The Conversation (0)
Zero Candida Technologies Investor Kit
- Corporate info
- Insights
- Growth strategies
- Upcoming projects
GET YOUR FREE INVESTOR KIT
Zero Candida Technologies
Investor Insight
Zero Candida’s innovative technology poised to be a game-changer for women’s health presents a compelling investment case to gain exposure to the rapidly expanding fem-tech market.
Overview
Zero Candida (TSXV:ZCT) is a fem-tech pioneer, combining advanced artificial intelligence with non-drug diagnostics and personalized treatment modalities in a single device. Zero Candida offers an innovative, first-of-its-kind solution to the diagnosis and treatment of Candidiasis, a fungal infection causing irritation, discharge and intense itchiness of the vagina and the vulva.
Founded by a team of seasoned entrepreneurs and healthcare experts, Zero Candida addresses the significant unmet needs of the women’s health market. The device offers precision therapy by eliminating fungal infections with over 99.99 percent effectiveness in just three hours, a revolutionary improvement over existing treatments.
The fem-tech market is rapidly expanding, projected to reach nearly US$30 billion by 2032. Candidiasis represents a multi-billion-dollar market, with recurrence rates creating sustained demand for effective solutions. Zero Candida’s technology provides a scalable and adaptable platform that addresses both immediate treatment needs and long-term prevention.
Zero Candida is on track to complete clinical trials and file for FDA approval in 2025. The company is listed on the TSXV and the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, expanding its market presence in North America and Europe. With its innovative technology, Zero Candida is well-positioned to set new standards in women’s health management.
Company Highlights
- Zero Candida Technologies is a fem-tech company focused on developing a SMART diagnostic and therapeutic device aimed at eliminating vaginal candidiasis (commonly known as yeast infection), a condition that affects three out four women globally.
- Candidiasis a fungal infection causing irritation, discharge and intense itchiness of the vagina and the vulva. In several cases, the current treatment for Candidiasis has been ineffective.
- Zero Candida has completed proof-of-concept studies, and demonstrated near-complete fungal eradication with over 99.99 percent effectiveness in just three hours.
- Founded by a team of experienced entrepreneurs and healthcare experts, the company is addressing the significant unmet needs of the women’s health market.
- The fem-tech segment of the med tech market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 18.2 percent and is estimated to reach nearly US$30 billion by 2032. North America dominated the global fem-tech market with a share of 52.91 percent in 2023.
- The company has already patented this technology in South Africa, while additional filings for patent application in the US and EU are underway.
Key Technology
Zero Candida has developed a groundbreaking solution for vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC), commonly known as yeast infections. Their SMART vaginal diagnostic device utilizes blue light therapy to treat this widespread condition without drugs. This non-drug therapy addresses key issues associated with conventional antifungal medications, including reduced risk of drug resistance, minimized side effects, and potential for faster symptom relief
At the core of Zero Candida device use blue light therapy technology. The device employs blue light therapy at a 405 nm wavelength, which has shown remarkable efficacy in targeting Candida fungus. Clinical studies report a 99.99 percent success rate in fungal eradication within three hours of application.
Resembling a tampon for ease of use, the device incorporates temperature, pH, and image sensors. These work with an algorithm to assess the vaginal epithelium, allowing for personalized treatment. The integrated sensors enable the device to monitor treatment progress and signal when optimal vaginal conditions are restored.
Zero Candida's device is designed for convenient at-home use. It features Wi-Fi connectivity, enabling remote consultations and real-time monitoring of treatment progress.
The SMART diagnostic and therapeutic device offers a modular, scalable platform. Beyond candidiasis, the technology has potential applications in other fungal infections and personalized women's health management solutions.
Zero Candida has achieved recent key milestones, including:
- Completed proof-of-concept studies, demonstrating near-complete fungal eradication.
- Raised US$1.6 million in funding, enabling clinical trials and regulatory filings.
- Patent granted in South Africa, with additional filings in the U.S. and EU underway.
