Elderly individuals, professional athletes, and those recovering from injuries often face the need for joint surgeries, particularly in the lower limbs. However, recovery after surgery can be a lengthy process requiring continuous medical supervision. But what happens when medical staff is stretched thin or a patient lives far from a clinic and can't make frequent visits? Inventivo, a startup, has developed its own platform based on computer vision, designed to help patients efficiently navigate their rehabilitation process and allow doctors to extend their reach and improve the quality of care. In an exclusive interview with ER10 Media, Inventivo’s founder, Makpal Ikramova, explained how AI is supporting both healthcare professionals and patients through recovery.
Follow Kazakhstan’s Startup Movement in the "100 Startup Stories of Kazakhstan", a collaborative project by ER10 Media and Astana Hub. This initiative highlights the most innovative Kazakh startups, showcasing projects that stand out for their creativity and impact. Among the heroes are Astana Hub residents, as well as creators of other innovative technological products and services. The content is available in Kazakh, Russian, and English.
Background in Medicine
— Makpal, how did you get into this business? Was this your first startup?
— Inventivo is actually my first entrepreneurial venture. I initially trained in medicine and worked at the National Scientific Cardiac Surgery Center in Astana. I have hands-on experience in the operating room and ICU. Later, I shifted my focus to the finance sector, working for major American corporations like State Street and J.P. Morgan Chase & Co., where I handled investments, process automation, and was introduced to IT. I also gained experience in the pharmaceutical industry. Even back then, I began to wonder how new technologies could be integrated into healthcare.
When the pandemic hit, my colleagues started suggesting I return to medicine. Around the same time, I completed a Master's in "Electronic Health" in Italy. I then started investigating pain points in Kazakhstan’s healthcare system. By combining my ideas with my experience, I decided to focus on rehabilitation.
— Tell us about the idea behind your startup.
— Our team developed a platform designed to help people with joint issues go through effective rehabilitation, including remotely. Right now, we’re mainly focusing on patients recovering from lower-limb joint surgeries: knees, hips, and ankles.
Our platform uses computer vision technology, where a camera from any device can capture key movements of the body, analyze metrics, and help patients follow the rehabilitation process with accurate recommendations. Sometimes, doctors give instructions for exercises, but once patients are discharged, they often lose touch with medical staff and forget the exercise routine or how to do them correctly. Many patients, feeling the first signs of relief, think they’re healed and stop the rehab process altogether.
As a result, many end up with relapses or complications, needing to undergo surgery again. Our platform helps patients stay connected with their doctor, regardless of distance.
— How did you identify this market need? Did your medical background help?
— It was my idea from the start: I wanted to restore my eyesight without surgery. I wanted a technology that could track my pupils. And I found one. Over time, I kept thinking about what kind of technologies could be applied to medicine, consulting with specialists. Eventually, I decided to go into the rehabilitation field. Initially, I wanted to help stroke patients recover, but doing so purely with software wasn’t feasible. After conducting customer development and studying patient flows, I decided to focus on orthopedics.
A Widespread Issue
— Is the scale of the problem as large as it sounds?
— It might seem like a niche area of medicine, right? I mean, who’s affected by joint issues? Primarily the elderly, of course. But as we delve deeper, we see that it’s actually quite a prevalent issue. Diagnosing and treating joint diseases, as well as providing rehabilitation after joint replacement surgeries, is a significant field in modern medicine. Joint problems stem from aging, sports and professional activities, and, of course, injuries.
In Kazakhstan alone, around 15,000–20,000 patients undergo joint replacement surgeries every year. And that’s just the planned operations, excluding unforeseen injuries and accidents. What’s more, Kazakhstan currently lacks precise statistics on how many patients are admitted, how many go through rehab, and how many actually recover and to what extent.
— What about rehabilitation efforts worldwide?
— This area is also developing rapidly, with a strong focus on telemedicine. The tele-rehabilitation market is currently valued at $5 billion, and it's expected to hit $16 billion within five years.
Joint rehabilitation, specifically, is one of the fastest-growing markets. Many countries, particularly the U.S., Europe, and developed parts of Asia, are dealing with an aging population, which means more people with joint ailments requiring surgery followed by rehabilitation.
A Homegrown Solution
— How did you get Inventivo started? Who developed the platform?
— Initially, I outsourced the development to a team of programmers in India and Pakistan, but the quality didn’t meet my standards. So, I decided to build my own team. At that time, I had a technical co-founder, and together we assembled a group of developers. In February 2023, a new license was released for a library we needed for the project, so by September, we were studying the technology and developing the platform ourselves.
— Were you able to find AI specialists in Kazakhstan?
— No, we trained the team ourselves. We’re self-taught and constantly evolving. Naturally, we sought out advisors when our knowledge and local resources fell short. We got assistance from developers in Germany and Romania who helped us with the back-end of the platform. My goal now is to attract local developers who meet the same high standards.
I’m proud to say that we were the first in Kazakhstan to independently create a product like this.
Support for Doctors and Patients
— How does the platform work?
