Innovation Conversation: Breath Analysis, AI, and the Future of MedTech with Sven Jungmann

In this episode of Innovation Conversation, host Ricardo Pascual sits down with Sven Jungmann, CEO of Halitus, to explore the potential of breath analysis in healthcare and the broader landscape of MedTech innovation. Sven shares the complexities of breath testing technology, funding challenges, and why the healthcare industry needs more first-principles thinking and risk-taking.

They dive into:

• How breath analysis can offer non-invasive insights into various health conditions.
• The scientific and technical challenges of analyzing molecules in human breath.
• Differences in funding landscapes between Europe and the US — and why risk-taking is essential for healthcare innovation.
• The critical role of diagnostics and preventive medicine in improving patient outcomes.
• How AI can revolutionize healthcare by optimizing data analysis and predicting disease complications.
• The promise of breath testing as an alternative to traditional diagnostic methods.
• Limitations of using dogs for disease detection and why scalable tech solutions are needed.
• The importance of serendipitous discoveries and collaboration in driving MedTech breakthroughs.
• Exciting developments in physical MedTech products and the future of personalized, data-driven medicine.

Tune in for a thought-provoking conversation about the intersection of deep science, innovation, and entrepreneurship in healthcare.

Brought to you by Startup Summit 2025 — Europe’s leading startup and investor summit, happening September 18–19, 2025, in Lisbon.

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🕒 Chapters 00:00 — Introduction to Sven Jungmann and Halitus 03:14 — The Promise and Challenges of Breath Analysis 10:27 — Funding and Grant Challenges: Europe vs. US 14:52 — First Principles and Healthcare Innovation 18:40 — Changes in Drug Manufacturing and Sales Models 23:12 — The Rise of Diagnostics and Preventive Medicine 28:55 — AI’s Role in Healthcare Innovation 33:07 — Breath Testing for Disease Detection 37:45 — Challenges of Implementing AI in Healthcare 41:30 — Limitations of Using Dogs for Disease Detection 44:05 — Serendipity and Collaboration in Medical Breakthroughs 48:20 — The Gratification of Building Physical MedTech Products 52:19 — The Future of MedTech: Personalized and Data-Driven Medicine