Bengaluru-based deeptech startup eNLife Research has raised Rs 6 crore in a seed funding round led by Piper Serica VC Fund to advance an AI-powered blood test designed to identify Alzheimer's disease long before clinical symptoms emerge.
The funding will be used to strengthen the company's research and development efforts, expand its Bengaluru-based team, validate its blood biomarker platform, and move its first diagnostic assay toward clinical-grade validation. eNLife also plans to begin filing patents over the next 9 to 18 months covering biomarker binders, diagnostic assays, and its detection platform.
Using AI to Improve Alzheimer's Diagnosis
Founded by Dr. Deepak Kumaran Nair, Lt Col Jojo Jacob, and Anish Mathew, eNLife is developing a blood-based diagnostic platform that combines biomarker analysis with artificial intelligence to identify early signs of Alzheimer's disease.
The platform is designed to analyse a panel of biomarkers, including amyloid beta and tau proteins, which are associated with Alzheimer's pathology. Unlike conventional diagnostic methods such as PET scans, MRI imaging, or cerebrospinal fluid analysis, the company's approach aims to deliver a less invasive and more affordable screening option that can be administered through routine diagnostic laboratories.
Its AI models are being trained to identify subtle correlations across multiple biomarkers, with the broader goal of enabling earlier diagnosis and eventually expanding the platform to detect other forms of dementia and neurodegenerative disorders.
"The biggest failure of Alzheimer's care today isn't the absence of treatments but that patients are diagnosed too late," said Dr Deepak Kumaran Nair, Co-founder and CEO of eNLife Research. "We are working to make early detection possible through an affordable blood test that can be widely accessed across India."
Building India-specific Biomarker Data
A distinguishing aspect of eNLife's research is its focus on developing biomarker datasets tailored to the Indian population. The company is collaborating with researchers associated with the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), Hyderabad, and the Centre for Brain Research (CBR), Bengaluru.
According to the company, many existing diagnostic models are based primarily on data from Western populations. By building India-specific datasets, eNLife aims to improve the accuracy of AI models for Indian patients, whose genetic profiles and lifestyle-related risk factors may differ significantly.
AI Diagnostics Attract Investor Interest
The investment reflects growing venture capital interest in AI-powered healthcare platforms that combine proprietary research with machine learning. Piper Serica recently launched its Rs 800 crore Bharat Tech Fund to back deeptech startups across artificial intelligence, semiconductors, defence technology, robotics, cybersecurity, spacetech, and biosciences.
For eNLife, the latest funding marks an important step in translating laboratory research into clinically validated diagnostics. More broadly, it underscores increasing investor confidence in India's deeptech ecosystem, where startups are building intellectual property around AI, biotechnology, and precision healthcare rather than software alone.
With Alzheimer's cases expected to rise in the coming decades, technologies that enable earlier and more affordable diagnosis could play a significant role in improving patient outcomes while reducing the burden on healthcare systems.