— After surgery, doctors assess a patient’s condition and determine if they can start the initial stages of rehabilitation. If so, the patient scans a code from their smartphone and connects with their designated doctor and the system. The doctor then prescribes specific rehabilitation exercises, which the patient sees instantly on the app. We’ve already digitized our rehabilitation programs, so the doctor can quickly assign exercises. The patient follows 3D videos within the app that demonstrate how to perform each exercise.
In the early days after surgery, while the patient is still bedridden, they can perform exercises without feedback. But once they gain a bit of mobility and can use crutches or other support, computer vision technology kicks in. The patient sets up their smartphone’s camera, positions themselves correctly, and begins the exercises. The camera tracks key movement metrics and sends real-time data to the doctor, allowing for adjustments based on the patient’s progress. This feature has proven invaluable in clinical settings.
Additionally, we have chat and video call features for discharged patients. If they need a consultation, they can quickly reach out to their doctor.
We also collect information through surveys, which we regularly send to the doctor to monitor the patient’s condition.
We’ve streamlined the rehabilitation process so that doctors don’t need to spend extensive time explaining each exercise to each patient and overseeing their execution. Without our system, a doctor would spend an average of 45 minutes per patient. With Inventivo, it’s down to five minutes.
This time optimization means doctors can serve a greater number of patients. As a result, more people can complete quality rehabilitation and avoid future joint issues. Plus, clinics can now provide remote support to patients even in rural areas, as long as there’s internet.
— Are patients willing to use your platform?
— Yes, we’re already seeing that 70% of patients actively use Inventivo to complete their rehabilitation course. Around 20% stop once they start feeling better, while 10% quit within the first week due to personal reasons. We even have an 83-year-old user who confidently follows the program on his smartphone.
In general, we’re seeing a strong interest from patients, which is encouraging.
— What languages is the platform available in?
— Currently, it’s available in Kazakh, Russian, English, and Ukrainian. We're actively working to expand our reach and will be adding more languages over time.
Starting with Kazakhstan, Then Expanding Globally
— What stage is the startup at today?
— We’ve completed a pilot project at a private clinic in Astana, and based on initial feedback, we improved the interface. In October 2024, we launched another pilot project at the National Scientific Center for Traumatology and Orthopedics in Astana.
— What is the startup’s monetization model?
— Clinics and private practitioners pay us for the service. For hospitals, we operate as a SaaS platform that helps manage patient care. Private doctors can also pay for a subscription to access our system.
— What are your plans for development and scaling?
— Right now, we’re focused on establishing our presence in Kazakhstan. Simultaneously, we’re exploring markets in Southeast Asia and the MENA region. For Europe and the U.S., we've paused expansion until the end of the year. Once we’ve solidified our presence in Kazakhstan, we’ll assess which direction to scale next.
Up to this point, we’ve been self-funded, but as we scale, we’ll look to raise investments that align with our expansion strategy.
— What level of investment are you seeking?
— To enhance the platform in the local market, we need around $300,000. However, scaling to markets like the UAE would require a much larger investment. At that stage, our product will be far more advanced, covering additional rehabilitation fields.
— So, you aim to become a global player, possibly even a unicorn?
— Yes, that’s our vision.
— Do you have global competitors?
— There are indirect competitors with a different focus. I see them as colleagues, and I keep in touch with some of them. In the U.S., there’s a platform where doctors can consult remotely, but it’s still in development. In Spain, a team has developed wearable bands with sensors to track biomechanics, but they are also transitioning to computer vision, focusing on Latin America. There’s a startup in Israel, but they’re more focused on fitness exercises.
Growing the Startup Alongside Personal Growth
— Have you participated in any acceleration programs?
— Yes, we’re finalists in the Startup Garage program by Astana Hub. This accelerator helped us optimize our time, launch our pilot project, and make our first sales—a milestone we had struggled to achieve for a while.
We’re currently enrolled in the “Tarkhankov Valley” program, and we’re preparing to focus on international accelerators.
— What’s your dream for this startup?
— I want our platform to be more than just a tool for doctors. My dream is for Inventivo to become a scientific platform for training specialists. I hope we can make it a major educational resource in the medical field.
— Where do you find inspiration for business decisions? Do you watch favorite movies or read certain books?
— I’m not a big movie fan, but I do often rewatch Interstellar. I also love reading books across various genres. A book that had a big impact on me and motivated me to pursue business was The Defining Decade: Why Your Twenties Matter and How to Make the Most of Them Now by Meg Jay.
People and nature are my main sources of inspiration. My experience in medicine has shown me that the human body is an incredibly unique and perfect creation.
— What sport best represents your personality?
— I used to say tennis, but now I think it’s more like horseback riding.
— Why is that?
— I once thought that precision and focusing on a single target were key, but now I value speed and freedom of movement. I’d also say surfing—the ability to ride the wave of change.
— Do you enjoy being an entrepreneur? Any regrets about leaving a stable job?
— Yes, I really enjoy entrepreneurship! It offers freedom in action, ideas, and creativity. I genuinely find pleasure in working with doctors and patients. The results of my efforts inspire me. Overall, I don’t regret leaving the corporate world. Being an entrepreneur is more engaging, especially when your work benefits others.
