Powered by Purpose: AUT’s HealthTech Software Wins Asia-Pacific Customers

What if a five-minute check-up could prevent a stroke five years from now?

That question lies at the heart of PreventS-MD – an AUT-born Healthtech startup led by Dr. Balakrishnan (Bala) Nair. Already gaining significant commercial traction across the Asia-Pacific, the tool is helping improve stroke prevention in some of the region’s most affected areas.

From Lived Experience to Global Uptake

For Bala, a public health specialist and Senior Programme Manager at AUT’s National Institute for Stroke and Applied Neurosciences (NISAN), the goal has always been clear: to make early stroke detection more equitable across borders. That vision builds on the foundation of the globally recognised Stroke Riskometer app, co-founded by Professor Valery Feigin, director of NISAN and a world leader in stroke epidemiology.

Building on that foundation, they launched PreventS-MD, a name shared by both the company and its software. Developed at AUT for use by healthcare providers, the web-based tool delivers personalised stroke prevention plans and integrates into clinical workflows. Its flexibility allows providers to rebrand the tool to suit their needs, highlighting its adaptability across diverse health systems.  For example, it’s had strong impact in countries like Vietnam, where high stroke rates meet limited healthcare access.

Commercial Traction Backed by Research

Since the tool’s launch as a spinout company two years ago, PreventS-MD has notably expanded its footprint across the Asia-Pacific, fuelled by Dr Nair's commitment to cross-cultural collaboration.

“Engaging with over 50 hospitals across 10 countries is exciting but scaling globally brings real complexity. Every system is different, and we’re constantly learning to speak their language – both literally and metaphorically – across diverse cultural and clinical contexts,” says Bala.

This growing impact is already being reflected in tangible traction. To break it down, the company now has:

• Three paying customers across Singapore (Omron) and Australia (Helfie, CaptureCare)
• Six official distributors throughout the Asia-Pacific region
• Three offshore companies established in India, Thailand, and China
• Software integrations with clinical systems in New Zealand, Singapore, and India – with more in progress
• Six signed Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with hospitals across key markets

“It’s inspiring to see AUT researchers translating lived experience into scalable health solutions,” says Professor Judith McAra-Couper, Head of School – Clinical Sciences. “The journey of PreventS-MD shows what’s possible when innovation is driven by both evidence and impact.”

Today, PreventS-MD is supported by a multidisciplinary team including Professor Rita Krishnamurthi (research strategy), Dr. Michael Kravchenko (software development), and Steve Corbett (commercial advisor). It also draws on a broad international network of collaborators – including Professor Bo Norrving (Lund University, Sweden) and Professor Michael Brainin (former President of the World Stroke Organization). With contributions from institutions across New Zealand, India, Thailand, Sweden, and beyond, PreventS-MD is backed by close to 50 active supporters and more than 300 collaborators worldwide.

Shaping Systems, Sharing Solutions

Dr Nair’s long-term goal has always been clear: to create meaningful tools that serve people, not just systems – and that vision is becoming reality. As PreventS-MD continues to expand across the Asia-Pacific, Bala says the next frontier is a personalised version of the tool that individuals can purchase and use directly. Behind the scenes, AUT Ventures helped lay the groundwork, guiding commercialisation, securing intellectual property, and supporting early development.

“They helped turn our research into real-world impact,” says Bala. “I didn’t have to pay a single dollar to get started — AUT Ventures handled the process and helped us move forward with confidence.”

The next phase feels like a natural evolution for the platform, taking stroke prevention beyond clinics and into communities around the world. We can’t wait to see how it unfolds.