Antonia Riva-Frizberg, Co-CEO of Lumetry Diagnostics GmbH, has embarked on a transformative journey in the healthcare technology sector. Using technology to create impactful solutions has been the focus of her career, with a strong background in business development and innovation management. Her passion for medical diagnostics was ignited by personal experiences and a commitment to improving patient care, particularly in lung health.
In the interview below, she shares insights into her path, the mission of Lumetry, and her vision for the future of healthcare!
Can you tell us about your journey to become the Co-CEO of Lumetry Diagnostics GmbH and what inspired you to enter the field of medical diagnostics?
My journey to becoming the Co-CEO of Lumetry Diagnostics has been both rewarding and deeply personal. With over eight years of experience in business development and innovation management, I’ve always been passionate about leveraging technology to solve real-world problems. The decision to enter the field of medical diagnostics was driven by a combination of professional interest and personal experiences. After working & studying abroad I had the urge to drive innovation within the DACH Region and one day, I came across an Austrian startup team that used breath gas analysis to identify women’s fertile days. Amazed, I completely fell in love with the technology and joined the team. It was during this experience that I began to grasp the cast insights we can derive about our bodies through breath gas analysis, particularly when combined with AI. Also, part of that team was my co-founder Christian Neubauer. With the COVID pandemic, it became evident that we should use our knowledge on breath gas analysis to do more. Thanks to the trust and support of our investors, medical experts and a group of inspiring people we then started Lumetry, with the goal to become the number one lung monitoring platform in the world.
Lumetry Diagnostics focuses on lung monitoring. What motivated you to specialize in this particular area of healthcare?
Before we found lumetry we asked ourselves where our know-how can have the biggest impact. Followed by this question the decision to specialize in lung monitoring came from recognizing a significant gap in the way respiratory conditions, particularly COPD, are managed. Chronic respiratory diseases are among the leading causes of death worldwide, yet there is still a lack of effective and more user-friendly monitoring solutions that patients can use at home, especially when it comes to monitoring blood gas results. The latter is done via an invasive blood sample test. We saw an opportunity to develop a solution that empowers patients by providing them with real-time insights into their lung health. Using a natural breathing maneuver lumetry provides early detection of diseases (i.e. obstructive lung diseases) and consequential issues (i.e. pCO2 toxicity), thus allowing timely intervention. This proactive approach can drastically improve quality of life and reduce healthcare costs.
As a woman leader in the healthcare technology sector, what unique perspectives do you bring to your role, and how have these influenced Lumetry’s approach to innovation?
I have asked Lana Rashid from our project team to answer this question for me and she said that as a woman leader, I bring a perspective that values inclusivity, empathy, and collaboration. These qualities have shaped Lumetry’s approach to innovation by ensuring that our technology is not only effective but also user-friendly and accessible to a diverse patient population.
I am grateful for her response, as I believe that successful healthcare solutions should address the needs of all users, including those who may not be tech-savvy or who face barriers to accessing traditional healthcare services. I hope that my leadership style fosters a culture of open communication and creativity, encouraging our team to think outside the box and develop solutions that truly meet the needs of our patients.
Can you elaborate on the pCO2-Tracker technology and how it’s poised to revolutionize home-based lung monitoring for COPD patients?
Our pCO2-monitoring technology aims to replace traditional invasive pCO2 blood gas analysis with a simple natural breathing exercise, making it easy, affordable, and user-friendly for use at home as well as in clinics and in a doctor’s office. It includes AI-supported spirometry and capnography functions, allowing us not only to screen and diagnose COPD accurately but also to detect and monitor hypercapnia (paCO2 toxicity) for patients with said disease. Finally, we are also collecting additional parameters crucial for monitoring the therapy of patients with obstructive lung diseases. To summarize, our approach provides real-time insights into lung health, enabling early intervention and better management of COPD.
What challenges have you faced in developing and bringing your medical device to market, and how have you overcome them?
One of the most persistent challenges we face is managing the trade-off between short-term priorities and long-term objectives, particularly in the highly regulated medical technology sector, where rapid changes are not feasible. Being in the last phase of development, navigating complex regulations like the EU MDR has been a major hurdle, requiring extensive testing, clinical trials, and quality assurance. To address this, we’ve brought in an external regulatory expert to guide us through certification while maintaining high standards. Having Christian as a strong co-founder, along with an engaged advisory board and a dedicated team, has been key. Together, we weigh the pros and cons of making the best decisions for both immediate needs and long-term goals.
How do you see Lumetry Diagnostics contributing to the future of personalized healthcare and remote patient monitoring?
Lumetry Diagnostics’ goal is to be positioned at the forefront of personalized healthcare and remote patient monitoring. Our technology allows for continuous, individualized monitoring of lung health parameters, providing data that will one day be used to tailor treatments to each patient’s specific needs. This approach not only enhances patient care but also supports healthcare providers in managing chronic lung conditions more effectively. As remote patient monitoring becomes increasingly important in healthcare, especially in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, our solutions offer a scalable and efficient way to keep patients informed about their health status.
What advice would you give to aspiring women entrepreneurs and leaders who want to make an impact in the healthcare technology sector?
My advice is to stay true to your vision and never underestimate the value of your unique perspective. The healthcare technology sector needs diverse voices and ideas to drive meaningful change. Then build a strong support network, seek out mentors, and don’t be afraid to ask questions. Challenges are inevitable, and you might fail but they are also opportunities to learn and grow. Most importantly, remember that your work has the potential to make a real difference in people’s lives.
