AmplifAI Health Raises Funds for Diabetic Foot Screening

AmplifAI Health, a Saudi-based healthcare technology company specializing in artificial intelligence (AI)-driven solutions for early disease detection and preventive care, has completed a new funding round, with strategic investments from Aramco's Wa’ed Ventures, Plug and Play, and KAUST Innovation Ventures, the venture arm of King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, along with support from existing investors Techstars and Lamarka. 

AmplifAI Health was founded by Meshari Alwashmi, Mohammed Alwashmi, Omar Saleh and Mustafa AlGhali in Saudi Arabia in 2023. It has developed an AI-driven Software as a Medical Device Thermal Foot Scan (TFscan) technology that offers clinicians a cutting-edge, non-invasive thermal imaging solution that enables real-time detection of early signs of diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs), helping prevent severe complications. The funding aims to boost their efforts to introduce AI-powered thermography to the market, enhancing global access to proactive health diagnostics and tackling the increasing challenges of diabetic foot care.

In an interview with Inc. Arabia, Meshari Alwashmi, CEO of AmplifAI Health, noted the significance of the recent investment, emphasizing that it will help shape the company's growth and market strategy. “This investment allows us to validate our strategy, test the market, and refine our approach. The demand has been much higher than expected. We’re already meeting the objectives of this round and proving the impact of our solution in real-world settings,” he explained, noting that the recent investment will bring strategic support, industry access, and expertise to the company. 

Alwashmi highlighted key challenges in developing TFscan, noting how team members addressed issues like regulation, thermal camera noise, and user adoption as the top three. "As the first Software as a Medical Device approved by the Saudi FDA, navigating compliance was a complex but crucial process. We worked closely with regulators, conducted rigorous clinical trials, and established a robust quality management system," he says. As for thermal camera noise, which can affect accuracy, Alwashmi noted that the team's AI scientists developed advanced filtering techniques to ensure that data was accurate. Finally, he lauds the efforts of the team for building an intuitive user experience for clinicians, which allowed them to streamline adoption. 

"Each of these challenges reinforced our mission: to leverage AI-driven thermography and make proactive health diagnosis accessible worldwide. We are building a solution that’s not just cutting-edge but also practical, scalable, and impactful in real-world healthcare settings," he added. 

In Saudi Arabia, where 18.7 percent of adults have diabetes, nearly half of those undergoing amputations don’t survive beyond five years, underscoring the need for early detection. Traditional screening methods, often reliant on subjective assessments, can miss early complications, contributing to diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) — a leading cause of lower-limb amputations, occurring every 20 seconds globally. By detecting DFUs early, TFscan helps prevent amputations, reducing healthcare costs and improving patient outcomes. 

With regards to scaling, Alwashmi anticipates that it will not pose significant challenges due to the portability of TFscan. “Scaling TFscan is straightforward. It’s portable, easy to use, and seamlessly integrates into existing workflows. We see business to business and business to government as the key pathways, working with hospitals, insurers, and government health programs to drive widespread adoption. Of course, challenges like international regulatory approvals and clinician training exist, but we’ve tackled them before and will do it again,” he said. 

Alwashmi advised other entrepreneurs looking to tackle big healthcare challenges to be patient and persistent. “Healthcare moves slow, regulations are tough, and challenges are inevitable but if you succeed, you could help save millions of lives. Stay patient, build what truly matters, and keep pushing forward.” 

As for AmplifAI's future plans, Alwashmi is clear that TFscan is just the beginning. "We’re already exploring AI-driven solutions that leverage thermal imaging and other advanced tools to enhance preventive care. Our goal is to detect issues earlier and enable proactive interventions to improve outcomes." 

Pictured on image AmplifAI Health team at LEAP 2025. Image courtesy AmplifAI Health.