About 15 million preterm babies are born around the world annually and more than one million die soon after birth mainly due to respiratory complications. Respiratory distress syndrome is a common and serious complication of preterm birth accounting for 50 percent of cases. Another fact is that more than 2 million kids less than 5 years lose their lives due to pneumonia, sepsis, severe malaria and air pollution every year in low and middle-income countries. These illnesses which are treatable can present as undifferentiated acute respiratory distress that can progress to respiratory failure.
Realizing the importance of developing a solution to reduce the mortality due to respiratory illnesses, the Bengaluru based startup, Biodesign Innovation Labs has developed a respiratory support device that provides continuous positive airway pressure oxygen therapy for children who are suffering from such ailments. Biodesign is a healthcare technology and medical device based startup focused on reducing mortality and morbidity in children under 5 years through Innovative medical technologies.

One of the co-founders of the startup, Adithya Pasupuleti had been observing various problems and needs in the healthcare system in India. He spent a significant amount of time in understanding various problems at hospitals such as AIIMS, and other places in South India while serving in various capacities. He along with his brother, Gautham Pasupuleti took up their most loved cause, a vision to make healthcare accessible and affordable to all.
Biodesign founders identified many problems and needs in the respiratory care, pediatric/neonatal age group which helped them to develop different types of medical devices catering to those needs.
Giving an idea about the thought process behind their work, Gautam Pasupuleti, who is currently the CEO and MD of Biodesign Innovation Labs explained: “Respiratory illnesses are one of the major causes for deaths in the developing countries and we have visited many hospitals across India to understand the various pain-points in the hospital system especially in ICU, emergency and paediatrics.”
On being asked particularly about the motivation behind taking up the challenge, Gautam added, “The approach to problem-solving and building solution through design thinking that caters to a specific needs, was the primary motivation behind starting this medtech company.”
