Dozee’s AI Health Monitor: The Startup Preventing Silent Cardiac Deaths

Only yesterday, I was watching a TV show on my laptop, not really paying much attention, when the main lead clutched his chest and collapsed. A heart attack, I learned, watching in silent apprehension as he was rushed to the ICU. Would he live, or would he not? The question hung in the air until the doctors on screen finally discharged him to the general ward — and like most viewers, I breathed a sigh of relief.

Except I shouldn’t have.

Because unfortunately, hospital mortality rates for patients discharged alive from the ICU to a general ward can reach up to 20%. And that’s just one of many alarming numbers. Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death worldwide. In India alone, 55% of cardiac deaths occur simply due to delays in seeking care — because symptoms are ignored, or help comes too late. Too often, it isn’t until someone is in obvious agony that loved ones wish they had known earlier.

In 2015, two coworkers with graduate degrees in mechanical engineering started talking about this problem, determined to find a way to solve this. The fact that the field was vastly different from the automobile industry they were familiar with didn’t deter them. They had the knowledge, the skill set, and most importantly, the drive to find a solution that could serve the masses. Something simple, not some fancy contraption that costs more than what most people make in a month, but an affordable, yet smart device that could do what is needed quietly and unobtrusively.

Those two engineers were Gaurav Parchani (IIT Indore) and Mudit Dandwate (IIT Bombay). I had the privilege of speaking with Mr. Parchani during an online interview for a group project, which is how I learned about their startup — Dozee.

“We could predict race car failures, but not human health deterioration.” remarked Mr Parchani, recalling the seed of their frustration back when they were still coming up with their idea. Recognizing that continuous patient monitoring rarely happens outside ICUs — leading to dangerously late detection — they created a contactless, non-invasive monitoring system that can transform any bed into a step-down ICU, serving as an early-warning system for nurses and doctors.

And what is the magic behind this ordinary looking device? Well, it’s a mouthful of a word; ballistocardiography. Ballisto means movement, cardio means heart, and graphy means measuring, so simply put, it’s measuring the movement of the heart. It does this through a sensor pad placed beneath the mattress, which measures micro vibrations from the heart and lungs, which is analyzed by their AI-powered advanced algorithms, which can detect and alert caretakers of any abnormalities. They also have a complete SaaS package, and offer premium services such as consulting as well.

Today, Dozee primarily works with hospitals, clinics, and healthcare providers, and has also partnered with government health programs, insurers, research institutions, and public health bodies. Their portfolio is remarkable: key partners include the Government of India and Apollo Hospitals, with key investors such as Prime Venture Partners, 3one4 Capital, and YourNest Venture Capital. Headquartered in Bengaluru, they have digitized 50,000 beds across 200+ hospitals in 50 cities.

Dozee has now raised over $10 million in funding and is on a mission to save at least one million lives. As Mr. Parchani said:

“Perfectionism is the enemy of success.”

Their journey is a reminder that a compassionate idea becomes change only when we begin — that sometimes, the first step is what transforms thousands of lives.

(The author is a student at IIM Jammu, from the IPM03 batch)