A student at the Pondicherry Institute of Medical Sciences is seen carefully inserting an IV line into a vein in a virtual reality simulation, designed to train undergrad medical and nursing students. Sabarish Chandrasekaran, the CEO of Chennai-based company MediSim VR, specializes in simulated medical training using virtual reality and augmented reality technology.
The company was founded 10 years ago by Chandrasekaran, an MBA graduate, and Jeno Manickkam Durairaj, a game engine development engineer. In 2018, Dr. Adith Chinnaswami joined the team to focus on creating a VR solution for grassroots-level training in the healthcare industry.
MediSim operates on an SaaS and licensing model, offering two payment options for setting up training facilities at colleges. The annual fee-based license covers infrastructure, hardware, and software, while students directly pay an annual subscription fee. This model ensures that institutions do not have to bear the upfront cost of capital investment.
The company’s patented software and hardware are built in-house in India, with an industry engagement team comprised of academicians, doctors, and medical experts. Currently, MediSim has seven labs across India and aims to expand rapidly, with plans to set up 10-15 more labs this year.
MediSim has attracted investor interest and has completed three rounds of funding. In 2019, it received nearly $250,000 in a pre-seed round from a medtech investor. In 2022, it secured around $500,000 in a seed round with investors including Inflection Point Ventures, The Chennai Angels, and Kauvery Hospital Group. The company aims to end the year with a cash surplus and expects to become profitable.
Overall, MediSim is focused on revolutionizing medical training through virtual reality technology and is on a path to scale up rapidly both within India and internationally.