Hospitals.

Shinde’s Recent Healthcare Investments

This is Karna Shinde’s second healthcare investment in recent times.

Earlier, Shinde invested in neuro42, a startup developing portable MRI and robotic platforms, over multiple rounds in the last few years.

neuro42 recently received 510(k) clearance from the US Food and Drug Administration (US FDA) for its portable diagnostic MRI scanner.

The MRI system eliminates the need to transport a patient to an imaging suite, enabling timely diagnosis and improving treatment outcomes for patients with critical neurological conditions.