Ezra AI

# Ezra: AI-Powered Early Cancer Detection

High-Level Overview

Ezra is a healthcare AI company that uses artificial intelligence to make full-body MRI cancer screening fast, affordable, and accessible to everyone.[1][2] Founded in 2018 by Emi Gal, the company leverages FDA-cleared AI technology to reduce MRI scan times and costs, enabling early detection of cancer and over 500 other conditions across up to 13 organs.[2] Rather than owning imaging infrastructure, Ezra partners with nearly 100 radiology sites across the U.S., allowing for capital-efficient scaling.[1] The company's core problem it solves is stark: 10 million people receive late-stage cancer diagnoses annually with survival rates below 20%.[2] Ezra aims to democratize early detection by offering comprehensive screening at around $500 per scan—a fraction of traditional costs—while maintaining clinical accuracy through AI-enhanced analysis.

The company has demonstrated meaningful traction, having scanned thousands of people and helped 6% of its members identify potential cancer early.[3] In May 2025, Ezra was acquired by Function Health, a preventive healthcare platform, which plans to expand Ezra's network from nearly 100 locations to over 1,000 radiology partners paired with Function's 2,200 Quest Diagnostics lab locations.[1]

Origin Story

Emi Gal, a software engineer and entrepreneur with a 15-year track record building successful technology companies, founded Ezra in 2018 after personal tragedy inspired him to tackle early cancer detection.[3] His mother's battle with cancer motivated him to create technology that would enable earlier diagnosis for everyone, not just those with resources to afford advanced screening.[1] Prior to Ezra, Gal launched Brainient, an advertising technology company acquired by Teads, where he scaled the company to $1 billion in annual revenue as CEO of Teads Studio.[3]

Ezra launched commercially in 2019 and achieved a pivotal milestone in June 2023 when it received FDA 510(k) clearance for its AI technology that enhances MRI scanning.[5] This regulatory validation enabled the company to reduce scan times and costs by 30% while maintaining quality.[5] The company raised $21 million in February 2024 to expand across major U.S. metro areas, with plans to introduce the world's first 15-minute full-body MRI priced around $500 within two to three years.[2]

Core Differentiators

• Dual-modality foundation: Ezra combines full-body MRI imaging with extensive lab testing to create longitudinal health datasets that track subtle changes over time, providing early warning signs before symptoms appear.[1]

• AI at every step: Unlike competitors, Ezra deploys AI throughout the entire screening workflow—from acquisition (SR Flash technology accelerates image capture) to enhancement and radiologist analysis—creating efficiency gains that directly reduce costs passed to consumers.[7]

• Capital-light partnership model: Rather than owning physical imaging centers, Ezra partners with nearly 100 existing radiology sites, enabling nimble, scalable growth without massive capital expenditure.[1] Post-Function acquisition, this network is expanding to 1,000+ locations.

• Comprehensive disease detection: The platform screens for cancer across 13 organs plus 500+ other conditions including silent strokes, aneurysms, and fatty liver disease, making it more comprehensive than single-disease screening tools.[1][2]

• FDA-cleared technology: Ezra's AI has received regulatory clearance, validating its accuracy and enabling clinical deployment at scale.[5]

• Affordable pricing: At approximately $500 per scan, Ezra makes full-body MRI screening accessible to the general population, compared to traditional costs that limited screening to high-risk individuals.[1][2]

Role in the Broader Tech Landscape

Ezra operates at the intersection of three powerful trends: the AI revolution in healthcare, the shift toward preventive medicine, and the democratization of advanced diagnostics. The company exemplifies how AI can reduce operational costs in healthcare—a sector historically resistant to efficiency gains—while improving clinical outcomes through earlier detection.

The timing is critical. Cancer incidence continues rising globally, yet survival rates remain heavily dependent on detection stage. Ezra's model addresses a fundamental market failure: advanced screening technology existed but remained inaccessible due to cost and time constraints. By applying AI to existing MRI infrastructure rather than reinventing hardware, Ezra demonstrates how software can unlock latent capacity in healthcare systems.

The Function Health acquisition signals broader industry recognition that preventive healthcare requires integrated data—imaging, labs, and longitudinal tracking—rather than isolated screening tests. Ezra's partnership-based approach also influences the broader ecosystem by showing that healthcare innovation doesn't require vertical integration; instead, it can work through distributed networks of existing providers.

Quick Take & Future Outlook

Ezra is positioned to become a foundational layer in preventive healthcare infrastructure. The company's goal to scan one million people annually by 2030 represents a 166x increase from current volumes, achievable through the Function partnership's 1,000+ location network.[3][1] Key trends shaping its trajectory include regulatory expansion (FDA clearance for additional AI capabilities), international scaling (the company has already launched in the UK), and the maturation of its 15-minute, $500 full-body MRI offering.[2][8]

The broader question is whether Ezra can shift healthcare from reactive treatment to proactive prevention at scale. If successful, the company could fundamentally alter cancer survival statistics while creating a replicable model for early detection of other chronic diseases. The Function acquisition suggests this vision is no longer speculative—it's becoming infrastructure.