The most dangerous eye diseases are often the quietest. Diabetic retinopathy, a leading cause of blindness in working-age adults, can progress for years without a single symptom. By the time a patient notices blurry vision, irreversible damage may already be done. This silent progression creates a critical window for intervention, one that EyeCheq, a Miami-based healthtech startup, is trying to pry open by moving screening out of the specialist's office and into the places people already go.
Founded in 2021, EyeCheq has developed what it calls the world's first fully autonomous eye screening kiosk [Josh Dowdle - Mobile Software Developer at LifeOmic, LinkedIn]. The hardware and software platform is designed to perform rapid, non-invasive retinal imaging at the point of care, with AI analysis and remote clinician review intended to flag conditions like diabetic retinopathy and macular degeneration earlier [Kiosk Marketplace, March 2026]. The company's bet is that accessibility, not just diagnostic accuracy, is the missing link in preventing vision loss, particularly in underserved communities.
A hardware wedge into retail health
EyeCheq's strategy hinges on placement. Instead of requiring patients to schedule a separate visit with an optometrist or ophthalmologist, the company is deploying its kiosks in high-traffic retail and community settings. Its most notable pilot is with Walmart, identified as "In Pilot" in the company's investor materials [EyeCheq Investor Deck]. Other named partners under contract include Quest Diagnostics, VSP, and Atrium Health [EyeCheq Investor Deck].
The model is straightforward. A patient steps into the kiosk for a quick scan. The system's AI provides an initial assessment, and the images are then sent for remote interpretation by a licensed eye care professional within the EyeCheq network. If a sight-threatening condition is suspected, the platform facilitates a referral to a local specialist. By embedding this capability in a retail pharmacy or a primary care clinic, EyeCheq aims to turn a routine errand into a potentially sight-saving intervention.
The team behind the kiosk
The founders bring a blend of clinical and entrepreneurial experience to the complex task of bridging hardware, software, and healthcare delivery. Co-founder and CEO Rashid Taher, MD, was previously a co-founder of Pediatric Radiology of America, which was acquired by Aris Teleradiology [EyeCheq Investor Deck]. His co-founder, Ali Khoshnevis, OD, serves as chief strategy officer and is a serial entrepreneur in eye care, having co-founded companies like Tesser Health, which was acquired by ELMC Risk Solutions [Wiza].
They have surrounded themselves with executives who have deep roots in the established healthcare ecosystem. The leadership team includes former executives from Quest Diagnostics, Kaiser Permanente, and Allergan, suggesting a deliberate focus on commercial relationships and clinical credibility [EyeCheq Investor Deck].
| Role | Name | Key Background |
|---|---|---|
| Co-Founder & CEO | Rashid Taher, MD | Co-founder, Pediatric Radiology of America (acquired) |
| Co-Founder & Chief Strategy Officer | Ali Khoshnevis, OD | Co-founder, Tesser Health (acquired by ELMC) |
| Chief Commercial Officer | Chris Grant | Former EVP, Quest Diagnostics & Kaiser Permanente |
| Chief Innovation Officer | Jai Parekh, MD | Former Chief Medical Officer, Eye Care at Allergan |
Funding and a strategic validation
EyeCheq has raised $7.5 million across pre-seed and seed rounds since 2023 [EyeCheq Investor Deck]. The more significant recent development is a strategic partnership and investment from Revenio Group, a Finnish healthtech company whose iCare brand is a leader in tonometry and retinal imaging devices. In August 2026, the companies announced that Revenio's iCare had strategically committed $4 million to EyeCheq's ongoing "seed-plus" fundraising round [Nasdaq, August 2026].
This is more than just capital. Revenio Group's commitment represents a vote of confidence from an incumbent with deep expertise in the very hardware domain EyeCheq is entering. The partnership could provide EyeCheq with manufacturing scale, regulatory guidance, and an established global sales channel, assets that are invaluable for a capital-intensive hardware startup.
2023 Pre-seed | 2.7 | M USD
2024 Seed | 4.8 | M USD
2026 Seed-Plus (Revenio commitment) | 4.0 | M USD
The regulatory and clinical road ahead
For all its ambition, EyeCheq's path is paved with the rigorous requirements of medical device regulation. The company's AI algorithm for detecting diabetic retinopathy would likely require clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), a process that demands robust clinical validation. While the company cites partnerships with major healthcare entities, peer-reviewed data on the sensitivity and specificity of its system in a real-world, point-of-care setting has not yet been made public.
The competitive landscape, while not crowded with direct kiosk clones, is active. Established tele-retina screening services exist, often relying on technicians to capture images in primary care offices. The true differentiation for EyeCheq is its claim of full autonomy, which eliminates the need for a trained operator. Its success hinges on proving that its kiosk can produce diagnostic-grade images consistently without clinical staff, a technical challenge that goes beyond software alone.
Key milestones to watch in the next twelve months will be less about funding and more about clinical and commercial proof.
- Pilot results. Concrete data from the Walmart pilot and other deployments on screening volume, patient follow-through, and diagnostic yield.
- Regulatory progress. Any public filing or announcement regarding FDA clearance for its AI screening algorithm.
- Commercial scale. Moving from pilots and contracts to announced, revenue-generating deployments with its national partners.
The patient at the center of the screen
The ultimate test for EyeCheq will be measured in preserved vision, not kiosk deployments. The patient population here is vast: an estimated 37 million Americans with diabetes, all of whom are at risk for diabetic retinopathy and are recommended to have annual dilated eye exams. For many, due to cost, lack of access, or simply the inertia of scheduling another appointment, that screening doesn't happen.
The current standard of care for these patients is an annual visit to an eye care professional,an optometrist or ophthalmologist,who will dilate the pupils and examine the retina directly. It is a highly effective, but access-constrained, model. EyeCheq is not trying to replace that definitive exam. Instead, it is attempting to build a more accessible triage layer, a digital sentinel placed in the path of daily life that can say, "You need to see a doctor, now." For the patient whose disease is caught early, the difference is between manageable treatment and permanent vision loss. That is the humane outcome every piece of hardware and every line of AI code is ultimately designed to serve.
Sources
- [EyeCheq Investor Deck] Company overview and financials | https://img1.wsimg.com/blobby/go/91c0533a-93c4-4bb7-8387-978527a95edd/downloads/3a365fa5-7856-4505-bb76-19bfba77fec0/EyeCheq_Investor_Deck%20(1).pdf?ver=1785869137859
- [Nasdaq, August 2026] Revenio Group and EyeCheq Announce Strategic Partnership and Investment | https://view.news.eu.nasdaq.com/view?id=bdb494115f820a42a859d67903c7233af&lang=en&src=micro
- [Kiosk Marketplace, March 2026] Eyes on the future: Vision screening comes to self-service kiosks | https://www.kioskmarketplace.com/articles/eyes-on-the-future-vision-screening-comes-to-self-service-kiosks/
- [Josh Dowdle - Mobile Software Developer at LifeOmic, LinkedIn] Post describing EyeCheq technology
- [Wiza] Background on Ali Khoshnevis and Tesser Health acquisition
- [EyeCheq] Company website and mission statement | https://www.eyecheq.com/