Whispp, a Leiden-based AI startup specialising in audio-to-audio voice reconstruction AI, has raised €5 million to scale the global deployment of its technology. This follow-on investment round was led by LUMO Labs, together with strategic angel investors, and complemented by non-dilutive funding from the European Innovation Council (EIC) Accelerator. “With
Rahul Raj
Whispp, a Leiden-based AI startup specialising in audio-to-audio voice reconstruction AI, has raised €5 million to scale the global deployment of its technology.
This follow-on investment round was led by LUMO Labs, together with strategic angel investors, and complemented by non-dilutive funding from the European Innovation Council (EIC) Accelerator.
“With this funding round, we make a giant leap towards global implementation of our technology with mobile and PC OEMs. The current developments at Whispp exceed my boldest dreams I had for this stage of the company — stay tuned, because more good news is on the way,” said Joris Castermans, Founder and CEO at Whispp.
Founded in 2020 by Joris Castermans and Akash Raj Komarlu, Whispp converts whispered speech into the person’s clear and natural voice, which enables private, discreet calls simply by whispering.
The company states that its real-time on-device voice reconstruction AI enables mobile and PC OEMs to deliver distinctive voice experiences that sound natural, add clear product value, and integrate into the devices users already rely on daily.
According to the startup, existing speech enhancement solutions focus primarily on removing background noise and improving audio clarity. Whispp claims that it goes beyond enhancement by using AI to reconstruct speech characteristics that have been diminished or lost, directly on-device.
Whispp states that it uses proprietary voice AI to reconstruct the key characteristics of natural speech, helping people with voice impairments and speech disorders communicate more naturally and confidently. This technology operates in real time, on the device, and supports any language, converting whispered speech into a clear version that closely resembles the speaker’s original voice.
Andy Lurling, Founding Partner at LUMO Labs, said, “We initially invested in Whispp because of its mission to help people reclaim their voice. Since then, it has become clear that the technology can address a much broader challenge: revolutionising the quality and accessibility of digital communication. As AI continues to reshape how people interact with technology, solutions that make communication more, effective, seamless and inclusive are becoming increasingly important.
“Whispp is uniquely positioned at the intersection of these developments, and we look forward to continuing our support for the team as they scale their impact and bring this technology to a much broader audience.”
The company plans to use this funding to support the company’s next phase of growth, including the development of additional intellectual properties, including patents, continued improvements to its proprietary AI models, and the launch of new products. It also intends to add new management capabilities and expand partnerships with global leading device manufacturers and semiconductor companies.
Earlier this year, in February, the company secured a €2.5M grant through EIC Accelerator, alongside a commitment for equity investment in the next phase. In January 2024, Whispp secured a €750k Seed round led by LUMO Labs.
