When it comes to diagnosing heart disease – the world’s leading cause of death – speed and accuracy can save lives. Ligence, Lithuanian medtech innovator and a member of our Cardiovascular Therapies market group, is transforming how echocardiography exams are performed, empowering clinicians to diagnose faster and more precisely using artificial intelligence (AI).

Ligence’s software assists clinicians by automating cardiac measurements and report generation, so cardiologists can save time, improve accuracy, and provide better care for more patients. 

Ligence’s co–founder and CEO, Dr. Arnas Karužas, shared the company’s mission: “Since cardiology is the #1 killer in the world, we want to make cardiac diagnostics easier, simpler for doctors, and more accessible for patients. At its core, we want to transform cardiovascular diagnostics through AI-powered automation.” But the company’s “secret sauce” is more than just advanced algorithms. Arnas explained it in a nutshell: 

“We believe in the cause – we feel like we are trying to build something that can make a true difference in people’s lives.” 

This belief is supported by a rare blend of clinical expertise and technological depth: Ligence’s AI is built and refined in daily collaboration with cardiologists to ensure it fits seamlessly into real-world workflows.

Founders with a vision

Ligence was founded by physicians and engineers who experienced firsthand the challenges of cardiac ultrasound in clinical settings – and decided to fix them. Leading the team is Dr. Arnas Karužas, a cardiologist and PhD researcher who bridges medical needs with technological innovation. 

He is joined by Dr. Justinas Balčiūnas, a psychiatrist who serves as Chief Operating Officer and oversees operations, partnerships, and growth initiatives. Dr. Dovydas Matuliauskas, an emergency physician, drives business development and fundraising as Chief Business Development Officer, strengthening Ligence’s relationships with investors and partners around the world.

On the technological front, Dr. Antanas Kiziela, a psychiatrist and data scientist, designed the core AI architecture that powers Ligence’s automation engine. Dr. Karolis Šablauskas, a hematologist, ensures that product design aligns seamlessly with clinical environments and hospital workflows in his role as Chief Product Officer. 

Complementing the medical founders is Dmitrij Abolichin, the company’s Chief Technology Officer and former Director of Engineering at Vinted, who brings large-scale product and team-scaling experience to elevate Ligence’s technology to the next level.

Arnas emphasizes that the company’s success also depends on the dedication of its wider team. Today, Ligence’s international team extends beyond Lithuania, bringing together professionals from Spain, France, the United States, Belarus, and Ukraine. Arnas says: 

‘’While our leadership team provides strong guidance, our company’s true strength lies in its people. As a small but growing organization, every individual brings valuable knowledge, creativity, and experience that drive our success. [..] The international blend of cultures and perspectives [in our company] fuels innovation and strengthens our collective expertise.” 

Trust through validation

The journey hasn’t been without hurdles. “AI innovation moves fast, but clinical adoption moves carefully – and rightly so,” says Arnas. Earning clinicians’ trust required more than technical excellence; it demanded transparency, usability, and scientific rigor.

Ligence addressed these challenges by working directly with hospitals, publishing peer-reviewed studies, and involving cardiologists in product design from day one. “Of course,” Arnas adds, “it helps that as the company’s CEO, I am a cardiologist myself.” 

Ligence has achieved several major milestones that underscore both its scientific credibility and market readiness. Its product became the first ultrasound AI to receive the new CE mark, complemented by ISO certifications that ensure data security and quality standards.

A landmark study led by Dr. Kruno Sveric at the University Clinic of Technische Universität Dresden validated the fully automated Ligence Heart against human measurements and CT scans – demonstrating, for the first time, that AI outperformed humans in echocardiography. “Scientific evidence like that creates very strong momentum and motivation to continue growing for our company,” Arnas adds.

With a certified product and growing clinical trust, Ligence is expanding into the U.S. market, with further international growth planned for 2026.

EIC Scaling Club: a springboard for Ligence’s next chapter of growth

Joining the EIC Scaling Club marks a pivotal step in Ligence’s growth journey. “We joined EIC Scaling Club because we are entering our next growth stage – scaling from early clinical adoption to broader market commercialisation,” explains Arnas.

The EIC Scaling Club connects high-potential innovators with investors, mentors, and corporate partners – an ecosystem perfectly suited for Ligence’s next chapter. 

“It’s a way for us to accelerate expansion and learn from other startups who successfully crossed that gap from validated startup to global impact company.”

About the EIC Scaling Club

The EIC Scaling Club is a curated community where 120+ European deep tech scale-ups with the potential to build world-class businesses and solve major global challenges come together with investors, corporate innovators and other industry stakeholders to spur growth.

The top 120+ European deep tech companies will be carefully selected from a pool of high-growth scale-ups that have benefitted from EIC financial schemes, other European and national innovation programmes, and beyond.

The EIC Scaling Club is an EIC-funded initiative run in partnership by Tech Tour, Bpifrance (EuroQuity), Hello Tomorrow, Tech.eu (Webrazzi), EurA and IESE Business School.

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