Breakthrough for deep tech in Sri Lanka, Jendo closes new investment round

• Lankan biomedical startup valued at over several million dollars has developed groundbreaking AI-powered device capable of detecting early-stage heart disease in just 15 minutes

The Jendo Team – Chairman and CEO Keerthi Kodithuwakku (top), Director Vinod Samarawicrama (left), and Director Heminda Jayaweera

Jendo device

What began as a university project over a decade ago has evolved into a groundbreaking medical technology that could save millions of lives worldwide. Jendo Innovations, a Sri Lankan biomedical startup valued at over several million dollars, has developed as a groundbreaking Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered device capable of detecting early-stage heart disease in just 15 minutes.

The breakthrough addresses a critical global health challenge; cardiovascular disease claims nearly 18 million lives annually, often striking without warning. Traditional diagnostic methods like angiograms and stress tests are invasive, expensive, and typically detect problems only after significant damage has occurred. Jendo’s breakthrough provides a comprehensive cardiovascular health report within minutes.

Breakthrough

Jendo has successfully closed its latest investment round predominantly from US investors, marking a significant milestone in the company’s growth trajectory. Under the leadership of Chairman/CEO Keerthi Kodithuwakku and the team, the company is now strategically positioning itself for entry into the US market, with FDA approval processes already underway.

The company is already preparing for its Series A funding round, planned for the beginning of next year, which will fuel further international expansion and regulatory approvals.

The journey has been supported by strategic partnerships, including collaboration with Planet43, Luxembourg-based Accelerator, Stanford Seeds Accelerator, and the John Keells X (JKX) Accelerator, which has provided crucial guidance for navigating international markets and regulatory frameworks.

Jendo’s device uses machine learning and cloud-based analysis to examine blood vessel cells, detecting “endothelial dysfunction” – the earliest detectable stage of cardiovascular disease. This occurs long before patients experience symptoms, enabling preventive interventions that could dramatically alter patient outcomes. 

The device has been tested on thousands of patients across hospitals and diagnostic laboratories, consistently demonstrating high accuracy in detecting early cardiovascular abnormalities. Jendo has secured patents in Sri Lanka, Japan, and the US, with clinical results published at the prestigious Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Biomedical Engineering World Congress.

Jendo’s journey has been highlighted with milestones that underscore its global credibility. From being named one of the Top 10 Innovations at the Cambridge Innovations Forum at Cambridge University in 2017 to winning the prestigious CEO Award at MetLife Insurance’s Regional Innovations Competition in 2018, the company has consistently stood out as a disruptor in healthcare technology.

Its reputation has only grown stronger over the years. In 2022, Jendo’s leadership was invited to share insights as panellists at the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) Conference on IP and Artificial Intelligence, followed by a nomination at the WIPO Global Innovation Awards in 2023. Locally, the company secured the title of Innovator of the Year from the Faculty of Allied Health Sciences at the University of Sri Jayewardenepura in 2024, while also earning GMP certification from the National Medicines Regulatory Authority, a vital step in medical device approval.

Most recently in 2025, Jendo’s team took the global stage once again as panellists, speakers, and members of the Global Initiative for AI for Health organised by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), WIPO, and World Health Organisation (WHO). These accolades are more than achievements—they are proof of Sri Lanka’s growing presence in the global biomedical innovation domain.

The technology’s scalability means it can serve urban hospitals, rural clinics, and community health centres alike. This democratisation of advanced cardiac screening could be particularly transformative in regions where access to specialised diagnostic equipment is limited.

“Our vision is a network of centres worldwide where anyone can receive a comprehensive cardiovascular assessment in 15 minutes,” the company stated. This model has the potential to shift healthcare from reactive treatment to proactive prevention.

Beyond its technological achievement, Jendo Innovations represents Sri Lanka’s emergence as a credible player in global biomedical innovation. What Jendo accomplished was uniting Sri Lanka’s already established medical professionals and engineering professionals for a breakthrough innovation. This combination of expertise is the most important part of their success.

With the FDA approval process underway and Series A funding on the horizon, Jendo’s journey from university laboratory to a USD multi-million valued venture illustrates the transformative power of local innovation scaling to global impact. The company’s AI-powered diagnostic device offers hope for a future where heart attacks become preventable rather than inevitable, one 15-minute test at a time.