From Sticky Notes to Startup Success: My Journey with scanO

Hostel Dorm Dreams

It was my final year of BDS when I first decided, “I want to start up.” I still remember slapping a small yellow sticky note on my hostel study table that read Startup Dreams. Friends would ask, "Do you want to start a clinic?" The word startup itself was new to many, and explaining it became my favourite conversation starter.

My fascination with startups began much earlier, during my junior college days, thanks to my active involvement in Google Developer Group events. The idea of disrupting industries, solving real problems, and creating something from scratch was electrifying.

During dental school, I started noticing things that didn’t sit right in dentistry back then — lack of awareness, treatment plans that felt outdated, and no digital records to fall back on. These weren’t just gaps; they were everyday roadblocks that got me thinking, “Why can’t this be better?” For me, dentistry was less about following a routine, more about reimagining what it could be.

In those early days, I even wrote a passionate email encouraging fellow dentists to step out of their comfort zones and explore unconventional roles like dental content writer, teledentistry expert, and even space dentist!

Fast forward to 2020

I finally took the plunge and launched scanO during the pandemic, at a time when teledentistry was a novel concept. Imagine convincing patients and dentists alike about the idea of 24/7 dental teleconsultations in multiple languages.

It was no small feat, especially in a pre-AI world where automation and tools like ChatGPT didn’t exist. But we did it—with 30+ dentists providing consultations round the clock across the country!

By 2022, we launched the scanO app, leveraging a database of over 100,000 intraoral images to train our AI models.

Fast forward to today:

? Over 1 million users

? 500 scanO air devices

? Partnerships with 5400+ clinics

? Cutting-edge AI models for teeth, gums, and disease progression

From Dental Chair to Boardroom: My Full-Time Journey with scanO

The journey from being a practicing dentist (2017–2021) to going all in with scanO has been nothing short of overwhelming.

It’s been a rollercoaster of triumphs, heartbreaks, and three major pivots.

But through it all, I’ve realized one thing about myself:

I love taking risks.

I thrive on choosing the road less travelled and creating opportunities where none existed.

Why I’m Sharing This:

In 2016, when the Government of India declared January 16 as National Startup Day, it inspired countless dreamers like me. Back then, the idea of starting up was a terror for my family. Today, it’s a source of immense pride.

To all the dreamers, risk-takers, and disruptors out there: this is your sign.

Whether you’re in a hostel room with a sticky note or at a crossroads in life, remember this: The journey might not be easy, but it will be worth it.

Join me in my mission to empower a billion people with accessible oral health care. Together, we’re not just building a company; we’re transforming lives.

Let’s keep disrupting and dreaming big! ??