Bio: Dani Marques is the Co-Founder and CEO of SkinCheck, an AI-powered platform democratizing access to dermatological care and early skin cancer detection. During his undergrad, Dani founded Sky Ventures, Oklahoma’s first student-focused incubator and venture fund, which led to innovation ecosystem development work in New Zealand. His passion for healthcare, ignited by supporting Julian Abhari’s research, drives his commitment to revolutionizing health accessibility. SkinCheck represents his second venture in founding a healthcare company, driven by a steadfast dedication to global health improvement.

Org Info: SkinCheck is a digital health startup committed to democratizing access to dermatological care and early skin cancer detection, providing a first-of-its-kind mobile screening tool powered by AI/ML and computer vision that works for people of all skin tones. With over 125,000 users worldwide, we help individuals detect skin cancer early and expedite their access to treatment by seamlessly connecting them to Tele-dermatologists and dermatology clinics while giving providers a tool to triage and enhance patient treatment.

What motivated you to pursue your current work?

Our initial inspiration for launching SkinCheck was driven by a close family member’s battle with melanoma, where delays in diagnosis and treatment underscored the critical need for accessible dermatological care. SkinCheck aims to bridge this gap by offering early skin cancer detection and streamlined access to specialized care. Our ongoing commitment is fueled by the impactful stories and lives transformed by our technology, reinforcing our dedication to advancing healthcare accessibility and outcomes.

What distinct value does your work bring to the digital health field?

Every day, over 9,500 people are diagnosed with skin cancer in the U.S., making it the most common cancer but highly preventable. At SkinCheck, we bridge the gap by offering a mobile AI-powered solution that ensures timely access to dermatological care. Our technology identifies skin abnormalities early and connects users with tele-dermatologists, addressing the critical need for early intervention. By empowering users and healthcare providers, SkinCheck not only improves health outcomes but also aims to reduce the $8.1 billion annual treatment cost in the U.S., transforming the landscape of skin cancer detection and dermatological care.

How does your work impact your target end-users or stakeholders?

SkinCheck transforms dermatological care by providing users with timely access to expert evaluations and early detection of skin issues. Our AI-powered platform enables individuals to conduct preliminary skin assessments, facilitating early intervention and better management of potential conditions. For healthcare providers, we streamline patient triage and enhance diagnostic accuracy. By integrating seamlessly with existing care workflows, we support efficient, proactive management of skin health and empower both users and providers with actionable insights for improved outcomes.

What is one exciting update or near-term opportunity that you would like to share with the digital health community?

SkinCheck is thrilled to announce our breakthrough in AI/ML skin cancer detection. We’ve developed the world’s first visual AI solution that accurately detects skin cancer across all skin tones, matching the diagnostic accuracy of expert dermatologists. This innovation is the result of years of research focused on mitigating racial biases, leading to two patents for our novel methodology. We’re excited to introduce this technology to Latin America and are progressing through U.S. regulatory pathways to expand its availability, aiming to make early, equitable skin cancer detection a global standard.