Nabla Raises $24M for AI Medical Transcription Service

Paris-based Nabla has announced a $24 million Series B funding, led by Cathay Innovation and ZEBOX Ventures, following a partnership with Kaiser Permanente’s Permanente Medical Group. The company’s valuation soared to $180 million, with a potential increase as discussions with U.S. investors continue.

Founded by Alexandre Lebrun, Delphine Groll, and Martin Raison, Nabla introduces an AI copilot for medical professionals. This tool, operating silently in the background, records consultations and generates detailed medical reports using speech-to-text and large language models. Its efficacy was demonstrated in a live demo, showcasing its ability to produce accurate transcripts and valuable medical reports in noisy environments.

Nabla Copilot’s design philosophy doesn’t seek to replace physicians but rather augment their capabilities. It allows doctors to focus more on patient interaction by handling note-taking and reporting tasks. The tool is customizable, adhering to various documentation styles like the widely-used SOAP format. It is part of a broader trend toward automation in healthcare, focusing on level two autonomy with sights set on advancing to higher levels of clinical decision support.

Nabla’s approach to privacy is meticulous, with data processing taking precedence over storage. Consultations are transcribed and then processed without saving audio or medical notes unless consent is given. The company uses a combination of Microsoft Azure’s speech-to-text API and its own model based on Whisper for accuracy, especially with medical terminology.

Currently serving thousands of U.S. doctors daily, Nabla’s utility and impact are growing. Its funding and innovations mark significant strides in AI’s integration into healthcare, offering a glimpse into the future of medical practice where technology and human expertise coalesce to improve patient outcomes.