Here's the transcript from today's meeting with BlinkLab (ASX:BB1) co-founder and COO Anton Uvarov. (The CEO is in the Netherlands and didnt realise the timezone when he accepted the interview).

BlinkLab Transcript.pdf

Still, Anton clearly knew the business well and laid out the key insights well. Below are some bullet points from the discussion from my mate chatGPT. Before that, my general view is that the technology seems super interesting and is clearly aimed at a very large addressable market and, if it delivers, one that should vastly accelerate diagnosis of conditions like ADHD and Autism, as well as save clinicians and insurers some time and money (always a nice selling point). But, as Anton said, it's all about execution now and the current FDA trial is a "binary outcome" (the business is sunk if it fails). If it does pass, and of course Anton thinks it will, there's still going to be a lot of work in the commercialisation. Still, IF the FDA hurdle is cleared, AND they commercialise well, this is likely a billion dollar plus company in years to come.

Problem & Purpose

• BlinkLab aims to bring diagnosis of neurodevelopmental conditions like autism and ADHD earlier, ideally around age 2, rather than the typical 4–5 years.
• Early detection enables effective interventions (like ABA therapy), which can significantly improve long-term outcomes and reduce lifetime care costs.

Technology & Approach

• The BlinkLab Dx1 app uses a smartphone camera to measure involuntary micro-reflexes (e.g., blinking, head movement) in response to stimuli.
• These reflexes act as digital biomarkers; the system employs AI and supervised machine learning to detect diagnostic patterns.
• The solution digitizes and automates well-established clinical tests that were previously cumbersome and manually analysed.
• Currently tracks 400+ facial features per session; over time, this data helps refine and expand their diagnostic capabilities.

Moats & IP

• BlinkLab holds 7+ patents covering its biomarkers and testing methodology.
• Its data advantage compounds over time—each test generates thousands of data points, enabling continuous model refinement.
• As usage scales, so does their proprietary dataset and clinical insight, creating barriers to entry for competitors.

Milestones & Clinical Progress

• Currently conducting the largest U.S. digital autism diagnostic study, with 10+ prestigious sites being onboarded.
• Targeting FDA 510(k) clearance for autism in 2026, followed by ADHD.
• A large European ADHD study is also underway, with data expected shortly to inform a U.S. ADHD study design.

Go-To-Market & Reimbursement

• Strategy focuses on primary care physicians for early screening—leveraging their scale and regular interaction with children.
• Goal is to obtain reimbursement codes from CMS post-FDA clearance; this is crucial to avoid out-of-pocket costs for families.
• BlinkLab is also educating clinicians by involving key opinion leaders and top clinical centres during the trials.

Business Model

• Initially a per-use model (e.g., per screening visit), aligned with U.S. pediatric guidelines recommending autism checks at 18 and 24 months.
• Potential for future recurring revenue via therapy monitoring, allowing clinicians to track progress in real-time.
• Scalable by design—no special hardware, just an app using iPhones’ built-in capabilities.

Thanks @SayWhatAgain for suggesting the company, and for some excellent questions.