IIM Graduate Develops India’s First Scalp Cooling System to Combat Chemo Hair Loss

Meet the IIM Grad Behind India’s First Scalp Cooling System for Cancer Care

For countless cancer patients, one of the most emotionally distressing side effects of chemotherapy is hair loss. But Mumbai-based entrepreneur Raghuveer Surupa is changing that with an innovation rooted in empathy and science.

A graduate of the Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Raghuveer is the founder of Stemtech Medical Devices, the startup behind Eva Scalp Cooling System—India’s first indigenous technology designed to help chemotherapy patients retain their hair. The innovation was recently featured on Shark Tank India, where it earned Rs 30 lakh in investment, highlighting its growing significance in the world of cancer care.

The Eva Scalp Cooling System works on a simple but powerful principle: by lowering the temperature of the scalp, it reduces the blood flow to hair follicles during chemotherapy. This minimizes the amount of chemo drugs reaching the hair roots, thereby preventing or significantly reducing hair loss. The technology has been widely used in developed countries, but affordability and access were major hurdles for Indian patients—until now.

Raghuveer’s journey began when a close friend’s parent went through chemotherapy and suffered from complete hair loss. This deeply personal experience pushed him to explore whether there was a feasible, affordable alternative available in India. When he discovered the absence of a homegrown solution, he decided to build one himself.

After multiple trials, engineering refinements, and medical consultations, Eva was born. The device is portable, cost-efficient, and designed specifically for Indian hospitals and clinics. It can be used during and after chemotherapy sessions and has shown remarkable results in preserving hair follicles without interfering with the treatment’s effectiveness.

What sets Eva apart is its patient-centric design and affordability—the goal being to make emotional recovery as important as physical healing. The Eva system is now being adopted by cancer treatment centers across India, offering comfort and confidence to patients during one of the most vulnerable phases of their lives.

Stemtech’s breakthrough is not just technological; it’s emotional, social, and medical. Raghuveer’s innovation shows how healthcare startups in India can lead with empathy, and how a well-placed idea can restore dignity and hope.

With investors and hospitals now rallying behind Eva, Raghuveer Surupa is well on his way to making scalp cooling therapy a mainstream part of cancer treatment in India—one head of hair at a time.