Rajshree Upadhyaya |Business Remedies | After witnessing not only the illness but also the emotional distress of cancer patients in India, Raghuveer Surupa transformed chemotherapy care by launching the Eva Scalp Cooling System in the year 2020. When Raghuveer Surupa decided to create Eva, his motivation was driven more by empathy than ambition. With an engineering background and years of experience in the healthcare and pharmaceutical environment, he closely observed that the most visible and psychologically challenging side effect of chemotherapy was hair loss, which often made patients feel that they were losing their identity and confidence. With a firm resolve to address this overlooked aspect of cancer care, Raghuveer founded Stemtech Medical Devices Private Limited, which led to the introduction of the Eva Scalp Cooling System. Eva was envisioned not as a treatment but as a supportive medical technology, designed to work alongside chemotherapy and improve the quality of life of patients.
The company introduced the Eva Scalp Cooling System, an advanced temperature-controlled solution that cools the scalp before, during, and after chemotherapy sessions. By lowering the scalp temperature, the system reduces blood flow to hair follicles, thereby decreasing the amount of chemotherapy drugs reaching the hair roots and helping to reduce hair loss. In a market where such solutions were mostly imported or unavailable, Eva positioned itself as one of the early indigenous scalp cooling innovations developed specifically for Indian oncology settings.
Universally designed adaptable cooling cap
At the center of the brand’s offerings is the Eva Next Gen Duo 2000, a system designed to deliver precise and consistent cooling during long treatment durations. Designed with clinical workflow in mind, this device allows oncology teams to integrate scalp cooling into chemotherapy protocols without disrupting treatment schedules. Patient comfort was a key design consideration, ensuring that the experience remained manageable during sessions lasting several hours. Along with the core system, the company developed the Eva SmartFit Cool Wrap, a universally adaptable cooling cap. Its purpose is to provide secure fitting, uniform temperature distribution, and enhanced comfort during repeated chemotherapy cycles. In Eva’s early journey, strong emphasis was placed on clinical validation and real-world usage. Instead of directly targeting customers, Raghuveer and his team worked closely with hospitals and cancer care centers to ensure that the technology met medical safety standards and practical usage requirements. The system was used across multiple institutions, where it was applied in hundreds of chemotherapy sessions. This strengthened both its clinical relevance and the emotional value it delivered to patients. For many people undergoing treatment, the ability to retain hair provided a sense of normalcy and dignity during a phase of life that was otherwise extremely distressing.
Focus on emotional well-being along with clinical outcomes
Eva’s story reached a wider audience when Raghuveer Surupa appeared on Shark Tank India Season 3. His pitch resonated strongly with the panel, not because of flashy numbers, but due to the deeply human problem the product addressed. He explained how chemotherapy-induced hair loss often intensifies trauma and how scalp cooling can significantly reduce that experience. Seeking an investment of Rs. 30 lakh for a small equity stake, Raghuveer presented Eva as a long-term healthcare innovation rather than a quick commercial win. The sharks responded positively. Aman Gupta, Namita Thapar, and Ritesh Agarwal jointly invested Rs. 30 lakh for 1.8 percent equity, valuing the company at approximately Rs. 16.67 crore. Beyond the investment, the Shark Tank platform brought national recognition to a conversation that is often overlooked in discussions around cancer care. Eva became a symbol of a shift towards more holistic treatment approaches, where emotional well-being is valued alongside clinical outcomes. This exposure also reinforced the need to build medical technologies that are grounded not only in engineering precision but also in compassion.
Progress in healthcare is also about preserving humanity
The journey of the Eva Scalp Cooling System demonstrates how innovation can emerge from quietly observed challenges rather than market trends. By focusing on an aspect of chemotherapy that affects self-image, confidence, and mental health, Raghuveer Surupa created a space where technology offers dignity alongside medicine. Eva serves as a reminder that progress in healthcare is not always just about curing disease, but also about preserving the humanity of those who endure it.
