Fluent, a University of Melbourne spinout, secured $2 million in funding to advance its innovative brain-computer interface that converts silent thoughts into speech without invasive skull surgery.
- Fluent has raised $2 million from international and Australian investors.
- The non-invasive chip decodes brain signals related to speech with 96% accuracy.
- Clinical trials with human participants are planned at St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne.
What happened
Fluent, a spinout from the University of Melbourne, announced it has raised $2 million in funding from a mix of Australian and international backers, including the university’s Genesis Pre-Seed Fund, Pacific Channel, Galileo Ventures, and investors from New York and London. The company is developing a brain-computer interface designed to help individuals who have lost the ability to speak due to neurological conditions by converting their brain activity into speech without requiring invasive skull surgery.
Unlike traditional brain implants that require electrodes inside the skull, Fluent’s device is inserted under the scalp but remains outside the skull, minimizing surgical risk. The device leverages machine learning algorithms to interpret electrical signals from the motor cortex—the brain region controlling speech muscles—and translate these signals into text or audio output.
Why it matters
This technology offers a low-risk alternative for patients with neurological conditions such as motor neurone disease and multiple sclerosis that impair their ability to speak. By decoding neural signals associated with attempted speech, the device can restore communication abilities without the complexities and dangers of invasive surgery. This positions Fluent as a potential breakthrough in accessible brain-computer interfacing.
Moreover, Fluent’s approach achieved promising results in preliminary studies. Collaborations with international teams helped build the largest English-language neural dataset of its kind, enabling the decoding model to identify phrases from a set of 128 options with 96% accuracy. The device's design and performance suggest it could be developed for broader accessibility, potentially comparable to the adoption of cochlear implants.
What to watch next
Fluent is preparing to commence clinical trials at St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne later this year to validate the safety and effectiveness of its scalp-placed brain-computer interface. These human trials will be critical in demonstrating the device's real-world impact on speech restoration for individuals with neurological disorders.
The progress of these trials and subsequent regulatory milestones will be key indicators for investors and the medical technology community. Successful trials could pave the way for commercialization, expanding options for patients who currently face limited solutions for speech loss, and position Fluent as a leader in next-generation brain-machine interfaces.