Tvaster Genkalp, a molecular diagnostics startup, has raised $1.25 million in a Pre-Series A funding round led by Ideaspring Capital, with support from existing investors Invigo Softwares and liver transplant expert Prof. Mohamed Rela.

This investment will accelerate the expansion and commercialization of Episcreen Liver, a methylation-based liquid biopsy test designed for early liver cancer detection. Offering a non-invasive and highly accurate alternative for diagnosing Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC), the test has been validated with over 600 patient samples, achieving 90% sensitivity and specificity—far surpassing the 50% sensitivity of Alpha-Fetoprotein (AFP), the current standard for HCC screening. This breakthrough could improve early detection rates and enhance survival chances by over 70%.

With 900,000 new liver cancer cases annually, early detection remains critical, particularly in India, where one in five adults suffers from Chronic Liver Disease (CLD) due to factors like Fatty Liver Disease, Hepatitis B & C, and alcohol-related conditions.

Founded in 2021 by Dr. Srikar Raman and K Sreedurgalakshmi, Tvaster is dedicated to advancing molecular diagnostics. The company is also developing Episcreen Bile, an early detection test for Cholangiocarcinoma, a rare and aggressive bile duct cancer, and Episcreen HBResist, a test assessing chemotherapy resistance in pediatric hepatoblastoma.