Differential signal
407 vs 425 nm suppresses shared noise.
Science & company
The signal, the method, and what we prove next.
Early-stage medtech. Clear claims only where evidence exists.
Science
Iron restriction leaves an early trace.
When iron is limited, zinc replaces iron in protoporphyrin — ZPP rises before haemoglobin falls.
Iron-restricted erythropoiesis
Supply of usable iron falls behind demand.
Zinc replaces iron
Zinc is incorporated into protoporphyrin IX instead.
ZPP rises early
A measurable shift appears while Hb is still normal.
Haemoglobin drops later
Anaemia is detected — often after the fact.
Development-stage notice: ZAWADI is under active validation. Not a diagnostic substitute. Regulatory status: Research and development programme — not submitted for regulatory clearance and not offered for clinical diagnosis or commercial use.
Technology
Differential measurement at 407 nm and 425 nm.
Photoacoustic pulses isolate the ZPP-related signal from tissue background.
Depth gating
Time-of-flight selects the perfused layer.
Calibration
Mapped to ZPP via controlled reference data.
Roadmap
Validation in order.
Calibration curve
Reference ZPP range with repeatability.
Site comparison
Best anatomical placement in clinic settings.
Phase 1 package
Protocol, docs, and site readiness.
Deployment path
Start where screening already happens.
Rwanda ANC first, then expand across women’s health and treatment monitoring.
Beachhead
Rwanda ANC
~330,000 antenatal care visits per year — a concentrated, routine screening touchpoint.
Expand
Community & adolescent screening
Same reader, same consumable, new cohorts reached through existing frontline structures.
Deepen
Postpartum & chronic monitoring
Repeatable measurement makes treatment response trackable over time.
Scale
Sub-Saharan Africa & South Asia
Regions where iron deficiency burden and ANC infrastructure overlap most strongly.
Defensibility
Method, algorithm, dataset.
Signal method
Blood-free differential ZPP measurement.
Algorithm
Calibration improves with each measurement.
Rwanda dataset
Longitudinal ANC evidence at scale.
Team
Built for frontline reality.
Product, clinical credibility, and health-system access in one lean founding team.
Peredy Khwesa
CEO & Product Lead
Industrial Chemistry, MSc Material Science, PhD International Public Health. Product development and Rwanda/Kenya field experience.
Dr Timothy Kintu Mwanje
CMO & Clinical Lead
Medical doctor. Grant portfolio >$300k. Clinical credibility and fundraising leadership.
Dr Divine Christelle Umutoniwase
Supply & Logistics Lead
Rwanda Medical Supply experience. Women’s health implementation insight.
Use of funds
$35k · 90-day de-risking sprint.
Calibration evidence, hardware iteration, and Phase 1 readiness — answering whether the signal is strong enough for human feasibility.
Optics + acoustic test rig
$10,500
Calibration materials + reference assays
$8,000
Prototype integration + disposables
$6,500
Data pipeline + calibration software
$3,500
Site/user testing + ethics/logistics
$4,000
Contingency
$2,500
Sprint deliverables
- Working bench prototype
- ZPP/haem calibration curve
- Preferred anatomical site
- Phase 1 readiness package
FAQ
Straight answers.
Contact
Partner, pilot, or invest.
We reply with a concrete next step.
Development-stage notice: ZAWADI is under active validation. Not a diagnostic substitute. Regulatory status: Research and development programme — not submitted for regulatory clearance and not offered for clinical diagnosis or commercial use.