Lighthearted AI
Entrepreneur First '23London, GB · Founded 2023 · 4 known investors
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LightHearted AI develops wearable sensors and accompanying algorithms that continuously record ECG and blood pressure. The company targets clinicians who want to identify cardiac conditions earlier through screening that takes place outside of hospital or clinic settings.
Also known as Lighthearted AI · LightHearted AI · LightHearted AI Health
Founders & leadership
Lighthearted AI was founded in 2023 by Lucrezia Cester and Dilip Rajeswari.
Investors · 4
Company profile
researched Aug 2026LightHearted AI (also referred to as LightHearted AI Health) is a London, UK-based cardiovascular diagnostics company developing a laser-based digital stethoscope paired with an AI analysis platform. The device acquires cardiac data from a patient at a distance and through clothing, without requiring input from the patient or clinician, in approximately 10 seconds. The accompanying AI platform interprets the signal and generates a diagnostic report within about one minute, which is relayed to the relevant clinicians.
The company positions the product against undiagnosed heart valve disease, citing that one in two people over age 65 have an undiagnosed heart valve condition and that poor diagnostic accuracy in primary care leads to many patients being identified only during acute hospital admission or at autopsy. LightHearted states its approach can surface novel biomarkers enabling earlier diagnosis and pharmaceutical management of heart failure, improve triage, reduce waiting times, and lessen reliance on echocardiography and other more costly diagnostics. Forbes describes the device as usable at home.
The underlying technology was developed during co-founder and CEO Lucrezia Cester's PhD in AI and biomedical devices. The company is co-founded by Cester (CEO) and Dilip Rajeswari (CTO), and both were profiled by Forbes in its 30 Under 30 Europe Science & Healthcare 2025 list.
Founding story
The core technology originated in research conducted during co-founder and CEO Lucrezia Cester's PhD in AI and biomedical devices, which she subsequently commercialised with co-founder and CTO Dilip Rajeswari.
Business model
Sources describe a medical device plus software platform: a laser-based digital stethoscope that captures cardiac data, coupled with an AI diagnostic platform that produces reports for clinicians. No pricing, contracting or revenue-generation details are disclosed in the available sources.
Traction
As of April 2025 the company reported $3 million raised to fund device development. It is piloting with the NHS and running clinician-led validation in real patients, and was pursuing Class IIa regulatory approval by end of 2025. No revenue, user or unit figures are disclosed in the sources.
Latest developments
Forbes profiled the company on April 15, 2025 in connection with its 30 Under 30 Europe Science & Healthcare 2025 list, reporting $3 million raised to expand device development and a goal of obtaining Class IIa approval by the end of 2025.
▸Full profile — market position, technology, go-to-market, geography, history, risks & controversies
Market position
An early-stage (pre-seed) entrant in AI-enabled remote cardiovascular diagnostics, backed by the HAX/SOSV hard tech accelerator (2023 cohort) and Entrepreneurs First, and recognised on HAX's Deep Tech 100 and Forbes' 30 Under 30 Europe Science & Healthcare 2025 lists. No competitor set is identified in the available sources.
Contactless, laser-based acquisition of cardiac data through clothing and at a distance, with no patient or clinician input required, combined with automated AI reporting in roughly one minute — positioned as a faster, lower-cost alternative to echocardiography for detecting valve disease in primary care.
Technology
A laser-based digital stethoscope that captures cardiac data non-invasively, at a distance and through clothing, without patient or clinician input, in roughly 10 seconds. An AI platform analyses the resulting data to detect biomarkers associated with heart valve disease and returns a diagnostic report in about one minute. Forbes notes the device is suitable for home use.
Go-to-market
Initial pilots with the UK National Health Service, alongside collaborations with clinicians to validate the device in real patients. The company reported it was pursuing Class IIa medical device approval by the end of 2025.
Primary care clinicians and health systems performing cardiac triage and screening; the initial deployment channel is the UK National Health Service. Forbes indicates the device can also be used in the home setting.
Geography
Headquartered in London, United Kingdom, with initial clinical activity in the UK via NHS pilots.
History
Listed in the HAX 2023 accelerator cohort as a pre-seed, London-based company, and included in the Entrepreneurs First portfolio. By April 2025 the company had raised $3 million, was piloting with the NHS and had been profiled by Forbes.
Risks & controversies
The available sources note that the device is not yet cleared, with Class IIa approval being sought by the end of 2025, and that clinical validation with real patients was still in progress. No controversies are reported in the sources.
Compiled by commissioned research from 6 cited public sources — announcements, filings, and press listed under research sources below.
Key figures
latest reportedCompany-reported or press-reported figures, each dated to when it was claimed — not independently audited.
Timeline · 5
launches, deals, and filingsLightHearted AI Health profiled on the Forbes 30 Under 30 Europe Science & Healthcare 2025 list; cofounders Lucrezia Cester and Dilip Rajeswari named.
HAX portfolio page tags the company under Deep Tech 100, Female Founders, Human Health and Physical AI categories.
LightHearted is piloting its laser-based digital stethoscope with the UK National Health Service and collaborating with clinicians to validate the device in real patients.
Company stated it is seeking Class IIa approval for its device by the end of 2025.
Listed in HAX's portfolio under the HAX 2023 cohort, based in London, UK, at pre-seed stage.
Dated company events from announcements, filings, and press; legal rows summarize public dockets and regulator releases.
▸Research sources · 6
primary sources listed
6 public sources were cited for this profile; the first-party ones are listed here.
Frequently asked questions
- What does Lighthearted AI do?
- London-based startup building a laser-based digital stethoscope and AI platform for non-invasive cardiac diagnosis.
- Who founded Lighthearted AI?
- Lighthearted AI was founded by Lucrezia Cester, Dilip Rajeswari in 2023.
- Who are Lighthearted AI's investors?
- Lighthearted AI's investors include Draper Associates, Entrepreneur First, Redbus Ventures, Samos Investments.
- Where is Lighthearted AI headquartered?
- Lighthearted AI is headquartered in London, GB.