Discover MammoCheck: Empowering Women with AI for At-Home Breast Cancer Screening

Can you provide a brief overview of your background and journey? What inspired the creation of MammoCheck, and what milestones have you achieved so far (e.g., product developments, partnerships, funding, industry recognition, or market expansion)?

All started when I was in my last year of studies and I saw a program from Junior Achievement Cyprus called ‘Beyond Pre-Accelerator’ with the goal of finding solutions for cancer.

Around that time, my mum found a tumor in her breast by chance, and I thought how useful it could be if we could check for breast cancer at home to avoid late diagnosis. Thankfully, my mum is completely fine now.

I registered for the program and needed to find team members with experience in technology and health, since my background is in Accounting and Finance (I’m ACCA Qualified, so I had the business side covered). There, I met my incredible co-founders: Marios Pafitis, who has expertise in AI, and Athina Grigoriou, who specializes in biomedical science.

Together, we decided to focus on breast cancer since they also had experience with that, and it’s the most common cancer for women. That’s how we created MammoCheck.

Since then, our proof of concept has shown incredible results, and we’re continuing with our clinical trial in Cyprus. We spun out from Frederick University, which supported us, and we have partnerships with 4 hospitals in Cyprus.

We’ve been part of Cyprus Seeds, the EGG Accelerator in Greece (which is the top accelerator in Greece). We are  part of the IDEA Accelerator in Cyprus to finalize our MVP, and part of the LifeX Accelerator in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in the United States, which focuses on life sciences and supports us with navigating the regulatory process and expanding to the US.

Additionally, we’ve won numerous competitions and participated in summits globally where we’ve showcased our vision. We’ve received extremely positive feedback and understand that we will have real impact, which is why we continue our work today.

What motivated you to participate in the AWE and YIF programme and how has the programmes influenced your entrepreneurial journey?

I was motivated to participate in the AWE (Academy for Women Entrepreneurs) and YIF (Youth Innovation Factory) programmes because I was eager to deepen my entrepreneurial skills, connect with like-minded individuals, and gain practical tools to grow my business ideas into impactful ventures. Both programmes offered a unique opportunity to learn from experienced mentors, build a strong support network, and access resources that are often difficult to find independently.

Participating in AWE and YIF has been transformative for my entrepreneurial journey. Through AWE, I became part of an incredible group of women who genuinely support and uplift each other. Being surrounded by such strong, inspiring women has been the real gold award for me. It showed me the true power of women standing together, encouraging each other, and achieving more as a team.

AWE helped me build a solid foundation in business planning, financial management, and leadership, while YIF challenged me to think creatively and pursue innovative solutions to real-world problems. The mentorship, networking opportunities, and hands-on projects from both programmes have helped me develop greater confidence, resilience, and a clearer vision for my business. Today, I approach entrepreneurship with a more strategic mindset and a greater sense of purpose, thanks to the invaluable experiences and community I found through these programmes.

What role does AI or data analytics play in refining MammoCheck’s accuracy and predictive capabilities?

MammoCheck is fundamentally an AI application that analyzes breast thermal images to detect potentially suspicious areas within the breast tissue. This AI component is not merely supplementary but essential to the entire solution, as it makes MammoCheck completely autonomous. This autonomy is what enables women to check for breast cancer from the comfort of their homes, without requiring a medical professional’s involvement, while receiving results instantly.

The sophisticated algorithms have achieved exceptional accuracy metrics in initial testing. The impressive results suggest that when used alongside traditional mammography, MammoCheck could significantly support early breast cancer diagnosis.

The AI functions as the interpreting “expert” that analyzes thermal patterns, identifies anomalies, and translates complex thermal data into actionable information for users. This democratization of breast cancer screening technology represents a significant advancement in preventative healthcare, particularly for women who might face barriers to traditional screening methods due to geographic, financial, or personal reasons.

The autonomous nature of the AI-driven solution is particularly valuable for addressing healthcare deserts and improving screening rates in underserved populations, while the instant results feature addresses delays that can occur in traditional diagnostic pathways.

How does your technology ensure accuracy and reliability in at-home testing? 

MammoCheck’s application was designed using a user-centric approach. Our primary goal was to create a solution that can be used independently at home by women without professional assistance. We focus on the user experience, making the process of taking the test easy and intuitive for everyone.

A key feature of our technology is the validation algorithms that verify whether the examination has been conducted correctly. These algorithms automatically detect and compensate for different environmental parameters that might otherwise introduce errors into the testing process, ensuring consistent and reliable results regardless of the home setting.

Through this combination, MammoCheck ensures that at-home breast cancer screening is both accurate and reliable.

How do you envision MammoCheck fitting into the broader healthcare system—will it complement or replace traditional screening?

MammoCheck could have many applications in healthcare, but we are primarily focused on helping women detect breast cancer at an early stage. MammoCheck is not intended to replace traditional screening methods. Since women often rely solely on self-breast examinations between their scheduled mammograms — or if they are under 40 and not eligible for mammography — our goal is to provide a more accurate and accessible method for monitoring breast health.

MammoCheck’s convenience makes it ideal for regular use at home, offering women an easy, non-invasive option. Additionally, MammoCheck can be incorporated into healthcare systems as a screening tool during GP visits. The ultimate aim is to offer a more reliable alternative to self-examinations, helping to minimise late-stage breast cancer diagnosis through more frequent, accessible, and accurate monitoring.

What kind of feedback have you received from early users, and how has it shaped product development?

Since we are not yet in the market, the feedback we have received so far has come mainly from early testers, mentors, and potential users we engaged during pilot phases, workshops, and interviews. Their feedback has been incredibly helpful in identifying what features resonate most with our target audience and what improvements we should prioritize before launch.

Based on their input, we have been refining the product’s design, clarifying the core value proposition, and adjusting some functionalities to better meet user expectations. Even at this early stage, the feedback has shaped our development process by helping us focus on creating a product that truly solves real needs, rather than assumptions. It’s been a key part of making our concept stronger and preparing for a successful entry into the market.

Follow MammoCheck’s Journey!