Whispp Raises $5.2M for On-Device Voice AI Expansion

Jan de Vries · 2026-07-07

Whispp, an AI startup based in Leiden, just raised $5.2 million to push its voice reconstruction technology worldwide. This isn't just another funding round—it's a leap toward changing how we think about digital communication. The investment came from LUMO Labs and strategic angel investors, plus a boost from the European Innovation Council's Accelerator program. The money will help Whispp partner with phone and PC makers to bring its tech to everyday devices. ### What Makes Whispp Different? Most speech enhancement tools just clean up background noise. Whispp does something bolder. It uses AI to rebuild lost or weakened voice qualities in real time, right on your device. Imagine whispering into your phone and hearing your own clear voice come out the other end. That's the magic here. Founded in 2020 by Joris Castermans and Akash Raj Komarlu, the company started with a mission to help people with voice impairments. But they quickly saw the bigger picture. "This technology can revolutionize digital communication for everyone," said Castermans. ### Real-Time Voice Reconstruction Whispp's tech works in milliseconds. It takes whispered speech and turns it into a natural, clear voice that sounds like the speaker's original. No cloud processing needed—everything happens on-device. That means privacy stays intact, and it works in any language. For people with speech disorders, this is life-changing. For the rest of us, it means private calls in public spaces without shouting or muffling your voice. Just whisper, and the AI handles the rest. ### The Bigger Vision Andy Lurling, a partner at LUMO Labs, put it well: "We invested because of the mission to help people reclaim their voice. Now we see it's about making all digital communication better." The technology sits at the crossroads of AI, accessibility, and everyday convenience. Whispp plans to use the funds to: - Develop new patents and intellectual property - Improve their AI models further - Launch new products - Hire more management talent - Build partnerships with top device makers and semiconductor companies ### What's Next? This $5.2 million round follows a $2.6 million grant from the EIC Accelerator earlier this year and a $780,000 seed round in January 2024. The company is clearly on a roll. Castermans sounds excited: "The developments here exceed my boldest dreams. Stay tuned—more good news is coming." If Whispp delivers on its promise, we might soon see voice reconstruction as a standard feature on phones and laptops. That would change how we communicate, one whisper at a time.