Konrad Zielinski lost his voice to cancer years ago while he was a student at the University of Warsaw. People with his condition have traditionally relied on handheld speaking devices that sound flat and robotic, or on surgically implanted voice prostheses, which require ongoing maintenance to prevent complications, Zielinski told TechCrunch. He went on to complete a PhD focusing on bionic systems for laryngectomees, people who've had their voice boxes (larynxes) removed. While working on his thesis, he set out to build a noninvasive device, one requiring no surgery, that would allow people like him to speak with emotion, laugh, shout, and even sing. In 2023, Zielinski launched Uhura Bionics, a startup selected as one of TechCrunch Disrupt 2026's Startup Battlefield 200, a group of early-stage companies chosen to showcase their products at the conference next month. The company offers two wearable devices: a more basic model and a high-end version called Whitney, named after the...
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