- Established partnerships with hospitals and medical experts across Europe and Israel for preclinical validation.
Leadership Team
Eli Ben Haroosh - CEO & Founder
Eli Ben Haroosh is a seasoned entrepreneur with extensive experience in global business operations. Previously, he served as president of the Israeli stock-exchange company Vonetize, and vice-president and CEO of Premier – Dead Sea, managing sales across 74 countries with nearly 1,000 sales points. He also holds leadership roles in multiple companies, including Mariana, focusing on cannabis research and development.
Dr. Asher Holzer - Director & Founder
Dr. Asher Holzer is a highly accomplished entrepreneur with over 30 years of experience in senior management within the medical equipment sector. He has founded and led several companies, including UroGen, InspireMD, BioSig and TheraCoat, some of which were listed on NASDAQ. Holzer holds a doctorate in nuclear physics from the Hebrew University.
Ehud Davidson - Chairman of the Board
Ehud Davidson brings extensive healthcare management expertise as the CEO of Clalit, Israel's largest health maintenance organization, holding 52 percent market share. He successfully led nationwide initiatives, including COVID-19 vaccination campaigns, and oversaw the treatment of the majority of Israeli patients across community and hospital settings.
Dr. Irene Zeitoun - COO & Chief Research Officer
Dr. Irene Zeitoun has over 20 years of managerial experience in biotech and pharmaceutical ventures. She has held key roles, including WW marketing director at Mindset BioPharmaceuticals, director of R&D at Ester Neurosciences, and project manager for the Israeli National Tissue Bank. Zeitoun’s expertise spans business development, operations and commercialization in the healthcare sector.
Asnat Walfisch - Clinical Board Chair
Asnat Walfisch is a distinguished medical professional with a prolific academic and clinical career. She has authored over 150 scientific publications in gynecology and fetal-maternal medicine, and previously served as the Head of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Hadassah Mt. Scopus. She is currently the head of the Helen Schneider Women’s Hospital at Rabin Medical Center.
Zero Candida Technologies:Pioneering Technology-driven, Innovative Solution for Non-drug Treatment of Candidiasis
Founded by a team of seasoned entrepreneurs and healthcare experts, Zero Candida (TSXV:ZCT) is a fem-tech pioneer, combining advanced artificial intelligence with non-drug diagnostics and personalized treatment modalities in a single device. The company developed an innovative, first-of-its-kind solution to the diagnosis and treatment of Candidiasis, a fungal infection causing irritation, discharge and intense itchiness of the vagina and the vulva. The device offers precision therapy by eliminating fungal infections with over 99.99 percent effectiveness in just three hours, a revolutionary improvement over existing treatments.
Zero Candida is on track to complete clinical trials and file for FDA approval in 2024 with its innovative technology.
Zero Candida's SMART vaginal diagnostic device utilizes blue light therapy to treat this widespread condition without drugs. This non-drug therapy addresses key issues associated with conventional antifungal medications, including reduced risk of drug resistance, minimized side effects, and potential for faster symptom relief
Company Highlights
- Zero Candida Technologies is a fem-tech company focused on developing a SMART diagnostic and therapeutic device aimed at eliminating vaginal candidiasis (commonly known as yeast infection), a condition that affects three out four women globally.
- Candidiasis a fungal infection causing irritation, discharge and intense itchiness of the vagina and the vulva. In several cases, the current treatment for Candidiasis has been ineffective.
- Zero Candida has completed proof-of-concept studies, and demonstrated near-complete fungal eradication with over 99.99 percent effectiveness in just three hours.
- Founded by a team of experienced entrepreneurs and healthcare experts, the company is addressing the significant unmet needs of the women’s health market.
- The fem-tech segment of the med tech market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 18.2 percent and is estimated to reach nearly US$30 billion by 2032. North America dominated the global fem-tech market with a share of 52.91 percent in 2023.
- The company has already patented this technology in South Africa, while additional filings for patent application in the US and EU are underway.
