Dr. Hira Fareed, founder of TB-AI Inc. and winner of the SheXCares Award, has traced the journey of her MedTech startup from a master’s thesis at LUMS to a university spin-off working on tuberculosis diagnostics. Her story was featured by SheXcelerate in a carousel that follows her path from the original idea to the launch of the company and the wider mission she is now pursuing in public health.
TB-AI grew out of a problem Dr. Fareed encountered directly while working with the Government of Sindh’s Health Department, where she was involved in tuberculosis control, prevention, monitoring and evaluation, epidemiology, social mobilisation and capacity building. In that role she saw persistent gaps in TB diagnostics, including limited access, high costs, inconsistent accuracy and delays. Rather than leave the observations at the level of academic research, she set out to convert her thesis into a practical solution that could make TB diagnosis faster, more affordable and more accessible, particularly for underserved communities.
Developing the technology and bringing it to market have been the biggest challenges so far, according to Dr. Fareed, who says that translating research into a solution that works in real healthcare settings takes persistence, resources and a great deal of hard work. Among her most rewarding milestones has been the establishment of the End TB Alliance, a not-for-profit that brings stakeholders together around a shared goal of ending the disease. She describes the move as a full-circle moment, having started out pushing for better diagnostics and now working to connect technology, healthcare and public health.
Looking ahead, Dr. Fareed says her aim is equitable healthcare, where access to quality diagnosis and treatment is not determined by geography or financial circumstances. Her advice to women starting out as entrepreneurs in Pakistan is to stay persistent, build financial literacy and avoid walking away at the first setback, adding that entrepreneurship is not always glamorous and often comes down to showing up every day. She also said that winning the award has brought valuable recognition and a chance to connect with a community that backs women-led businesses, and that she hopes to help build an ecosystem offering the next generation of women founders more opportunities, stronger networks and greater confidence.
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