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Explore6 Israeli Companies Innovating for CLL Patients
Health Tech
Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) is the most common leukemia in the Western world. For patients, it is often a long journey marked by complex treatments, intensive monitoring, and side effects that disrupt daily life. While advances in biological therapies have replaced chemotherapy for many, the clinical and logistical burdens of CLL treatment remain high.
That is exactly what the CLL Tech Challenge set out to change.
A collaboration between AbbVie Israel and Startup Nation Central, the challenge was launched to surface digital health solutions that could transform how CLL is managed. The goal is to reduce treatment burden, improve quality of life, and create a more seamless experience for both patients and physicians.
Nearly 450 people are diagnosed with CLL every year in Israel, most over the age of 70. As the disease often progresses slowly, patients may face years of medical monitoring, symptom management, and treatment decisions. Technologies that streamline early-stage treatment, support remote monitoring, or help manage side effects like fatigue and pain can have a lasting impact.
The challenge invited startups and entrepreneurs to bring forward solutions, including wearable symptom trackers, blood test analytics, remote care platforms, and tools that help patients maintain a stable quality of life during treatment. Submissions were evaluated by a cross-sector advisory committee that included clinical leaders, health tech investors, patient representatives, and experts from AbbVie and Startup Nation Central.
Six standout finalists were selected to pitch at the final event on July 1, 2025, where the had the opportunity to win up to 200,000 shekels to pilot their solution within Israel’s healthcare system.
This challenge is part of Startup Nation Central’s broader mission to connect global health needs with Israeli innovation and scale real-world solutions in sectors that matter. For AbbVie, it reflects a commitment to developing life-changing medicines and shaping the full patient journey alongside care teams and innovators.
As Avi Hasson, CEO of Startup Nation Central, put it: “The connection between breakthrough Israeli innovation and this complex medical challenge is not just possible, it is essential.”
Here are the six finalists and the technologies that may redefine how CLL care looks and feels for years to come.
- Belong.Life:
Trusted by top pharma, hospitals, and CROs, with over 2M patients, 2.5B data points, and active presence across 5 regions, Belong.Life is redefining digital health with two breakthrough AI solutions.
SmartClinicAI – optimizes onboarding, triage, and research, cutting wait times, easing staff burnout, and boosting clinic efficiency by up to 30%. AI Health Mentor is a customizable white-label platform that enables organizations to launch branded virtual mentors offering real-time, personalized support and education. Powered by proprietary GenAI engines like ProactiveAI and ARCH™, Belong’s trusted, scalable solutions deliver better outcomes, lower costs, and improved access, paving the way for a smarter, more connected healthcare experience. - BGU (CLx):
We propose developing a diagnostic kit based on an antibody-based immunoassay targeting patented, overexpressed biomarkers (up to 400-folds) in lymphocytes from CLL patients. A selected subset of these biomarkers can distinguish between stable patients requiring no treatment and those who later progress and require therapy. The proposed blood test will enable: (a) early detection of CLL; (b) distinguish between stable and rapidly progressing patients; (c) monitoring treatment response; and (d) generating a diagnostic score to guide clinical decisions-making. Successful implementation of this tool is expected to greatly improve clinical CLL outcomes and patient response to therapy, advancing CLL care into precision medicine era. - EPILOG:
Epilog is an AI-enhanced, human-led care navigation platform that leverages behavioral science, predictive algorithms, and conversational AI to support seriously ill patients across the treatment journey. Our technology identifies the right time to introduce palliative care and other medical interventions and guides patients through those transitions, maintaining high engagement (75%+ above 30 days; 60%+ above 150 days). Epilog improves medication adherence, supports shared decision-making, and helps align advanced therapies with those who truly benefit. For pharma and payers, this ensures smarter resource allocation: enabling access to high-cost medications when appropriate, while guiding others to earlier, compassionate alternatives, improving outcomes and lowering total cost of care by $20K+ per patient. - XOLTAR:
XOLTAR is an AI-powered patient relationship platform that supports cancer patients beyond the clinic. Our humanlike AI companions deliver personalized evidence-based behavioral video sessions, support, nudges, and journaling, helping patients stay engaged, emotionally supported, and adherent to treatment. Designed to scale what nurses do best, XOLTAR improves patient outcomes while reducing burden on care teams. With deep personalization in voice, culture, and appearance, each AI adapts to the patient’s journey. XOLTAR is already trusted by leading pharma and hospitals worldwide to drive action, capture real-world data, and extend support between visits – exactly when patients need it most. - DATOS HEALTH:
Datos Health is a leading provider of an AI driven automated Remote and Hybrid Care platform designed to enable personalized healthcare at scale. By empowering care teams to configure, automate, and monitor patient care journeys without coding, Datos reduces manual workflows and enhances patient engagement and outcomes. Its no-code approach allows fast deployment of clinical care pathways, tailored to diverse patients and conditions, while ensuring high scalability and regulatory compliance. - XR HEALTH
XRHealth is redefining rehabilitation by turning extended reality into a prescription-grade therapy suite. Our FDA-, CE-, TGA-, and AMAR-registered platform bundles 20+ evidence-based medical apps and 150+ immersive environments into a plug-and-play headset, giving clinicians a ten-fold boost in capacity while patients engage from home or clinic. Already, more than 2,000 therapists have guided over 50,000 patients through one million VR therapy sessions, feeding real-time data into our AI engine for truly personalized care. Strategic acquisitions such as RealizedCare and Amelia Virtual Care add AI-powered triage and mental-health expertise, cementing XRHealth as the world’s largest AI-driven therapeutic XR platform.
The CLL Tech Challenge is a clear example of what happens when medical expertise meets technological ingenuity, with Startup Nation Central serving as the bridge between them. By connecting AbbVie’s global healthcare leadership with Israel’s deep pool of digital health innovators, the challenge creates space for high-impact collaboration.
This is where Israeli tech thrives, at the intersection of urgent need, agile thinking, and real-world implementation. As the six finalists take the stage, the potential goes far beyond CLL. It is a glimpse into how focused, cross-sector partnerships can surface solutions that are not only innovative, but scalable and ready to improve lives.