InforCapital
Startup Fundraisingβ€’

NAVER D2SF Invests in AI Health Tech Soundable Health

NAVER D2SF provides follow-on funding to Soundable Health, an AI health tech firm using acoustic analysis for clinical diagnostics via smartphones.

AM
Alvaro de la Maza

Partner at Aninver

Key Takeaways

  • NAVER raised a new round (Pre-Series A) from NAVER D2SF.
  • Sector: Healthcare, Healthtech & Medtech, Artificial Intelligence (AI).
  • Geography: United States, South Korea.

Analysis

NAVER D2SF, the venture capital arm of South Korean tech giant NAVER, has reinforced its commitment to Soundable Health with a significant follow-on investment. This latest funding round, a Pre-Series A, underscores the AI-driven health technology firm's robust progress and expanding footprint in the U.S. healthcare sector. NAVER D2SF, an early supporter since Soundable Health's 2019 seed funding, cited the company's proven product-market fit and impressive growth trajectory as key drivers for its continued backing.

Soundable Health is revolutionizing diagnostics by harnessing the power of artificial intelligence to interpret acoustic signals from the human body. Their flagship product, proudP, utilizes sophisticated AI models to analyze the sound of urine flow, offering clinical-grade assessment of urinary symptoms. This innovative approach provides a non-invasive method for monitoring conditions such as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and overactive bladder (OAB). The system, built on an extensive dataset exceeding 500,000 home-based tests, achieves remarkable 97% accuracy using only a smartphone, eliminating the need for specialized medical equipment.

The significance of proudP is amplified by its regulatory standing as an FDA Class II medical device. This designation ensures adherence to stringent quality and data privacy standards, crucial for clinical adoption. By enabling patients to conduct uroflowmetry tests conveniently at home, Soundable Health dramatically enhances accessibility to essential diagnostic procedures. This shift away from clinic-dependent testing is particularly impactful for managing chronic conditions and improving patient quality of life, aligning with the growing demand for remote patient monitoring solutions in the digital health market, which is projected to reach over $600 billion globally by 2027.

Since its inception, proudP has garnered substantial traction within the U.S. market, with over 130 urology clinics and 50,000 patients utilizing the platform. The company anticipates accelerated adoption in 2026, driven by anticipated eligibility for insurance reimbursement, including Medicare. Beyond direct patient and clinic engagement, Soundable Health is actively forging strategic B2B partnerships with major players in the pharmaceutical, medical device, and consumer electronics industries. Furthermore, the company is strategically expanding its AI acoustic analysis capabilities into adjacent health areas, notably respiratory monitoring through cough sound analysis.

The leadership at Soundable Health, comprising experts in AI, data science, and healthcare, has consistently prioritized rigorous clinical validation and commercial execution. Dr. Catherine Song, Co-founder and CEO of Soundable Health, highlighted the critical role of accessible health monitoring for an aging global population. "Acoustic AI represents a foundational technology for the aging demographic, facilitating earlier detection, enhanced chronic care management, and greater independence," Dr. Song stated. "With expanding insurance coverage and B2B collaborations slated for 2026, we are well-positioned to scale this technology across urology, respiratory health, and beyond." Sanghwan Yang, Head of NAVER D2SF, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the importance of market-aligned product development alongside technological prowess for global expansion.