Ali Parsa, the founder of health-tech giant Babylon, has unveiled his latest venture: Quadrivia, a health technology company that has also announced the beta launch of Qu, an AI assistant tailored specifically for clinicians to support routine tasks and patient management. The project has already secured seed funding from Norrsken, a prominent Swedish venture capital firm dedicated to backing startups with social impact. The amount remains undisclosed for now.
Designed by clinicians, Qu aims to help healthcare professionals manage rising patient demands in the context of global healthcare shortages, an issue the World Health Organisation notes could mean a shortfall of 18 million healthcare workers worldwide.
Just a while ago, we also reported about how Bubty raised $3.3M seed funding to address global freelancer misclassification risks. It’s a good read too.
What problem is the startup solving
The increasing demand for healthcare services has revealed significant imbalances in the sector’s capacity to meet patient needs. According to the WHO, these shortages lead to gaps in care quality, access, and affordability. AI, although still evolving, is being explored as a way to provide accessible, consistent support for clinicians. AI-driven tools like Qu could potentially help alleviate strain on healthcare professionals by managing both clinical and administrative workloads, thus enabling practitioners to focus more on direct patient care.
Dr. Ali Parsa, Quadrivia’s founder, explains, “The accelerating developments in AI… have strengthened the hope to finally address [healthcare’s structural imbalance] by creating an affordable and elastic source of clinical support.”
Qu has been designed with both technical and clinical rigor, drawing on input from experienced AI technologists and healthcare experts worldwide. A key aspect of Qu’s architecture is its adaptability. It incorporates a knowledge base validated against international medical guidelines, reducing the risk of inaccuracies, or “hallucinations.”
According to Quadrivia, the platform is structured to support various cognitive processes, which they term “System 1” and “System 2” reasoning. System 1 includes tasks that rely on quick decision-making, such as answering direct questions or following standard procedures. System 2 involves more complex, analytical tasks, like assessing patient symptoms and considering multiple possible diagnoses. By encompassing both approaches, Qu aims to serve the diverse needs of clinicians across various specialisations and scenarios.
“We’re excited to have such a strong group coming together and committed to improving healthcare for everyone,” notes Professor Shafi Ahmed, Chairman of Quadrivia’s Global Clinical Advisory Council.
What does the startup actually do
One of Qu’s primary goals is to maintain clinician control over the AI’s functions. Customisation options allow clinicians to adjust the AI’s settings based on their preferences, letting them integrate the tool into their workflows while maintaining established protocols. Quadrivia emphasises that Qu’s development aligns with local healthcare regulations to meet compliance standards worldwide. This approach also addresses privacy and safety, essential in AI applications for sensitive clinical data.
Quadrivia’s founder, Dr. Parsa, adds, “By making Qu highly controllable and customisable, we hope to help healthcare professionals shape how AI works for them and be in control of its safety and quality.”
To ensure the AI tool meets clinical standards across diverse healthcare settings, Quadrivia has established a Global Clinical Advisory Council, featuring notable healthcare experts from across continents. Members of this council, including prominent figures like Dr. Harvey Castro in North America and Dr. Zubin Daruwalla in Asia, provide guidance on adapting Qu to specific healthcare environments. Dr. Daruwalla highlights the importance of Qu’s adaptability in Asia, noting that maintaining current clinical workflows without major disruptions is key to broad adoption.
Rebecca Love, Chief Nursing Officer at connectRN and member of the council, points out the platform’s significance in nursing, where staffing shortages are felt acutely. “With Qu, we have a chance to truly transform the future of healthcare—and finally give nursing the recognition and support it has always deserved,” she said.
The startup has also received funding from Norrsken VC, a prominent impact investment firm in Europe. Niklas Adalberth, Norrsken’s founder, notes that they invested in Quadrivia for its potential to make healthcare more accessible by relieving clinicians of time-consuming tasks. He adds, “We are excited to back the experienced Quadrivia team as they address one of the most fundamental issues in global healthcare.”
Next steps: Clinician input and global adaptability
Quadrivia is inviting clinicians from around the world to participate in Qu’s beta testing phase, allowing them to provide feedback that will guide the AI’s refinement. After initial testing and further developments, Quadrivia plans to release a final version that will allow clinicians to self-train and adapt Qu according to individual needs and operational contexts.
What do we think abou the startup
Quadrivia’s launch of Qu is an ambitious step toward addressing gaps in global healthcare. The tool’s customisable, adaptable design and focus on safety align with the needs of clinicians in diverse environments, offering a glimpse into how AI might sustainably support healthcare systems worldwide. As AI’s potential to support clinicians continues to evolve, Quadrivia’s clinician-centric approach could set a precedent for how such tools are developed and integrated into the medical field.
With regulatory and clinical safety guidelines guiding each step, Quadrivia’s vision for Qu could signal a meaningful shift towards addressing long-standing disparities in healthcare accessibility and quality.
