Diag-Nose.io: mapping the unified airway for more precise respiratory care

Diag-Nose.io: mapping the unified airway for more precise respiratory care

Melbourne‑based medtech Diag-Nose.io is developing a new generation of precision medicine tools designed to improve how chronic respiratory diseases- one that moves treatment decisions away from trial and error, and toward a clearer understanding of each patient’s underlying biology.

At the centre of this work is RhinoMAP, an AI‑enabled biomarker platform designed to help researchers and clinicians better track disease progression and treatment response across the “unified airway” - the biological link between the nose and the lungs. By analysing nasal samples, RhinoMAP aims to make respiratory care more precise, predictable and effective.

From concept to validation, supported at the right moments

 Diag-Nose.io’s progress reflects the impact of early‑stage ecosystem support paired with patient capital.

After completing the LaunchVic-funded programs MedTech Actuator and ANDHealth Activate, in 2024, the company received a matched grant through the Victorian Government’s MedTech Market Growth Program, co‑administered with LaunchVic. The support helped Diag‑Nose advance its world‑first concept toward early validation - building momentum at a critical stage of development.

This momentum was reinforced by Breakthrough Victoria, which backed the company with seed investment to support its next phase of growth. The investment enabled the team to expand clinical and manufacturing capability in Victoria, while also benefiting from hands‑on support, including investor introductions and capital‑raising assistance.

Together, these touchpoints show what’s possible when capability programs and investment pathways are well connected: founders gain early traction, then access the right kind of capital and practical support to keep moving forward.

Building a more connected innovation system

This progression - from early grant support to long‑term investment - reflects the logic behind Innovation Victoria, which brings Breakthrough Victoria and LaunchVic together through a single front door for innovation.

By housing grants, programs and investment under one roof, Innovation Victoria aims to make pathways clearer and more connected over time. For founders, partners and investors, the opportunity is simple: less friction and a stronger end‑to‑end system that supports start-ups from early traction through to scale.

A timeline of progress

2020 — Company founded
Diag-Nose.io was founded in Perth, with early roots linked to the Stanford ENT Innovation Program, bringing a strong research and clinical foundation to the company's work.

2020 – Accelerator backing 

The company relocated to Melbourne to participate in through the MedTech Actuator , a LaunchVic funded accelerator program supporting clinical entrepreneurs with an international platform. 

2021 — Pre-seed financing secured

Support from MedTech Actuator helped the company secure a $690,000 pre-seed round led by Artesian Venture Partners, enabling early product development and clinical validation activities.

2023 – ANDHealth Activate completed
Diag-Nose.io successfully completed ANDHealth Activate, a LaunchVic-supported accelerator that strengthened its growth strategy and investment readiness. July 2024 — Funding for early validation
Diag-Nose.io receives $50,000 in matched funding through the Victorian Government’s MedTech Market Growth Program, co‑administered by LaunchVic, supporting the transition from concept toward validation.

January 2025 — Seed investment secured
Closes a $3.15 million seed round, including $800,000 from Breakthrough Victoria and supported by co‑investors including Radar Ventures and a physician‑led angel cohort.

April 2025 — Commercial and regulatory milestones
Following its seed round, Diag-Nose.io established operations at CoLabs Notting Hill in Melbourne, secured FDA Class 1 registration for its proprietary nasal microsampling device, and recorded its first commercial sales to research organisations, including the University of Florida, supporting respiratory biomarker studies.

2025 — Further validation and partnerships
Diag-Nose.io secured a $3 million CRC-P grant to support a national consortium of healthcare providers, manufacturers and industry partners focused on advancing respiratory precision medicine through continued development and validation of the RhinoMAP platform.

Looking ahead

Chronic respiratory diseases affect hundreds of millions of people worldwide and remain one of the leading causes of disability and healthcare expenditure. Despite advances in treatment, many clinical decisions still rely on symptoms and functional assessments that provide limited insight into the underlying biology of disease. By generating biological data directly from the airway, Diag-Nose.io is working to create a future where respiratory diseases can be measured more objectively, treatments can be selected more precisely, and new therapies can be developed faster.

The company’s journey shows how Victorian innovation - supported early, funded patiently, and backed locally - can move from research to real‑world impact, addressing global health challenges from a strong base at home.

Quote Tile:

"From my perspective, the biggest benefit is continuity of support across all stages. Startups don't experience growth in neat categories, one day you need mentoring, the next you need grant funding, and then growth capital. Bringing LaunchVic and Breakthrough Victoria together creates a more connected founder journey and reduces the friction that often exists between those stages. I believe that will result in dividends for founders, investors and Victoria's innovate on ecosystem as a whole."

Diag-Nose.io founder Eldin Rostom.