Dutch startup MindAffect gains €1.1M for AI-powered hearing diagnostics
MindAffect, a Dutch healthtech firm, obtains €1.1M funding to advance AI in simplifying auditory tests, potentially benefiting over 1.6 billion people with hearing issues.
Revolutionizing Auditory Healthcare
The Gelderland-based Dutch healthtech startup, MindAffect, has recently obtained a significant financial boost with a €1.1M Series A funding round. This investment signifies a substantial advancement in the field of auditory healthcare as MindAffect’s groundbreaking technology, Aurora, promises to simplify hearing diagnostics using artificial intelligence. Their technology could be transformative for the over 1.6 billion individuals worldwide who struggle with conventional hearing tests that require active responses[1].
How Aurora Works
The Aurora system by MindAffect employs an 8-channel headband featuring electrodes that capture the brain’s automatic response to sound. This innovative approach circumvents the need for patients to provide verbal or physical feedback during hearing tests. By listening to soft chirps and watching a silent video, patients undergo a comfortable and swift diagnostic process that yields audiometric threshold results in less than 10 minutes. This non-invasive method holds promise to significantly reduce the time and effort involved in auditory testing[1].
The Company Behind the Innovation
MindAffect was founded as a spin-off from the prestigious Radboud University’s Donders Institute, under the guidance of Professor Peter Desain. CEO Jennifer Goodall leads the company with a vision to tackle the global challenge of untreated hearing loss, which has far-reaching implications on education, social inclusion, and health. Based in the Netherlands, MindAffect is on the cusp of launching Aurora next year, with plans to extend its technology to combined hearing and vision tests for children and glaucoma monitoring for the elderly[1].
Impact and Future Developments
The NLC Health Impact Fund, which supports MindAffect, is currently fundraising for its second close to invest in early-stage healthcare innovations. The funding secured by MindAffect will fuel the development and launch of Aurora, with the potential to drastically cut down the global burden of untreated hearing loss. As MindAffect prepares for next year’s launch, the healthcare industry watches in anticipation for a solution that could redefine diagnostic standards and enhance the quality of life for millions suffering from hearing impairments[1].