In 2025, Equal Innovation began a partnership with the Mayo Clinic Platform, a division of the world-renowned Mayo Clinic that runs global innovation programs aimed at advancing high-quality patient care. As part of this collaboration, Equal Innovation hosted the Mayo Clinic team in India for a med-tech ecosystem study focused on how startups are using technology - especially artificial intelligence - to improve disease discovery, treatment, and long-term health management.

India has one of the most vibrant health-tech ecosystems in the world, driven in part by its powerful digital public infrastructure, which has moved 1.4 billion people online through biometric identification, digital health records, and seamless access to essential services. To engage this ecosystem, Equal Innovation conducted extensive outreach beginning in April, connecting with more than 150 med-tech startups across diagnostics, medical devices, digital health platforms, and AI-based clinical tools. Following an initial screening and interview process, 30 startups were selected to participate in the event held on August 26–27 at the Indian Institute of Technology Alumni Center in Bangalore.

The two-day event brought together over 40 health-AI innovators, national leaders in government and artificial intelligence, and Bangalore-based venture capitalists and corporate executives. A clear theme emerged: AI is rapidly transforming healthcare in India. Startups demonstrated how AI accelerates disease discovery through large-scale data analysis, enhances clinical decision-making and personalized treatment, and supports continuous patient monitoring and long-term care.

The event reaffirmed India’s role as a major hub for med-tech innovation. Startups are building cost-efficient, globally relevant solutions informed by real-world healthcare challenges and supported by deep technical talent and increasing digital adoption. For the Mayo Clinic Platform, the visit provided valuable insights into current trends and highlighted significant opportunities for deeper engagement with India’s fast-growing health innovation ecosystem.