NIA Small Business Showcase: VoiceLove

Isolation profoundly affects patients—particularly older adults—and compromises their overall well-being. Limited mobility and communication barriers heighten feelings of loneliness and disconnection, which lead to diminished morale and adverse clinical results.

VoiceLove is a virtual visitation platform designed to enhance patient well-being by alleviating the emotional impact of isolation and reinforcing bonds with loved ones. The application meets the needs of older adults and individuals with limited mobility through an accessible, user-friendly, one-button interface. VoiceLove promotes compassionate care, bridging the gap between patients and their families. Health care professionals can utilize the platform’s web-based dashboard and voice channels to streamline communication, improve patient experiences, and support better health outcomes.

VoiceLove offers a practical and inclusive solution to patient loneliness and isolation. The application enables patients to maintain meaningful connections with their loved ones via a secure, user-friendly platform. By fostering empathetic care, VoiceLove enhances patient well-being and supports healthy outcomes through the power of voice communication.

VoiceLove addresses a crucial need in health care, focusing on older adults and patients who experience isolation. The application is valuable in various health care settings, including hospitals, long-term care facilities, and rehabilitation centers. By improving patient experiences and clinical results, VoiceLove appeals to health care professionals seeking innovative solutions for better care delivery and patient satisfaction.

Company Milestones

Scientific and Clinical

2024: Built the VoiceLove app to combat delirium in the intensive care unit (ICU); prepared the clinical trial protocol with VoiceLove’s scientific research partner, Vanderbilt University Medical Center
2025: Will run a randomized clinical trial (RCT) to show how family intervention reduces delirium and shortens ICU stays
2025: Will build the VoiceLove app to combat depression and improve the quality of life for people living with dementia; will prepare a clinical trial protocol with VoiceLove’s scientific research partner, Texas A&M University
2026: Will run the RCT to show how family intervention and enhanced social connection reduce loneliness, isolation, and depression and increase quality of life for people living with dementia
Business
Current: Four clinical partnerships with leading medical institutions are in place
2025: Two apps will reach the market and be made generally available

Business

Current: Four clinical partnerships with leading medical institutions are in place
2025: Two apps will reach the market and be made generally available

Financial Overview

VoiceLove has received $500,000 from NIA and $1.5 million from the founder’s investment. The company is currently pursuing $2 million in seed funding from external investors in the fourth quarter of 2024. VoiceLove will need a $2.5 million Phase II grant from NIA to run an RCT to evaluate the effectiveness of the app to combat delirium. It will also need a $3 million fast-track grant from NIA to develop a technology to help older adults with dementia fight loneliness and depression.

Intellectual Property (IP)

VoiceLove LLC holds a pending utility patent that covers core concepts of the VoiceLove system and technology. The company also has registered trademarks for the VoiceLove name and logo design. VoiceLove’s IP strategy includes filing additional utility and design patents in the United States and internationally.

Product Development and Regulatory Strategy

VoiceLove’s product development focuses on customizing the virtual visitation platform to enhance communication between loved ones and patients in various clinical settings. Multiple versions of the platform are tailored to meet the unique needs of hospital patients and residents of both in-home care and long-term care. The company is now enhancing its platform with artificial intelligence (AI) to measure tone and sentiment in VoiceLove messages and derive insights and recommendations to guide and enrich the communication among patients, family, and caregivers. VoiceLove does not anticipate the need for regulatory approval for these initial versions, because the platform primarily provides communication support rather than therapeutic interventions.

Commercialization Strategy

VoiceLove will sell its solution directly to hospital units, long-term care and skilled nursing facilities, and in-home caregivers. The company plans to leverage its partnerships with health care organizations and industry groups to drive widespread adoption. VoiceLove will also partner with nonprofit and charitable organizations to facilitate access to the application—especially for people in need from marginalized populations. This strategy, coupled with the RCT results from our clinical partners, will further accelerate the market adoption of VoiceLove technology while laying the path for payer reimbursement.

Company Details

VoiceLove

Scarsdale, NY

Industry: Digital Health and Sensing Technologies

Management Team:

Gabriela Pelin, M.A., M.B.A., Chief Executive Officer
Gary Ward, Chief Operating Officer
Stas Samarin, Ph.D., Senior Vice President of Product and Strategy
Sarah Atereth, B.A., Director of Marketing

Point of Contact:
Gabriela Pelin
gabriela.pelin@voicelove.com
914-574-7787

SBIR