Zoundream brings Cry Analysis AI to baby monitors

Babies cry for different reasons, but parents are often challenged with decoding the meaning of each in order to react to their baby’s needs accordingly. In 2019, Roberto Iannone and his team established the startup Zoundream to develop solutions that enable continuous non-invasive monitoring of infants’ health at home – a first-of-a-kind solution in the baby monitoring market. Integrated into third-party hardware, the artificial intelligence-based solution translates the meaning of baby cries.

During its early stages, Zoundream sought to introduce the solution to parents directly via its own hardware. However, the company quickly pivoted to a B2B2C model, allowing it to focus on developing its infant Cry Analysis technology and integrating it into the hardware and products of third-party companies. The solution is ISO27001 certified, implying that it meets the Information Security standards – a key topic for partners and end-users.

Zoundream is partnering with companies globally, leveraging their manufacturing capabilities, distribution channels and brands. Dorel Juvenile is among the first companies to break through the baby monitoring market. Following one year of collaboration, Dorel Juvenile has partnered with Zoundream to embed the Cry Analysis AI technology in the new Maxi Cosi See Pro baby monitor. After Europe and the UK, the new device will be introduced to more countries worldwide. The global launch marks a key milestone for Zoundream and paves the way for scaling the technology and expanding into new geographical markets and segments.

Dorel Industries Inc. is a global organisation operating two distinct businesses in juvenile products and home products, including renowned brands Maxi-Cosi, Safety 1st and Tiny Love, complemented by regional brands such as BebeConfort, Cosco, Mother’s Choice and Infanti. The company boasts annual sales of US$1.6 billion and employs approximately 4,000 people in twenty-two countries worldwide.

“This global partnership and market launch is extremely important, as we are practically creating an entirely new segment, which didn’t exist until today.” Dorel Juvenile has been an amazing partner in the testing and scaling our technology,” says Roberto Iannone, Zoundream CEO. “We are excited to combine Dorel Juvenile’s market-leading expertise in baby products with our AI and sound recognition skills.”

“This is a major innovation in our constant quest to improve parents’ lives. Knowing why your baby is crying can help you calm him down much faster”, said Vikas Malhotra, Chief Research and Product Development Officer of Dorel Juvenile.

More products with the cloud-based infant cry analysis solution will soon be unveiled, revealed Roberto to startupticker. The startup already works with large companies offering baby products, including baby monitors, baby products, and non-baby products, such as home consumer electronic devices.

From cry analysis to neurodevelopmental disorders
In parallel, the startup is expanding the solution to other use cases, such as early detection of neurodevelopmental disorders and infant pathologies. It collaborates with hospitals and organisations in Europe, North and South America and Asia to expand its knowledge base and offer the best resources for parents. Among them are institutions such as UNICEF Lab and the Pediatric Device Consortium from Stanford. On the research side, the startup has just published its first clinical paper in a renowned, peer-reviewed neuroscience journal. The paper demonstrates the correlation between the neuro signals of a baby and cry analysis – which has never been done before.

With a growing team of 15 people, the company closed a financing round in 2020 and received a convertible loan last year. The equity adds to several grants from Switzerland, Spain, where it has a subsidiary, and across Europe. A substantial financing round is underway.

(RAN)