CheckEye, a Ukrainian healthtech startup that uses AI for large-scale screening of ophthalmic and related chronic diseases, has raised approximately $700,000 in investments over just over three years. The company is currently testing its product in Germany and preparing for scale-up in the EU market, according to Ukraine’s First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Transformation Mykhailo Fedorov.
Product overview
The CheckEye platform analyzes fundus (retinal) images using AI algorithms to detect diabetic retinopathy and other conditions that can lead to vision loss, as well as chronic diseases with retinal manifestations. The solution is already operating in more than 20 medical institutions across Ukraine, with over 10,000 screenings conducted.
Additional facts
- Germany. In 2024, CheckEye entered the German market in partnership with the Gesundheitskiosk24 platform (Aspilos GmbH, Heidelberg). The company’s release referenced an accuracy rate above 93% based on Ukrainian pilot studies.
- Scientific validation in Ukraine. A publication in the Journal of Ophthalmology (Ukraine) reported 93% sensitivity and 86% specificity for detecting diabetic retinopathy using CheckEye’s technology.
- Grants and support. The startup received a $25,000 grant from the Ukrainian Startup Fund and joined the final cohort of the Google for Startups Ukraine Support Fund, gaining up to $100,000 in equity-free funding, GCP credits, and mentorship.
- Awards. In November 2024, CheckEye became the first Ukrainian company to win the EIT Health InnoStars Awards — a pan-European program for medtech startups from Central and Southern Europe.
- Screening results. According to the company’s campaigns in Ukraine, over 9% of screened patients showed signs of diabetic retinopathy of varying degrees, particularly among individuals with diagnosed diabetes or at-risk groups.
- Team. The startup was founded and is led by CEO Kyrylo Honcharuk. CheckEye has collaborated publicly with the Filatov Institute and leading Ukrainian ophthalmological associations.
CheckEye outlines a roadmap to enable screening for more than 40 conditions, including diabetic retinopathy, arterial hypertension, glaucoma, and neurodegenerative diseases. The company is preparing for EU-scale expansion, which requires compliance with EU MDR and CE marking standards for software as a medical device (SaMD). Certification status has not been disclosed; a typical pathway involves device classification, clinical and post-market data, and conformity assessment through a notified body (for devices above Class I).