This Zero Candida profile is part of a paid investor education campaign.*
Click here to connect with Zero Candida (TSXV:CZT) to receive an Investor Presentation
AI Market 2024 Year-End Review
Competition heats up among AI heavyweights
As mentioned, major tech companies jumped headfirst into AI in 2024.
For its part, Google (NASDAQ:GOOGL) began the year by rebranding its Bard chatbot as Gemini. The February decision streamlined its AI products under a single brand, showcasing a move toward a more sophisticated and unified AI experience. Its newest interaction, Gemini 2.0, was released on December 11.
Meanwhile, Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) deepened its partnership with OpenAI, investing another US$750 million during an October funding round worth US$6.6 billion. This latest round brought the company behind ChatGPT to a total valuation of US$157 billion. According to SEC filings, Microsoft’s total investment in OpenAI has now reached US$13 billion.
NVIDIA (NASDAQ:NVDA), SoftBank (TSE:9434) and a handful of venture capital firms also participated in the round, but under the stipulation that OpenAI shift control of its dealings to a for-profit arm.
This sparked rumors that a potential initial public offering on the horizon.
Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL), notably missing from the list of investors who participated in OpenAI's October funding round, has opted for a more independent path, focusing on internal AI development.
At its annual developer conference from June 10 to 14, it unveiled Apple Intelligence for iOS18, saying it was coming to iPhone 16, iPadOS 18 and macOS Sequoia users. However, the company also shared plans to integrate ChatGPT in some products, like its voice-activated assistant Siri, as a supplemental layer on top of Apple Intelligence.
Apple performance, January 1 to December 17, 2024.
Chart via Google Finance.
The company's share price gained almost 8 percent by the end of the conference.
Apple Intelligence was released for qualifying models on October 28, and the newest software update, including ChatGPT for writing tools and Siri, was released on December 11.
OpenAI itself released GPT-4o on May 13, saying that it was optimized for multimodal tasks like analyzing audio and video. Later in the year, on September 12, the company previewed its first o1 model. OpenAI’s o1 series is designed to spend more time “thinking” before it responds and possesses advanced reasoning skills.
However, shortly after the model was released, The Information reported that o1 showed a slower rate of improvement compared to previous models, exposing potential limitations to continuous advancements in AI capabilities.
Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN), while less focused on consumer-facing AI products, invested heavily in building out its cloud infrastructure and allocated another US$4 billion to AI research company and OpenAI rival Anthropic on November 22. This brings Amazon’s total investment in Anthropic to US$8 billion. As part of this expanded partnership with Amazon, Anthropic also made Amazon Web Services its primary cloud provider.
Meta (NASDAQ:META) focused on integrating generative AI across its platforms in 2024, leading to enhancements like better ad targeting and content recommendations. The company also released the MTIA v2 chip, an improved version of its AI inference chip that is designed to handle the massive amount of data generated by Meta’s customer base. The newest version of Meta’s open-sourced large language model, Llama 3, was released on April 18.
Elon Musk’s AI company, xAI, upgraded its large language model Grok-2. A beta version of Grok-2 was released on August 13 and was made available to all X users on December 12. Grok-2 was trained on xAI’s supercomputer Colossus, which is powered by 100,000 NVIDIA graphics processing units (GPUs) and came online on September 11. The company held two US$6 billion funding rounds in 2024, and as of November 28 was valued at a staggering US$50 billion.
Hardware is king
Vertical integration gained momentum in 2024 as companies invested in more parts of the chip-making process.
NVIDIA maintained its dominance, attracting attention with outstanding earnings seasons and intermittently earning the title of the world’s most valuable company. The company set the stage for exponential further growth when it introduced its Blackwell architecture at the GPU Technology Conference in March.
However, the company has faced unexpected design hurdles that have delayed the debut of Blackwell GPUs. While no official release date was set, it was widely speculated that they would be available towards the end of 2024. A progress update will reportedly be announced at the Consumer Electronics Show in January.
