Delee

Delee has created the CytoCatch, a blood-testing device for the early diagnosis of cancer.

This device isolates what are called circulating tumor cells, or “CTCs,” from the blood. According to Grand View Research, by 2027, the global market for analyzing CTCs is projected to surpass $18 billion.

Unlike other devices, CytoCatch possesses the required sensitivity and specificity needed to analyze the CTC’s genetic features and biomarkers. This facilitates the early detection of cancer and enables physicians to create personalized treatments.

Delee’s notable investors include Y Combinator and StartX. The company has built a commercial version of its device, and aims to begin sales by Q4 2022.

Team Background

Alejandro Abarca - Co-Founder & CTO

Alejandro has extensive experience developing medical devices.

During his career, he has created a microfluidic device for the isolation of rare cell subpopulations, methods for embedding metal electrodes into thermoplastics, and an automated imaging system to study cellular properties.

Along with Juan, he co-created the CytoCatch system, and worked for Zen Fluidics, a medical company developing microfluidic automation systems for applications in the life sciences, biotech, and chemistry markets.

Juan Felipe Yee - Co-Founder & COO

Juan has spent more than 10 years developing medical devices and biosensors, and is the co-creator of the CytoCatch device.

Before Delee, he co-founded SEMKA Biomedical Technologies, a biotech research company, during which time he also collaborated with the Biomedical Engineering Group at Monterrey Institute of Technology.

He spent two years before that as a research assistant at Monterrey Institute in the school’s Sensors and Devices Research Group, and began his career as a clinical engineer with the State of Mexico’s Health Services Division.

Juan earned a Bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Engineering and a Master’s degree in Electronic Engineering from the Monterrey Institute of Technology.

Joost Leeflang - Director

Joost was Senior Vice President of the Central and Eastern European Divisions of Philips Electronics (NYSE: PHG), and before that was CEO and General Manager of Philips Electronics’ Healthcare & Consumer Lifestyle Division.

Throughout his career, he has represented the medical imaging and healthcare industries at the European Trade Association, and earned a Master’s degree in Business Economics at the University of Groningen. He also completed an Executive Program in Strategy and Organization at Stanford Business School.

Liza Velarde - Co-Founder & CEO

Prior to starting Delee, Liza was co-founder & CEO of Zen Fluidics.

Before that, she was a counselor of microbusiness at the Business Incubator program at the Monterrey Institute of Technology, located in Monterrey, Mexico.

In October 2019, Liza was acknowledged as one of the “50 Most Relevant People” transforming Mexico, and was invited to speak on various international panels regarding cancer research and entrepreneurship.

She studied International Business at the University of California, Berkeley and earned a Bachelor’s degree in Business from the Monterrey Institute of Technology.

Co-Investors

Y Combinator

Seed-stage accelerator whose alumni include Scribd, Reddit, Airbnb, Dropbox and Stripe

StartX

A non-profit startup accelerator associated with Stanford University.