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ABOUT US
You can count with us!
Ongo Vettech is a venture capital-backed startup that has developed the Ongo portable CASA for breeders and veterinary reproduction specialist. Our team of experts in computer imaging and data science are dedicated to improving the applicability and accuracy of object detection and tracking in video-streamed datasets such as computer-aided semen analysis. You can count on us and count with us.
THE ONGO STORY
Original product idea: MFL202M
How it started
It all started at Microfluidlabs - a reproduction research and development company - and the basic concept was to translate microfluidics into reproduction tools.
Microfluidlabs headquartered on KFKI Campus of Hungarian Academy of Sciences (HAS) which provided a unique access to research facilities and talented science professionals. Clinical tests has been conducted at our research facility in Gyongyos.
Original product idea (codename: MFL202M) consisted of a female reproductive tract microfluidic chamber combined with portable computer assisted semen analysis (CASA) system.
Sperm motility patterns measurement in this "smart" chamber could have predicted fertility more accurately compared to passive slides.
Early market validation of MFL202M revealed high demand for an affordable portable standard CASA system but no willingness to pay for a pricey disposable chamber on animal breeding and veterinary market.
Product development pivoted to a simplified easy-to-use, portable CASA systems combined 20 micron two chambers disposable chips as a source of repeated revenue. Clinical tests against desktop CASA system resulted acceptable agreements calculated by Bland-Altman statistics.
Smart chamber development reserved for human market product extension.
ONGO Spermtest versions
Making a manufacturing ready product:
After successful proof-of-concept validation, the Company moved to Karolina street Campus of HAS housing other biotech startups. We partnered with Z Elektronika (Pecs) to turn MFL202M into a manufacturing ready product. Parallel to that, we contracted for glass slide production and for development of slide authentication. We organised multi centric (Univetmed, Vienna; Research Institute for Animal Breeding, Herceghalom) clinical studies to independently validate our mobile CASA system against gold standard in pig and horse breeding. These cooperation resulted in several scientific publication backing our device applicability.
Ongo Sperm Test launched
We submitted patent applications in Hungary, in the USA and globally. We branded MFL202M as Ongo Sperm Test. We've created owned online media channel as ongospermtest.com and corresponding social media accounts. Ongo has been trade marked in Hungary and EU so far. As a part of product launch we attended ESDAR (European Society of Domestic Animal Reproduction) Conference and biannual EUROTIER Trade Show in Hannover. Both event generated sales, distributor leads.
First distributor contracts:
We've already closed a poultry/ dairy distribution agreement in Pakistan. Meanwhile we moved our Gyongyos facility to Debrecen and reorganised as a customer service center.
Exploring artificial intelligence in artificial insemination
As a part of Ongo development, we have started to build a unique paired video database of bull, boar, stallion, dog and poultry sperm samples. Thousands of records allows us to refine our CASA technology applying data science methodology.
This data asset intended to use for better semen quality assessment using machine learning and competitive service offering to our customers via our Ongo Cloud. We accumulate a special knowledge in understanding of sperm motility patterns which secure us a competitive position in semen quality assessment.