Oncoustics is a medical device company, specialised in using artificial intelligence (AI) to analyse ultrasound data for diagnostics and treatment monitoring of diseases with high unmet clinical need.

Their technology focuses on low-cost, non-invasive surveillance, aiming to detect and monitor diseases like structural liver disease and other organ pathologies and cancers earlier and more accurately than traditional methods. By leveraging raw ultrasound signals and machine learning, Oncoustics enhances point-of-care diagnostics, making it faster and more accessible for clinicians. Their patented technology uncovers novel biomarkers, aligns with clinical standards, and is adaptable to any ultrasound-imaged anatomy, offering a scalable platform for early, rapid diagnostics that can reduce unnecessary biopsies and improve patient outcomes.

Oncoustics’ primary customers include hepatology and endocrinology clinics, with plans to expand into primary care. The company also partners with pharma companies to use acoustic biomarkers as endpoints in drug studies and to enhance patient enrolment in clinical trials.

Liver disease is one of the fastest growing causes of morbidity and mortality around the world with over 2 billion people globally living with or at risk of the disease. Current diagnostic methods are complex, costly, and time-consuming – often requiring multiple appointments, specialists, high-end imaging like MRIs, or invasive biopsies. Because of this, non-viral liver diseases, typically asymptomatic, often go undetected until they’ve reached advanced stages.

The OnX Liver Assessment Solution offers a fast, affordable, point-of-care alternative that can screen for and diagnose liver disease in minutes, enabling earlier intervention and improved outcomes. Designed for ease of use, OnX can be operated by any healthcare worker, with results interpretable by any clinician – no trained sonographer or radiologist required – making it a practical tool for any clinical setting.

Beth Rogozinski is the CEO of Oncoustics, bringing a strong background in deep tech and health tech. Based in Silicon Valley throughout her career, she has played key roles in several innovative companies. Notably, she was part of the founding team at Pear Therapeutics, whose product for treating substance use disorder (reSET), was the first software-only therapeutic approved by the U.S. FDA, marking a major milestone in healthcare and digital medicine.

DayOne spoke with Beth Rogozinski, CEO of Oncoustics and DayOne Accelerator Alumna 2024/25, about her journey with the DayOne Accelerator and what the future holds for the company. This is what she shared.

Startups often join accelerators to build meaningful connections, and in the startup world, relationships are everything. What drew me to DayOne was the opportunity to engage directly with pharma companies – especially given its unique presence in Basel and a team with deep industry experience.

The kick-off bootcamp was a standout experience. Unlike many mostly virtual programs, it was immersive and in-person, with many of us staying at the same hotel. This created space for real connections – not just during sessions, but through evening events, shared meals, and informal conversations. These authentic, unstructured moments fostered lasting relationships that simply aren’t possible in a virtual setting.

The connections we formed during the program were truly invaluable – ranging from mentors and pharma companies to domain partners and the DayOne team. Even within our startup cohort, the sense of shared experience was powerful. Navigating challenges like fundraising or partnering with pharma felt less isolating when surrounded by others on the same journey.

A key takeaway was how to tailor our pitch more effectively for pharma audiences. We learned to shift the narrative from highlighting our solution’s features to addressing pharma’s specific needs and pain points. This reframing – from a general startup pitch to a targeted value proposition – significantly improved our engagement with potential partners and continues to shape how we communicate today.

Over the next year, Oncoustics is focused on closing a $3M seed round – $1.3M is already secured, and we’re aiming to raise the remaining $1.7M to complete our FDA registrational study. We have launched that study, with six sites under contract, and will be a major milestone toward getting our first product FDA-approved.

We are also exploring partnerships with pharma companies in two key areas: helping enrol patients in liver disease clinical trials and identifying acoustic biomarkers for use as secondary endpoints – this is particularly relevant for companies developing weight loss drugs, where improved liver health could be a valuable differentiator.

Looking ahead five to ten years – though it’s hard to plan even six months out in startup life, where a single year can feel like several – our vision at Oncoustics is clear. We apply machine learning to raw ultrasound sound signals, and while we’re starting with liver disease, this technology can be applied to any part of the body that ultrasound can image. Our long-term goal is to enable scalable diagnostics, screening, and treatment monitoring for a wide range of diseases with unmet clinical needs. There are a few areas we are already looking at.

In chronic kidney disease, there’s a condition called IgA nephropathy that often takes 8-10 years to diagnose and typically requires a painful kidney biopsy. With new drugs emerging for this disease, being able to diagnose patients earlier in a non-invasive, non-radiating, and painless way would be a major benefit for both patients and clinicians. It also provides clear value to pharmaceutical companies, as most treatments are more effective when started earlier – well before patients reach the point of needing a kidney transplant.

Beyond that, we’re working with smaller datasets in areas like thyroid and women’s health, including conditions like ovarian cancer, where women often suffer from delayed diagnosis. Ultimately, our goal is to build a full-body platform that supports earlier detection, improves outcomes, lowers healthcare costs, and helps democratize access to care.