Medical technologies are developing rapidly; however, access to high-quality healthcare remains a challenge for many people.
Long waiting times, mounting pressure on the healthcare system, and an ageing population exacerbate the situation.
Population groups with financial, geographical, or language barriers are particularly affected. For them, access to healthcare often remains unreachable.
Here’s where German health-tech company Skleo Health comes in!
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Skleo Health: Eliminating preventable blindness
The company is on a mission to eliminate preventable blindness by establishing a new standard for accessible preventive care.
Skleo Health offers accessible and fast eye screenings in everyday locations such as opticians, pharmacies, retail, and company offices.
The German company’s service consists of a rapid, six-minute eye screening at a convenient partner location.
The results are then processed in the background through a two-step analysis — first by a CE-certified AI, followed by medical validation from a specialist eye doctor to ensure the highest level of quality and accuracy.
In this edition of “What’s in a name,” we spotlight Skleo Health, tracing how Asclepius, the Greek god of healing, inspired a name and a vision to bring accessible eye screenings to everyday places.
Inspired by the god of medicine and healing
Skleo traces its name back to Asclepius — the ancient Greek god of medicine and healing.
“We were inspired by this because it represents a deep, historical commitment to the art and science of healing, which is at the core of our mission,” says Alex Hein, co-founder of Skleo Health.
Alex Hein mentioned that when they first proposed “Skleo,” it was not well-received. However, it met every strategic criterion, and over time, the team began to appreciate it.
“Now, we can’t imagine being called anything else. It proves that sometimes the right name isn’t love at first sight, but one that proves its value over time,” he adds.
Mission: Connecting with the timeless principles of healing
“The name perfectly reflects our mission because it connects the timeless principle of healing (from Asclepius) with the modern, broad scope of Health (“Skleo Health”),” says Hein.
The organisation aims to transform healthcare from a reactive model to a proactive one.
Inspired by Asclepius’s healing abilities, the company see its role as the modern evolution of that, using technology and radical accessibility to enable prevention and early intervention.
“The name is meant to feel professional, trustworthy, and rooted in medical principles, while giving us the space to pioneer a new, more efficient standard of care,” he adds.
One week of side-by-side brainstorming
The naming process took about a week of side-by-side brainstorming. However, Alex Hein said the team set clear rules from the start:
- “It needed to be internationally recognisable, not limited to a German-sounding name.
- It shouldn’t be a purely English name, as we are a German-founded company and need to resonate with a wide range of stakeholders here locally
- Crucially, it could not be limited to the “eye” to avoid limitations.”
“We liked the connection to Asclepius, but the full name was already taken and a bit complex. “Skleo” emerged as a short, unique, and memorable alternative that met all our criteria,” he adds.
Non-negotiable on domain availability
According to Hein, domain availability was non-negotiable. If skleo.de had not been available, the team would have changed the name.
“In today’s digital world, a clean, intuitive domain is essential for brand clarity, partner communication, and user trust,” he says.
Additionally, the company didn’t face any hassle during trademark registration.
“We filed for the trademark, and it was granted without any issues or long delays,” he adds.
Designed to grow
When asked about the possibility of changing the company’s name as it evolves and grows, he says, “No, quite the opposite. We chose the name Skleo Health specifically because it is built for our long-term vision. “Skleo” is tied to the god of medicine, and “Health” is a broad platform. The name is designed to grow with us.”
Do names really matter?
Alex Hein believes that a great name will not guarantee success. However, a bad one can slow you down.
“We believe the name plays a critical role as the initial vessel for the brand’s story. It’s often the very first thing a customer, partner, or investor interacts with,” he explains.
“A good name should be easy to remember and serve as a hook for the mission. For us, “Skleo Health” works because it sounds professional and trustworthy, and it opens the door to the deeper story of our connection to the principles of medicine,” he continues.
In the end, it is the company’s actions, the quality of service, the integrity of the team, and the genuine impact we have on people’s lives, build the brand and determine its success.
