Preventicus

What Preventicus does

Preventicus GmbH is a Jena, Germany-based digital health company founded in 2014 by Dr. Thomas Hübner that develops smartphone-driven, photoplethysmography (PPG)-based solutions for early detection of cardiac rhythm disorders, with a primary focus on atrial fibrillation as a modifiable risk factor for stroke. Its core product, the Preventicus Heartbeats app, uses the smartphone camera and flash (no additional hardware) to capture pulse wave signals and runs a proprietary algorithm reported at ~96% accuracy and ~99% positive predictive value for detecting absolute arrhythmia suggestive of atrial fibrillation, as well as extrasystoles, bradycardia, and tachycardia; the app is a certified CE Class IIa medical device under EU MDR 2017/745, with the company ISO 13485 certified. The platform is complemented by Preventicus 360° (Coach), a multi-domain cardiovascular health profile, Preventicus Nightwatch for overnight monitoring, and an optional Telecare Center Ulm service for medical-technical verification of measurements.

The company operates a hybrid B2C and B2B2C business model. Consumer revenue comes from freemium app subscriptions (Classic and Value 360 tiers) sold via the Apple App Store and Google Play, with Preventicus 360° offered as a premium add-on. B2B2C revenue is generated through integrated care programmes (notably RhythmusLeben) deployed with German statutory health insurers (GKV) under §140a SGB V; the GWQ ServicePlus AG partnership provides a single contract framework reaching all GKV insurers, and 10 statutory health insurers — including Merck BKK (first partner, 2020), IKK Südwest, and BIG direkt gesund — currently sponsor the app free of charge for members aged 55+. Clinical follow-up is delivered through a contracted cardiologist network coordinated with the Servicegesellschaft des Bundesverbandes Niedergelassener Kardiologen, providing 14-day telemetry ECG follow-up within 2 weeks of suspicious measurements, with Telecare Center Ulm providing secondary rhythmological verification.

Non-dilutive funding has come from EU Horizon2020 grants, including SME Instruments Phase II (~$4.05M in 2018) supporting the RedStroke study across 7 European countries, and earlier seed funding from HTGF and Born2Grow in 2014. The eBRAVE-AF study conducted with LMU Munich Clinic (5,551 participants, published in Nature Medicine) demonstrated more than double the detection rate of treatable atrial fibrillation versus conventional care, and Preventicus is a partner in the Herz-Hirn-Allianz targeting a 30% reduction in cardiovascular events by 2030. The company is privately held, has 11–50 employees, and is led by co-Managing Directors Dr. Thomas Hübner (founder/CEO) and Alexander Stanke.

Name

Preventicus

Legal name

Preventicus GmbH

Website

https://preventicus.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Preventicus GmbH develops a CE-marked, smartphone-camera-based PPG app (Preventicus Heartbeats) that detects atrial fibrillation and other cardiac rhythm disorders, serving German statutory health insurers, contracted cardiologists, and adults aged 55+ at risk of stroke via integrated care programmes.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Digital Health / Cardiac Rhythm Screening Software

NAICS

Electromedical and Electrotherapeutic Apparatus Manufacturing (334510)

SIC

Electromedical & Electrotherapeutic Apparatus (3845)

akta.pro primary industry

Cardiology Telemedicine Platforms (HLALAGAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Clinical-Grade Vital Signs Monitoring (ECG, SpO2, BP, Temp, Respiration) (HLACAPAI), ECG/EKG & Heart Rhythm Monitors (Consumer) (CRACAQAC), Home Patient Monitoring & Telehealth Devices (Vitals, Fall Detection, PERS) (HSABAKAE)

Keywords

• Cardiac rhythm monitoring
• Atrial fibrillation detection
• Digital health screening
• Medical mobile apps
• Stroke prevention technology

