Introduction
The journey of a startup often begins in a lab or a corporate boardroom, but for Raycura Medtech, it started as a humble engineering college project. Founded in 2021 by a pair of batchmates who decided to forgo traditional job offers, the company focuses on the unique physiological needs of Asian patients, addressing a gap in the market that even global giants are facing challenges to develop.
From a Classroom Project to the Operation Theatre
Raycura Medtech was born out of the Biomedical Engineering Technology Incubation Center (BETIC) at IIT Bombay. The founders, Ayush Gaikwad and Rohan Deshpande were introduced to a critical problem : the grueling and painful nature of limb lengthening surgeries, by Dr. Sushil Mankar. These procedures are vital for patients suffering from accidental bone loss, infected bone segments, or leg length discrepancies.
While most people associate limb lengthening with cosmetic height enhancement, the medical necessity is far more common. When a bone is crushed or infected, doctors must remove the damaged section and gradually regrow the bone to close the gap. Seeing the struggle of these patients, the founders spent their internship developing a solution that was less painful and more accessible.
Designing for the Indian Anatomy
One of the most significant hurdles in the orthopedic implant market is that they are not designed for global anatomical needs. During their research, the Raycura team discovered that only one company in the world was manufacturing the specific type of internal limb-lengthening nails needed for these surgeries. However, those implants were often too large for the Indian and Asian physiology.
The intramedullary cavity of the bone in Asian patients is typically smaller. When Western companies try to lower the diameter of their implants to fit, the strength of the device often fails. Raycura has taken on the challenge of micro-manufacturing titanium implants that are small enough to fit the Indian anatomy, while maintaining the structural integrity required to support a human body.
Gamifying the Road to Recovery
Beyond implants, Raycura is tackling the golden period of stroke recovery. For patients who have suffered a stroke or paralysis, the first five to six months are crucial for regaining mobility. However, many patients struggle to access expensive robotic rehabilitation centers or find it difficult to stay motivated through repetitive exercises.
Raycura’s solution is a gamified rehabilitation device. By using wearable pods that strap to a patient’s joints, the system tracks movement and translates it into a virtual reality game. This gives patients immediate visual feedback, tricking the brain into staying engaged and encouraging them to perform hours of physical therapy from the comfort of their own homes. It turns a tedious medical chore into an interactive experience.
Raycura at ATMAN 3.0
Participating in the Atman 3.0 pitch event at IIT Bombay served as a major turning point for Raycura Medtech, evolving from a finalist position into an intensive eight-week accelerator journey. This program offered them a deep dive into the business of medicine, covering everything from fundraising and marketing to clinical trials. By leveraging the program’s network, the startup gained vital access to hospital connections necessary for deploying their products and navigating regulatory hurdles.
The Hard Reality of Deep-Tech Manufacturing
Building a medtech startup in India is not without its trials. The founders spent two years struggling with precision manufacturing. Given that their devices are implanted inside the body, they must use biocompatible titanium, a notoriously difficult material to machine at such a precise scale. They had to work tirelessly with vendors, guiding them through design changes to achieve the high level of accuracy required. Furthermore, unlike software where you can ship and fix, medical devices require stringent clinical trials. There is no room for iteration once a device is inside a patient.
A Message to the Next Generation
Despite the long timelines and technical hurdles, Ayush Gaikwad believes there has never been a better time to be an entrepreneur in India. Supported by grants like the Startup India Seed Fund, BIRAC BIG, and the Sarthi grant, the company is now moving toward clinical trials and market deployment.
Ayush Gaikwad’s advice is to take the risk while you have no burdens. The current ecosystem of venture capital and government support provides a safety net that didn’t exist a decade ago. In the world of medtech, the goal is to fail fast, iterate often, and eventually, build something that truly changes a life.
Interview By : Khevna Reddy
