Tim DraperFounder and Managing Partne, Draper Associate · I back the ideas that look crazy first

What Can Sperm Reveal That Blood Can’t?

3 Sept 2026 · 2 min

Watch on YouTube

2:11

In this live conference segment, venture capitalist Tim Draper invites the co‑founders of Illumicell AI, Jayla and Michel Bielecki, onto the stage for an impromptu pitch. The conversation opens with a provocative question about what information sperm can provide that blood cannot, setting a tone of curiosity about novel biomarkers. The founders introduce themselves and describe Illumicell AI’s proprietary cell‑visualization platform combined with machine‑learning algorithms that quantify cellular observations. Michel explains his personal motivation to overhaul a flawed, under‑digitalized medical system, emphasizing that while the work is challenging and poorly compensated, it has the potential to affect public health at scale. Jayla echoes the excitement of being asked to pitch spontaneously, highlighting the serendipitous nature of the encounter. Tim repeatedly prompts for basic details—names, company name, and a brief description—creating a conversational, informal atmosphere. The segment ends with a hint toward discussing fluid‑based diagnostics, linking back to the opening sperm‑vs‑blood question.

Chapters

Is there something you get out of sperm that you don't get out of blood?
Okay, we're gonna do something we've never done here on the show. In this conference, I met 2 great entrepreneurs. Come on up onto the stage and give us your pitch.
I saw Tim Draper and I was like— me and my co-founder Michelle went to talk to him, introduce ourselves, quick elevator pitch. He said, you know what, this is what I'll do. I'll call out your name and you quickly talk about what you do. But instead he just asked us to go on stage. So that was a very pleasant surprise, but also kind of serendipitous.
My name is Michel Bielecki. I'm one of the co-founders and CEO of Illumicell AI. We combine a proprietary cell visualization technology and use machine learning algorithms to quantify the observations we make with that. When you start off a medical career, you have all those expectations about what you're going to be doing in 10 years. You go through your rotations in residency, and that kind of pops your bubble. You're like, wait, do I really want that? And to me, the answer was no. Like, I think that the system has a lot of flaws, and I'd rather work on the system for future generations as well. What we're doing is hard and the pay sucks, but we're in an industry where what we do actually matters. And medical startups that influence patients' lives and people's lives ultimately change outcomes on a population scale, which goes directly into public health. And medicine is one of the most under-digitalized industries across everything we have. We have the tools, we have the technology, but it's not being applied. And I am very passionate also because of personal reasons to change that status quo or to be part of the change that drives technology into medicine in the 21st century.
What are your names? What's the name of your company? Tell us about it.
I'm Jayla. One of the co-founders of Illumicell AI.
And hi, I'm Michel. I'm also one of the co-founders of Illumicell. What's it called? Illumicell AI.
Illumicell. Yes. Okay.
You guys have heard a lot about just now prevention, different fluids.