Headquarters

HQ city

Jena

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. App Subscription (Classic Package): Paid subscription model offering 1- and 5-minute measurements with detailed analysis, ability to create/save/send detailed analysis reports, access to report archive, access to regular knowledge content, and access to simple trend analysis. Billed monthly or semi-annually. Requires registration and purchase through app stores.
2. App Subscription (Value 360 Package): Premium subscription tier adding monthly review of suspicious measurements by medical personnel through Telecare Center, access to Preventicus 360° comprehensive health profile and cardiovascular risk check, feedback and individual recommendations, and health index with progress tracking. Billed as add-on to Classic package or as bundle.
3. Telecare Services (Third-Party): Telecare Center Ulm GmbH provides paid cardiorhythmological-technical (KRT) analysis services where medical technical personnel validate signal quality and analyze rhythmological abnormalities. Pricing per KRT or in packages; Preventicus acts as intermediary and contract partner.
4. B2B Care Program Fees (Health Insurance): Preventicus Versorgungsmanagement operates as a full-service provider implementing cardiology care programs for health insurers. Revenue derived from per-member or per-program fees negotiated with statutory health insurers (e.g., via GWQ ServicePlus AG). Programs include screening and diagnosis of atrial fibrillation, with cost savings for insurers from avoided strokes exceeding program costs.
5. Preventicus 360° / Coach (Add-on Module): Paid add-on module bundled with full version, offering comprehensive health profile across heart health, circulation, metabolism, well-being, and mobility. Requires acceptance of additional terms and data protection consent. Sold as add-on to existing subscription.
6. European Research Grants (Horizon2020): EU-funded research grants under Horizon2020 programme (including SME Instruments Phase II) supporting the RedStroke study across 7 European countries. Non-dilutive funding supporting clinical validation and European expansion.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Preventicus develops and sells a smartphone-based medical device application (Preventicus Heartbeats) that uses the phone's camera to capture and analyze pulse wave signals via proprietary photoplethysmography (PPG) algorithms for early detection of atrial fibrillation and other cardiac rhythm disorders. The company wraps this core screening capability with integrated care programs (RhythmusLeben), telecare verification services, health-insurer care management tools (Preventicus Caresafe), and an overnight monitoring app (Preventicus Nightwatch) to deliver end-to-end stroke prevention pathways for consumers, cardiologists, and statutory health insurers.

Product overview

Preventicus offers a platform-based portfolio centered on the Preventicus Heartbeats app as the core measurement tool, with multiple subscription tiers and add-on modules. The main product Preventicus Heartbeats detects heart rhythm disorders via smartphone camera, forming the foundation for higher-tier offerings. The Value 360 package adds access to Preventicus 360° (also called Preventicus Coach), a comprehensive cardiovascular health coach providing risk assessments across heart health, circulation, metabolism, well-being, and mobility. Telecare Services provides optional professional verification of measurements through a third-party telecare center. The separate Preventicus Nightwatch app handles overnight monitoring. The RhythmusLeben care program bundles these technologies into an integrated care pathway with health insurance coverage, cardiologist networks, and 14-day telemetry ECG follow-up. Preventicus Caresafe serves the health insurance care management segment.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Preventicus Heartbeats: Primary app for detecting heart rhythm disorders (atrial fibrillation) using smartphone camera with ECG-comparable accuracy.
• Preventicus 360°
• Preventicus Nightwatch
• RhythmusLeben
• Preventicus Caresafe
• finger-zeigen.de

Products and services

• Preventicus Heartbeats Primary mobile app for detecting heart rhythm disorders (atrial fibrillation, extrasystoles, bradycardia, tachycardia) using smartphone camera-based PPG pulse wave measurement with ECG-comparable accuracy. Supports 1-minute and 5-minute measurements with detailed analysis reports and PDF heartbeat-by-heartbeat output. Distributed via freemium model in Apple App Store and Google Play; CE Class IIa certified medical device (MDR 2017/745, ISO 13485).
• Preventicus Nightwatch Separate mobile application for overnight heart rhythm monitoring.
• Telecare Services (Cardiorhythmological-Technical / KRT Analysis)
• RhythmusLeben (Versorgungsprogramm) Comprehensive care program (Versorgungsprogramm) integrating Preventicus Heartbeats app with telemedical platforms, contracted cardiologist network, and 14-day telemetry ECG for confirmed diagnosis. Offered as §140a SGB V special care through statutory health insurers; delivered via Preventicus Versorgungsmanagement.
• Preventicus Caresafe

Quantifiable outcome

• More than doubled detection rate of treatable atrial fibrillation compared to conventional care (eBRAVE-AF study, LMU Munich Clinic, Nature Medicine)
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

