SF Startup Enlitic raises $2M in seed funding to explore 'deep learning' in healthcare

San Francisco-based startup Enlitic, which is seeking to process the vast amount of health data contained within CT scans, x-rays and other imaging technology, announced that is raised $2 million in seed funding.

VentureBeat broke the news this morning at its HealthBeat conference in San Francisco. From reporter Jordan Novet:

“It will do that using a trendy computational technique called deep learning, which entails training systems called artificial neural networks on lots of information derived from audio, images, and other inputs, and then presenting the systems with new information and receiving inferences about it in response.”

Deep learning is a form of artificial intelligence. Google, Facebook and Netflix readily employ deep learning, but within healthcare, Enlitic, headed by CEO Jeremy Howard, could well be among the first startups to delve into the area.

Over the past few months, Enlitic spent time with pathologists, radiologists, physicians and hospital administrators across the globe. In doing so, it came across vast archives of radiology images that will serve as a starting point.

“Nobody knows what to do with those archives,” Howard told Venture Beat. “They’re just sitting there, costing money. This is just seen as a big opportunity. It’s like, ‘Oh, this is what we were saving this up for!’”

Enlitic’s is also looking at selling software for on-premises data centers as well as constructing an “imaging analytics toolbox” that helps with developing an image algorithm prototypes in one or two days, Venture Beat reported.