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Conversation
Highlights
Welcome to another episode of Category Visionaries — the show that explores GTM stories from tech’s most innovative B2B founders. In today’s episode, we’re speaking with Henry O’Connell, CEO & Founder of Canary Speech, a healthcare technology company that has raised $26 Million in funding.
Here are the most interesting points from our conversation:
- Origins at a Bagel Shop: Canary Speech started when Henry and Jeff Adams, the lead developer behind Amazon Echo, met and discussed the future of using voice to detect diseases. This meeting laid the foundation for Canary’s vocal biomarker technology.
- Incredible Speed and Accuracy: The company’s AI-driven platform analyzes 40 seconds of voice data, delivering results in milliseconds with 93-96% accuracy for diseases like Alzheimer’s, mild cognitive impairment, and Parkinson’s. It’s revolutionizing early diagnosis.
- Real-time Patient Insights: Canary Speech enables doctors to assess multiple conditions — from neurological diseases to anxiety and depression — during a live conversation. This allows for more comprehensive care without additional time-consuming tests.
- Global Reach and Language Capabilities: Canary Speech’s models are already being used in multiple countries and languages, including English, Japanese, and Spanish, extending healthcare accessibility to underserved regions.
- Strategic Partnerships with Microsoft: Microsoft’s investment and integration of Canary Speech into the Azure platform have expanded the company’s reach globally. They’re now exploring partnerships that could further embed Canary’s solutions into healthcare systems.
- The Transition to SaaS: After two years of project-based revenue, Canary Speech transitioned into a SaaS model, allowing for recurring revenue streams and long-term scalability in healthcare and call centers.
Actionable
Takeaways
Leverage Partnerships for Credibility and Growth:
Henry emphasized how Canary Speech built its technology through partnerships with reputable clinical institutions like Harvard and NIH. For founders, aligning with respected organizations can fast-track credibility and open doors to larger opportunities.
Real-time Data is a Game-Changer:
Canary Speech provides real-time diagnostic data from just 40 seconds of voice. For founders, consider how your product can offer immediate, actionable insights to differentiate from traditional, time-consuming methods.
Shift to a SaaS Model for Long-Term Growth:
Initially, Canary Speech relied on project-based revenue. Moving to a SaaS model created more predictable, scalable income. Founders should explore how shifting to SaaS can stabilize revenue and support future scaling.
Be Persistent with Market Education:
Henry highlighted that educating the healthcare market takes persistence, as industry players are slow to change. For emerging technologies, founders need to invest in long-term relationship building to drive adoption.
Diversify Your Team for Innovation:
Canary Speech moved beyond traditional academic hires, recruiting globally from diverse educational and cultural backgrounds. Founders should aim for a diverse team to bring fresh perspectives and accelerate innovation, especially when tackling complex problems.
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