AI capability4 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• BIG direkt gesundcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 22 May 2025BIG direkt gesund is the first statutory health insurer to offer Preventicus 360° (digital cardiovascular health coach) integrated into the Preventicus Heartbeats app. The partnership extends the existing care model with comprehensive cardiovascular risk management.
• Herz-Hirn-Allianz (Heart-Brain Alliance)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 September 2022Preventicus is a partner of the Herz-Hirn-Allianz, an alliance of medical societies, patient organizations, and pharmaceutical/medical device manufacturers working to reduce cardiovascular events by 30% by 2030. Preventicus contributes expertise in digital and telemedicine-supported care concepts.
• University Hospital Eppendorf (UKE)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 July 2022The University Hospital Eppendorf partnered with Preventicus on the Smart in OAC study examining the benefits of measurement bracelets for atrial fibrillation screening. The study evaluates telemedical concepts in clinical trials, contributing to Preventicus's evidence base.
• IKK SüdwestcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 9 July 2021IKK Südwest partnered with Preventicus on a new prevention programme (July 2021) to reduce strokes among its insured population in Southwest Germany. The programme offers systematic atrial fibrillation screening using Preventicus Heartbeats with integrated cardiologist follow-up.
• Merck BKKcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 7 November 2020Merck BKK is the first statutory health insurer in Germany to launch the RhythmusLeben care programme (November 2020), providing Preventicus Heartbeats free to members aged 55+. The programme follows the entire patient journey from initial screening to cardiologist referral for those with suspicious measurements.
• GWQ ServicePlus AGcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGWQ ServicePlus AG is a service partner enabling all German statutory health insurers (GKV) to participate in Preventicus care programmes through a standardized contract framework. This partnership provides Preventicus with access to the entire German statutory health insurance market, covering approximately 90% of the German population.
• Servicegesellschaft des Bundesverbandes Niedergelassener Kardiologen (SGBK)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThe service company of the Federal Association of Resident Cardiologists supports the nationwide rollout of Preventicus care programmes by connecting contracted cardiologists into the RhythmusLeben programme. Provides physician network infrastructure for clinical follow-up of patients with suspicious measurements.
• European Union (Horizon2020)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerPreventicus receives major funding support from the European Union under two Horizon2020 projects, including the SME Instruments Phase II. The EU also supports the RedStroke study (Reducing Strokes in Europe), one of the largest atrial fibrillation screening studies, running simultaneously in 7 European countries.
• Telecare Center Ulm GmbHcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerTelecare Center Ulm GmbH provides cardiorhythmological-technical (KRT) analysis services for Preventicus Heartbeats users. Medical technical personnel validate signal quality, analyze rhythmological abnormalities that the app cannot detect, and provide extended result reports with physician guidance. Service available to full-version users for additional fee.
• LMU Munich Clinic (Klinikum der LMU München)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerLMU Munich Clinic conducted the independent eBRAVE-AF study validating Preventicus's smartphone-based screening strategy. Study led by Prof. Dr. Axel Bauer (Medizinische Universität Innsbruck), results presented at ESC congress and published in Nature Medicine. Study confirmed digital screening more than doubles detection rate vs. conventional care.
• University of Bern (Swiss-AF Cohort)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe University of Bern's Swiss-AF cohort study (2,411 patients) found 17.4% of atrial fibrillation patients also had diabetes, with asymptomatic AF disproportionately common in diabetes patients. Study findings support targeted Preventicus screening for diabetes patients aged 55+.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• iRhythm Technologies: iRhythm's Zio long-term continuous cardiac monitoring patch is a clinically validated, prescribed ambulatory ECG service for arrhythmia detection. It serves the same physician-prescribed diagnostic pathway that follows a positive Preventicus screen.
• Philips (Cardiologs / BioTel): Philips, through BioTel and Cardiologs, offers AI-driven cardiac rhythm diagnostics and remote monitoring services used by hospitals and insurers. It competes for the cardiology and payer relationships that anchor Preventicus' RhythmusLeben programme.
• Fitbit / Google: Fitbit's PPG-based irregular rhythm feature, now under Google, delivers AF screening to tens of millions of wearable users globally. It is a broad incumbent with the consumer reach and device ecosystem that Preventicus must compete against for direct adoption.
• Apple (Apple Watch ECG / Heart Rhythm Notifications): Apple Watch ships native ECG recording and irregular rhythm notifications using PPG on hardware consumers already own. While not a medical-device-only business, it competes for consumer AF screening mindshare and increasingly for insurer partnerships.

Emerging players

• Qardio: Qardio offers connected blood pressure, ECG and rhythm monitoring products aimed at consumers and clinicians. It overlaps with Preventicus on smartphone-based cardiovascular screening and chronic care monitoring.
• Withings: Withings combines connected health devices (watches, blood pressure monitors, scales) with a Health Mate app and ECG/PPG-based AF detection capabilities. It is comparable as a consumer-grade, smartphone-centric cardiac monitoring player expanding into chronic disease management.
• Sanolla: Sanolla develops AI-enabled stethoscopes and digital auscultation devices with cardiac and respiratory diagnostic capabilities. It is a niche hardware-AI player in the same digital cardiac diagnostics category as Preventicus.
• Heartbeat Health: Heartbeat Health is a telehealth cardiology platform combining remote rhythm monitoring with virtual cardiologist consultations. It mirrors Preventicus' integrated screening-to-cardiologist care model in the US market.

Direct peers

• AliveCor: AliveCor's KardiaMobile is the closest direct competitor: a smartphone-compatible single-lead ECG and app for AF detection, prescribed by physicians and covered by several US insurers. Like Preventicus, it targets consumers and clinicians with a clinically validated, FDA-cleared, reimbursement-supported AF screening workflow.
• FibriCheck: FibriCheck offers a PPG-based smartphone app for on-demand AF detection and integrates with health insurers and hospitals across Europe. It is a near-direct comparable in technology (smartphone PPG), regulatory status (CE-marked medical device), and B2B2C go-to-market with healthcare providers and payers.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/_preventicus
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCyIAIzFlLPrBTXf4alJPHlQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/preventicusheartbeats
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/preventicus

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 records

Investors4 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Preventicus