TEDCO Invests in Astek Diagnostics
Maryland biotech company creating innovative approaches to prevent diagnostic delays
COLUMBIA, Md., (June 17, 2025) — TEDCO, Maryland’s economic engine for technology companies, announced a recent $500,000 dual investment in Astek Diagnostics, a biomedical company. This investment came from both the Pre-Seed Builder Fund, part of TEDCO’s Social Impact Funds, which supports Maryland’s underrepresented startup communities, and the Venture Funds, dedicated to funding and growing the next generation of early-stage businesses in the state.
Astek Diagnostics, based in Baltimore, Md., is a medical technology company working to transform infectious disease management through its Jiddu™ Platform—a diagnostic system that aims to deliver antibiotic susceptibility results in under one hour. Designed to support faster, more targeted treatment decisions, the platform addresses infections such as urinary tract infections (UTIs), sepsis and wound infections. Unlike traditional culture-based methods, which take 48 to 72 hours, Astek’s phenotypic approach aims to provide results at the point of care, hopefully reducing wait times without compromising precision.
“These businesses reflect the efforts, talents and support of both the founding team and Maryland’s entrepreneurial community. Because of this, TEDCO is careful to conduct our due diligence, vetting entrepreneurs who are as committed to stewardship as we are. This engagement with TEDCO is more than a financial arrangement; the fund goals extend beyond simple financial gain to include contributions to a thriving, inclusive innovation ecosystem,” said Jean-Luc Park, senior director of the Social Impact Funds at TEDCO.
Astek is supported by independent clinical studies and collaborations with leading hospitals and is progressing toward FDA clearance and widespread clinical use. The company works to shorten diagnostic delays, fight antibiotic resistance and improve patient outcomes through faster, data-driven care.
“In the past few years, it has become increasingly evident that rapid onsite detection services are not only a convenience but necessary to treat patients faster and hopefully onsite, instead of waiting days for lab results,” said Katherine Hill Ritchie, senior director of Venture Funds at TEDCO. “Astek’s innovative thinking has the potential to impact lives across the world, exemplifying what we look for when investing from TEDCO’s Venture Funds.”
Astek is a long-standing TEDCO portfolio company, having received funding from TEDCO’s Pre-Seed Builder Fund, Life Science Investment Fund, Maryland Innovation Initiative (MII) and successfully participated in TEDCO’s SBIR/STTR Proposal Lab.
“Named as the number one emerging life sciences hub and the third biopharma cluster in the nation, Maryland is the place to be for scientific minds looking to innovate,” said Troy LeMaile-Stovall, TEDCO CEO.
For more information about our investment funds, visit our page at tedcomd.com/funding.
