From Research to a Business Pathway Through Mentorship
This is the story of Lobar Abdullaeva, the founder of AIscan, and her journey from research to a business pathway shaped through mentorship.
Working at the intersection of medical imaging and artificial intelligence, Lobar identified a key challenge in healthcare: variability and uncertainty in tumor diagnostics caused by limitations in image interpretation. Although the work began as a research-driven initiative, she soon realized that real impact required thinking beyond algorithms and data, and focusing on users, values, and real-world application.
The Problem
In many healthcare systems, tumors are still diagnosed at later stages due to limitations in medical imaging interpretation and the lack of advanced analytical tools. Radiological assessments often rely heavily on individual expertise, which creates variability and uncertainty in diagnosis.
“I saw how much diagnostic uncertainty depends on who is interpreting the images. That gap can directly affect when and how patients receive treatment.”
The Solution
To address this challenge, Lobar founded AIscan, an AI-based solution that applies radiomics and texture analysis to medical imaging data. By extracting quantitative imaging features, the platform supports radiologists in distinguishing tumor types and assessing disease behavior more accurately, improving consistency and clinical decision-making.
Early Challenges
At the early stage of building AIscan, Lobar faced limited resources, the absence of a multidisciplinary team, and a lack of experience in startup development. Balancing scientific research with product development created constant pressure and emotional burnout.
“I had strong research foundations, but building a startup required a completely different mindset,” she recalls. “It was challenging to think simultaneously about science, users, and scalability.”
“I had strong research foundations, but building a startup required a completely different mindset. It was challenging to think simultaneously about science, users, and scalability.”
How MicroMentor Helped
Lobar discovered Micromentor while looking for practical guidance on how to move her research beyond academia and into a real startup pathway. Through the Micromentor — the world’s largest free online business mentoring platform, introduced by the EBRD — Lobar received practical guidance that helped her reposition AIscan from a research-driven idea into a real-world startup solution.
For instance, on Micromentor, Lobar received pitching guidance from Azizbek Kurbanov, who helped her structure and communicate Aiscan’s value more clearly for non-technical audiences. “Pitching was one of my biggest challenges,” says Lobar. “The feedback I received helped me explain my idea with more confidence and focus.”
She also consulted with Barno Artikkhodjaeva on ideation and value proposition. This mentorship helped Lobar clarify what makes Aiscan truly valuable for clinicians and healthcare institutions, and how to articulate that value in a simple and practical way.
In addition, Ilkhomjon Aliev supported Lobar with business modeling, helping her think through how Aiscan could function as a sustainable startup rather than only a technical solution. “That was a turning point for me,” Lobar explains. “I started seeing Aiscan as a business with a clear structure and long-term potential.”
Overall, Micromentor provided Lobar with access to diverse expertise at exactly the moments she needed it most. The platform not only connected her with mentors but also gave her the confidence, structure, and clarity to move forward with Aiscan as a real-world startup.
Looking Ahead
Looking ahead, Lobar plans to complete a validated MVP of AIscan in 2026 - 2027 and test it on diverse oncological imaging datasets in collaboration with medical institutions.
“I want AIscan to become a practical clinical tool that genuinely supports radiologists and improves patient outcomes,” Lobar says. “That impact is what motivates me to keep building.”
