H3D secures Series A funding to advance AI design technology

Hearables 3D Pty Ltd (H3D), a Swinburne University of Technology investment company, has secured $5.8 million in Series A funding to revolutionise the hearing and dental industries with their AI design software, marking a major milestone in the startup's journey.

“This funding marks a pivotal step in meeting our vision for AI digital manufacturing,” said Iain McLeod, CEO of H3D. “Combining machine learning, advanced 3D algorithms and real-time cloud processing into a seamless manufacturing solution will be hugely impactful to patients receiving dental and hearing care. We are extremely grateful to our investors and our customers for believing in H3D’s exceptional team and our mission.”

The Series A funding will accelerate the deployment of its AI technologies into dental labs globally, addressing the existing industry bottlenecks caused by a lack of technicians, reliance on complex manual Computer-Aided Design (CAD) software, and quality inconsistency due to human error.  

In addition, the investment will enable H3D to continue innovating within the hearing industry. This includes the recent launch of a unique solution that utilises AI and AR technologies in the cloud to process an accurate 3D ear scan using a smartphone camera, allowing the delivery of custom-fit products for consumers.  

H3D began at Swinburne in 2016 as a research project created by PhD alum Dr Philip Kinsella, now co-founder and Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of H3D. With the help of Swinburne Ventures Limited (SVL) funding, H3D was developed into a cutting-edge technology company that enables the commercialisation of cloud-based AI CAD service for dental and hearing laboratories worldwide.

“It’s been rewarding to follow the journey of H3D’s growth, since its inception by a Swinburne PhD student in 2016,” said Dr Werner van de Merwe, Swinburne Vice-President of Innovation and Enterprise.

“We knew the real-world impact that these custom-fit devices could bring to the dental industry and are proud to have provided initial backing through Swinburne’s venture fund, as well as continued support through financing rounds. It’s pleasing to see this design technology and its innovative AI-driven solutions are now being recognised more broadly through a successful Series A funding.”

Series A capital raise is the first significant funding round for a startup, after the initial seed funding stage, and signals strong investor confidence and enables growth. This will allow H3D to strengthen its leading position within the hearing industry and accelerate its expansion in the dental business.