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YEAR ONE IMPACT REPORT
Table of Contents

The Blue Box

thebluebox.ai
The Blue Box
A new gold standard in breast cancer screening.
UN Sustainable Development Goals
The Blue Box is an affordable, AI‑powered breast cancer screening tool that uses metabolomics to enable early, non‑invasive detection and expand global access. It’s setting a new gold standard in screening, starting with underserved populations. Designed to complement mammography, it’s accessible, scalable, and built to help transform early detection worldwide.

Problem

Breast cancer remains a leading cause of cancer-related death, particularly among women under 40—and disproportionately among African heritage women. Despite progress in screening programs, early detection for women aged 20–45 is still limited due to the absence of routine screening.
Early diagnosis is key to reducing metastasis risk and enabling less aggressive, more targeted treatments. Yet mammography—the standard screening method—is expensive, uncomfortable, and inaccessible to many. Its effectiveness is also reduced in younger and Black women, who tend to have denser breast tissue that makes cancer harder to detect and elevates their risk.

Solution

BlueBox is developing a non-invasive, urine-based breast cancer screening device that leverages advanced AI algorithms and electronic nose (e-nose) technology.
Designed as a radiation-free, affordable alternative to mammography, it aims to improve early detection—especially for young women with fibrous breast tissue.
With global accessibility at its core, BlueBox has the potential to transform breast cancer screening for millions of women worldwide.

The Blue Box Impact Overview

Breast cancer triggers inflammatory processes that produce circulating metabolites, some of which are excreted in urine. These decomposition products create a detectable biochemical signature, offering a non‑invasive biomarker for early‑stage disease. By analysing urine samples, the system aims to identify these signals earlier and more accessibly than traditional imaging.

The solution combines specialised hardware, cloud processing, and machine learning. The e‑nose sensor array captures and optimises the urine “smellprint,” which is transmitted via a companion app for cloud‑based analysis. A machine‑learning model then classifies samples on a 0–1 scale, with values above 0.5 indicating a positive result. Validation studies support its potential reliability. Progress is measured through clinical trial recruitment, manufacturing readiness, and regulatory documentation for CE Mark submission.
The intended impact is a commercial‑ready, urine‑based breast cancer detection system that expands access to screening, reduces global mortality, and helps address health inequities through earlier, non‑invasive diagnosis.

Impact KPIs

Impact Measurement & Management (IMM) Status
GREEN

The Blue Box set these KPI targets to be achieved within three years. After five quarters, the company has reached 43%, 56%, and 64% respectively.

KPI 1
Samples collected for pre-clinical phase
KPI 2
Manufacturing Readiness 
(# signed mfg agreements)
KPI 3
Regulatory Approvals 
(% of documentation readiness)

Impact Measurement & Management Status Key

  • GREEN

    Green Tag: Monitoring Framework Set

    Fully Set Up & Active Insights: Portfolio companies marked in green, have fully set up their Impact KPI framework. We provide comprehensive insights into their metrics and verified impact outcomes.

  • BLUE

    Blue Tag: KPI Target Set

    Data Collection & Target Calibration: Portfolio companies marked in blue are actively collecting data points to set accurate, realistic targets for their Impact KPIs.

  • ORANGE

    Orange Tag: Early Stage & Onboarding

    Deal Closed, IAC Endorsed, KPIs Set: Portfolio companies marked in orange are at the beginning of the IMM process, having only recently joined our portfolio. They have established initial KPI alignment with the investment team and with guidance from our Impact Advisory Committee (IAC).