NVIDIA performance, January 1 to December 17, 2024.
Chart via Google Finance.
Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) (NASDAQ:AMD), NVIDIA's most direct competitor, reported a 9 percent increase in revenue in Q2, driven by its MI300X AI chip. MI300X combines GPU and central processing unit capabilities into a single chip, giving a leg up over NVIDIA, which designs both chips separately to work together.
Also in 2024, AMD collaborated with a handful of software and hardware companies to develop a new AI accelerator standard that is capable of challenging NVIDIA's NVLink.
2024 presented chip designers with a challenge as customers like Apple and Google increasingly moved chip design in-house. Made by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation (TSMC) (NASDAQ:TSM), Apple’s A- and M-series chips feature a neural engine to enable on-device AI and powered a slew of new products released this year.
Google released its Tensor G4 chip, designed in collaboration with Broadcom (NASDAQ:AVGO) and manufactured by TSMC. The G4 chip powers Google’s refreshed lineup of Pixel devices, released on August 13.
The shifting trends resulted in TSMC emerging as an undisputed victor. The company reported outstanding revenue and profits in 2024, fueled by a surge in demand for powerful chips and its advanced manufacturing technologies.
Its share price hit an intraday high of US$211.93 on October 17 following its Q3 results, and it recorded an all-time high closing share price of US$205.19 that same day.
According to a December 9 report by Taipei-based market intelligence provider TrendForce, TSMC increased its share of the wafer foundry market to 65 percent in the third quarter.
TSMC performance, January 1 to December 17, 2024.
Chart via Google Finance.
Another chip company, Broadcom, successfully navigated 2024 by diversifying into software through its acquisition of VMware. Broadcom, which plays a crucial role in the semiconductor industry by designing and manufacturing chips that enable the realization of software objectives, reported record revenue for its 2024 fiscal year,
The rise was driven by strong demand for its semiconductor products and the successful integration of VMware. The company’s AI-related revenue more than tripled, and its quarterly dividend rose by 11 percent.
In contrast, Qualcomm (NASDAQ:QCOM), which remained largely focused on the hardware market this past year, appeared more vulnerable to the industry’s shifting tides.
Even industry giants like Intel (NASDAQ:INTC) faced their share of turbulence. While its foundry business struggled, Intel’s computer parts division did well, with its Core Ultra processors powering a lineup of AI-enabled laptops from Microsoft and Dell (NYSE:DELL). Dell also pushed into hybrid solutions and edge computing with its APEX portfolio.
AI hype pays dividends for tech giants
Despite a notable pullback in Q2 and Q3 due in part to investor concerns about the long-term returns of massive AI investments, 2024 was a year of strong financial performances for tech giants, as evidenced by their dividend payouts.
Meta announced cash dividend payments in May and September, while in Microsoft said in September that it would reward shareholders with a 10 percent increase to its quarterly dividend payment.
Alphabet also issued quarterly dividends for the first time in 2024, distributing payments three times.
It's worth noting that the initial surge in spending and subsequent pullback could have been influenced by a variety of factors, including hype cycles, macroeconomic conditions and evolving understandings of AI's capabilities and limitations.
Investor takeaway
Ultimately, despite occasional fluctuations and concerns, investor confidence in the tech sector remained strong throughout 2024, with funding continuing to flow. As of mid-December, shares of Microsoft were up over 21 percent year-to-date, while Alphabet was up by over 44 percent and NVIDIA was up an astonishing 166 percent.
In 2024, the AI sector experienced rapid advancements and fierce competition, driven by substantial investments from tech giants. As the technology continues to mature, the stage is set for continued innovation and disruption, promising an exciting future for AI and its applications.
Don’t forget to follow us @INN_Technology for real-time news updates!
Securities Disclosure: I, Meagen Seatter, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
Zero Candida Technologies Investor Kit
- Corporate info
- Insights
- Growth strategies
- Upcoming projects