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Niramai Story: How an Indian Startup Is Using AI for Early Breast Cancer Screening
Niramai Health Analytix is a Bengaluru-based deep-tech healthcare startup that is using AI, thermal imaging and machine learning to make breast cancer screening more accessible.
It is founded by Dr. Geetha Manjunath and Nidhi Mathur in 2016. Niramai developed Thermalytix, a non-contact and radiation-free breast health screening technology to detect early breast cancer.
What makes the company's journey stand out is that it combines cutting-edge technology and a healthcare challenge faced by millions of women. Here is the story of Niramai, its founders, technology, funding, growth and what makes its approach different.
Who Founded Niramai?
Niramai was founded by Dr. Geetha Manjunath and Nidhi Mathur in July 2016.
Dr. Geetha Manjunath is the company's Founder, CEO and CTO. She holds a PhD from the Indian Institute of Science and has extensive experience in AI, data analytics and technology research. Before becoming an entrepreneur, she worked in research roles at HP Labs and Xerox Research.
Nidhi Mathur, Niramai's co-founder, brought experience in business planning, strategy and product management.
What Inspired Geetha Manjunath to Start Niramai?
The idea behind Niramai was influenced by a deeply personal experience.
In 2014, a close relative of Geetha Manjunath was diagnosed with breast cancer. Soon afterward, another family member was also diagnosed. The experience made Geetha explore how technology could improve early breast cancer detection. She began researching thermal imaging and its potential healthcare applications.
Rather than continuing to work on the idea as a side project, Manjunath eventually left her corporate research career and decided to build a company around it.
And that's what led to the creation of Niramai in 2016.
How Does Niramai's Thermalytix Technology Work?
Thermalytix uses a high-resolution thermal sensor to capture temperature patterns from the breast area. Then, AI and machine-learning algorithms analyse the thermal data to identify unusual patterns.
According to Niramai, its technology analyses around 400,000 temperature points and generates a quantitative breast health report that can help identify women who may require further diagnostic investigation.
The technology is based on the observation that abnormal tissue can produce changes in blood flow and temperature patterns. Thermalytix recognises patterns in thermal images that manual analysis might miss.
Importantly, Thermalytix is a screening tool, not a standalone cancer diagnosis. Those women identified as higher risk can be sent for further tests such as mammography, ultrasound, or MRI, according to medical guidance.
Read more about Thermalytix Technology on Niramai's Official website
Mammography vs Niramai Thermalytix: What Is the Difference?
Mammography and Niramai Thermalytix use fundamentally different technologies to assess breast health.
Mammography uses low-dose X-rays to create images of breast tissue, while Thermalytix uses high-resolution thermal sensing and AI to analyse temperature patterns on the breast surface.
The important point is that Thermalytix should not automatically be considered a replacement for mammography.
According to Niramai, Thermalytix is a screening device that can pinpoint women who may need more diagnostic imaging.
The company specifically says women with positive or high-risk Thermalytix results can be referred for mammography, ultrasound or MRI.
Feature | Mammography | Niramai Thermalytix |
Technology | Low-dose X-ray imaging | Thermal imaging + AI/ML |
What it measures | Breast tissue and structural abnormalities | Temperature patterns and vascular/thermal abnormalities |
Radiation | Uses low-dose X-rays | Radiation-free |
Physical contact | Requires breast positioning and compression | Contact-free |
Compression | Breast is compressed between plates | No breast compression |
Pain/discomfort | Some women experience discomfort during compression | Designed to be painless |
AI analysis | Can be supported by AI, depending on the system | AI is central to Thermalytix analysis |
Breast density | Dense breast tissue can make interpretation more challenging | Designed to work across breast densities |
Portability | Requires dedicated imaging equipment and infrastructure | Portable system designed for use in different settings |
Primary role | Established breast imaging and screening modality | AI-based breast health screening/adjunctive tool |
Follow-up | Abnormal findings may require ultrasound, biopsy or other evaluation | High-risk findings can lead to mammography, ultrasound, MRI or other diagnostic evaluation |
How Much Funding Has Niramai Raised?
Niramai's most significant publicly reported funding round was its $6 million Series A round in February 2019.
The round was led by Japanese investment firm Dream Incubator. BEENEXT and existing investors including pi Ventures, Ankur Capital, Axilor Ventures and Flipkart co-founder Binny Bansal were also participated in the funding round.
- The company planned to use the funding to expand its operations in India, hire talent and obtain additional regulatory approvals for international markets.
- Earlier, Niramai had raised seed funding led by pi Ventures, with participation from investors including Ankur Capital, Axilor Ventures, 500 Startups and Binny Bansal.
What Is Niramai Doing Today?
Niramai has expanded beyond its early-stage startup journey and now positions itself as a global AI-powered breast health technology company.
According to the company's latest information, Thermalytix is commercially available in 22 countries.
As per Niramai, 100,000 women have already been screened using Thermalytix.
The company also reports US FDA clearance for its SMILE-100 device for adjunctive breast imaging.
In March 2026, Thermalytix was also used in a screening initiative in Varanasi that screened 5,005 women in a single day at one location. It is an achievement recognised by Guinness World Records.
What Is the Future of Niramai?
Niramai's larger ambition goes beyond breast cancer screening. Its stated mission is to develop a universal cancer screening method that can make early detection more accessible.
The company's story illustrates how technologies such as AI, thermal imaging and machine learning can be applied to healthcare problems where affordability, accessibility and patient privacy are important considerations.
Frequently Asked Questions About Niramai
Ques. What does Niramai stand for?
Ans. NIRAMAI stands for Non-Invasive Risk Assessment with Machine Intelligence.
Ques. What is Thermalytix?
Ans. Thermalytix is Niramai's AI-powered breast health screening technology that combines thermal sensing and machine learning to identify abnormal temperature patterns. It is designed to be non-contact and radiation-free.
Ques. How much funding did Niramai raise?
Ans. Niramai raised $6 million in Series A funding in 2019, led by Dream Incubator, with participation from BEENEXT and previous investors.
Ques. Is Niramai a Bengaluru startup?
Ans. Yes. Niramai Health Analytix is a Bengaluru-based deep-tech healthcare startup founded in 2016.
Ques. Is Thermalytix a replacement for mammography?
Ans. No. Thermalytix is a screening technology. People identified as higher risk may need additional diagnostic imaging such as mammography, ultrasound or MRI based on medical advice.
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