EveryBaby has big plans for Asia.
The company, which specialises in maternal and neonatal health, is working on better health outcomes for premature births, which claim the lives of more than 1 million newborns worldwide every year.
The medtech venture originated as a spin-out from the University of Sheffield and Sheffield Teaching Hospitals in the UK, where its technology was first developed and clinically validated by Dilly Anumba, Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the University of Sheffield.
Unlike its main competitors, which tend to focus on Europe and the US, EveryBaby is prioritising underserved markets in Asia, where preterm birth rates are high, notes Founder and CEO Dabriel Choi.
Its first product, a handheld diagnostic device, is undergoing clinical testing ahead of a planned commercial launch in early 2027.
The device, which is also branded EveryBaby, promises to predict early births more accurately than existing solutions and at a fraction of the cost.
“We designed EveryBaby as a point-of-care device to make accurate, timely preterm birth risk assessment accessible to all mothers, everywhere,” Mr Choi says.
The initial focus will be on doctors and high-risk pregnancy cases to demonstrate value and build credibility before expanding access to midwives, community healthcare providers and NGOs.
Mr Choi’s vision for more equitable healthcare enjoyed a major boost after his growing company became one of the 10 winners in the 2024 edition of Start-up Express International – a Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HTKDC) initiative that helps promising tech ventures transform and expand in Asia and beyond.
EveryBaby first connected with the HKTDC via the Council’s London office, which continues to provide close support.
Winning Start-up Express International – the international version of the HTKDC’s long-running Start-up Express business support programme – delivered multiple benefits for the medtech specialist.
These included a complimentary booth, travel sponsorship and participation in an on-stage discussion at Entrepreneur Day (E-Day), HKTDC’s anchor event for the start-up ecosystem.
Extensive business matching and networking at E-Day, including connections with potential investors, helped accelerate EveryBaby’s growth plans.
In January, the start-up opened its Asian headquarters in Hong Kong.
To support its growth, EveryBaby also has two offices in Mainland China – a hardware-focused R&D and manufacturing hub in Hangzhou and a sales and business development arm in Beijing.
Hong Kong serves as a strategic platform to expand into international markets, starting with Asia and the Middle East and North Africa region, Mr Choi highlights.
“For us, it is a true springboard, enabling sustainable growth and a broader global reach.”
A centre for R&D and IP
Hong Kong plays an important role in clinical validation for EveryBaby, as results recognised by the city’s authorities can be leveraged across multiple jurisdictions worldwide.
R&D in Hong Kong also includes AI-based pregnancy risk prediction models as well as applications and computer interfaces for both doctors and patients.
In the long term, Mr Choi wants to broaden the start-up’s services beyond pregnancy to support long-term health and well-being for mothers and young children.
The medtech specialist is relocating its global IP management from the UK to Hong Kong to take advantage of the city’s strong experience in healthcare approvals and expert network of patent professionals.
It further amplified its exposure via the Hong Kong platform in May after joining the Asia Summit on Global Health (ASGH), an annual health innovation and investment conference organised by the HKTDC.
EveryBaby promoted its solution at ASGH’s InnoHealth Showcase, which is geared towards start-ups, as well as during a dedicated project pitching session for medical devices and diagnostics.
It also bolstered its network as part of the UK pavilion at the concurrent Medical and Healthcare Fair.
By connecting EveryBaby with stakeholders that understand its business and growth objectives, the HKTDC has opened doors that would have remained closed.
“In entering any new market, building the right network is absolutely critical – not simply meeting people, but meeting the right people,” Mr Choi emphasises.
“The HKTDC has been instrumental in facilitating these meaningful connections.”