Yle: During the pandemic, healthcare makes a digital leap, while Finnish startups are threatened by a shortage of money

Founded by former Nokians, Disior is developing software to view three-dimensional images of bones and joints, for example. According to Henell, the current way to examine these images, produced by computed tomography, is based on browsing and people’s ability to detect and measure abnormalities.

Their interpretation depends on the experience of the doctor looking at the images, the time of day and, for example, whether a colleague is close by to offer input.

– Our program analyzes the images and generates data from them. For example: if are there any wrong positions or traumatic injuries within an ankle. And is it such a big deviation that it should be operated on.

According to Henell, the company is having talks with international investors – and expectations are running high.

Making the digital leap

During the pandemic, a huge digital leap has commenced in healthcare. Now the question becomes, whether the Finnish startups will be able to jump in. Entrepreneurs and experts interviewed by Yle talk about fierce competition and a sense of urgency.

– This work is now being conducted by all health tech giants and a billion small startups, says Anna-Maria Henell, who deals in 3D images.

– Our product cannot be copied quickly, but for startups, timing is everything. Not a single day is to be missed, says Bahman Doaeian of Phonolyser, a startup that measures heart functions.

– What is new today, is ancient in five years, says Juha Paakkola of Health Capital Helsinki.