A Hyderabad pharmacist developed a wearable light-therapy device after witnessing his mother’s severe knee pain during a pilgrimage. Surya Maguluri, co-founder and CTO of Litemed, created Curapod to provide relief from chronic pain. The startup, co-founded with Sriram Velliyur, has sold over 30,000 units in the past year, with more than 200,000 recorded sessions.
Maguluri noted that many people, including those standing for long hours or sitting at desks, suffer from joint and back issues. He holds a pharmacy degree and describes the device as compact and safe for daily use without side effects. Users often rely on painkillers, but the device aims to reduce that dependence.
The product is coin-sized at 4.8 cm across. Early prototypes were larger and less comfortable, leading to design changes for better fit and light distribution. Inspired by fitness wearables, the team seeks to bring similar awareness to therapeutic devices.
Curapod employs photobiomodulation, using red LED light to improve blood flow and reduce inflammation. A 30-minute session can provide up to 60 percent relief for conditions like arthritis. It shuts off automatically and offers two sessions per charge.
Development began in 2022, with clinical trials and seven safety certifications completed before the 2024 launch. It is registered as a medical device with India’s drug control authority. An app tracks sessions and pain scores, though data entry is manual. The device is meant as a complement to physiotherapy, not a cure.
