Fluent Raises $1.3M Pre-seed
Summary
Fluent is a University of Melbourne spinout developing a low-risk subscalp brain-computer interface that sits beneath the skin to decode attempted speech for people with motor neurone disease, stroke or multiple sclerosis. The company raised A$2 million (approximately $1.3 million USD) in pre-seed funding from the university’s Genesis Pre-Seed Fund, Pacific Channel, Galileo Ventures, Multiple Sclerosis WA, Jumpspace Ventures, Founders Factory and others. Funds will support engineering, regulatory submissions and first-in-human clinical trials in Melbourne.
Why it matters
Fluent's pre-seed round funds early clinical validation of a subscalp BCI that avoids full skull penetration, positioning it as a lower-risk alternative to fully implanted speech-restoration devices. As a University of Melbourne spinout, it also signals growing BCI activity outside the traditional US/China axis.
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