How do you identify the companies that will truly shape the future of precision medicine? In this interview, Catherine Boule, Managing Partner at Karista, shares the rationale behind the firm’s investment in Waiv - from the rise of AI-powered biomarkers to the importance of productisation and clinical integration in digital health.

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In a few words, can you introduce Waiv, its potential and its market?

In a world where access to innovative cancer therapies hinges on precise patient stratification, Waiv is building the AI biomarker infrastructure that will enable truly personalised treatment.

Waiv is developing an artificial intelligence algorithm platform capable of identifying  specific cancer biomarkers through image analysis of biopsy slides. This technology makes it possible to select patients, predict disease progression and  anticipate treatment response. It is precision medicine in action.

The oncology market is both large and rapidly evolving. Breakthrough therapies,such as biologics and immunotherapies, can be transformative. Their high costmakes patient identification essential. This is precisely what Waiv’s technology enables, through digital biomarkers that are simple to deploy.

What truly motivated your investment?

Waiv is a spin-off from Owkin and has therefore benefited from seven yearsof incubation within a leading biotech company. It enters thisnew phase with real momentum: established products, a strong andcohesive team, and its first commercial contracts, all highly reassuring elements from an investor’s perspective. The team’s ability to move from cutting-edge research to concrete productisation was a key element in our decision. In digital pathology, execution speed and clinical integration matter as much as algorithmic performance.

Waiv sets itself apart with clear product-driven approach. While many players in the sector focus maintly on pharma partnerships, Waiv chose to develop its own products, with the ambition of turning them into fully fledged digital diagnostic solutions. This new generation of AI-based tools is expected to play a key role in the expansion of precision medicine.

The company has therefore built a strong proprietary product portfolio -one of the factors that particularly convinced us- as well as the ability to develop additional solutions over time and pharma partnerships.

How does thisinvestment fit with Karista’s philosophy / fund strategy?

Karista invests in HealthTech across Europe, with a strategy focused on leveraging health data to improve both clinical outcomes and the economics of care. Waiv is fully aligned with this vision.

We believe Waiv has the potential to become a leading player in AI-driven digital pathology within the fast-growing precision medicine market. Its strong early traction and growing market interest already validates this trajectory… and this is just the beginning!

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