Sparrow BioAcoustics Raises $10M for Cardiac AI Innovation

Sparrow BioAcoustics, a Canadian medtech startup pioneering smartphone-based cardiac diagnostics, has raised $10 million in funding to accelerate the expansion of its Stethophone platform, the world’s first FDA-cleared cardiac AI solution that transforms smartphones into medical-grade heart assessment tools.

The round, led by Killick Capital and Klister Credit, with participation from Pelorus VC, 98827 Newfoundland & Labrador Inc. and Brinex Capital, will support Sparrow’s North American rollout and continued hospital adoption. With this funding, Sparrow aims to redefine how heart disease is detected, not through expensive hospital equipment, but through the device billions already own: a smartphone.

Why Heart-Health Screening Needs Disruption ?

Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death worldwide, claiming more than 20 million lives each year. Yet, much of it is preventable with early detection.

The problem is accessibility. Traditional cardiac diagnostics like echocardiograms or stethoscope exams require trained clinicians and specialized hardware. Many early symptoms go unnoticed, particularly in rural or under-resourced regions where access to cardiologists is limited.

That’s where Sparrow BioAcoustics sees its opportunity. By embedding sophisticated AI-driven bioacoustic analysis into smartphones, the company is bringing cardiac screening to the point of need anytime, anywhere. Their vision is bold but simple: a world where anyone can check their heart health as easily as checking their messages.

What Sparrow BioAcoustics Does? The “Stethophone” Revolution

At the core of Sparrow’s technology is Stethophone, its flagship mobile platform. The concept is elegant, the app uses a smartphone’s built-in microphones to capture subtle heart sounds when placed on a user’s chest. These sounds, known as phonocardiograms, are then analyzed using advanced AI algorithms to detect structural and rhythmic anomalies, including murmurs, valve disorders and atrial fibrillation.

The system doesn’t just detect irregularities, it interprets them. Sparrow’s proprietary AI Phonoscopy models translate bioacoustic data into clinically relevant insights, highlighting potential warning signs long before symptoms become critical. In effect, Stethophone converts a standard smartphone into a digital stethoscope and early warning system for heart disease. No external devices, cables or specialized training are required, just a phone and a few minutes of quiet. The company calls this approach “bioacoustics democratized,” allowing healthcare providers and individuals alike to conduct reliable cardiac screenings without added hardware or cost barriers.

The $10 million Funding Round and What It Enables

Sparrow’s $10 million financing round marks a significant inflection point for the company.

“This round ensures we can scale responsibly through this critical phase, supporting hospitals and patients with the same focus on quality and outcomes that brought us here,” said Mark Opauszky, CEO of Sparrow BioAcoustics. “It’s about maintaining the momentum we’ve built while continuing to deliver real clinical value where it’s needed most.”

The funding will enable Sparrow to expand its US deployments, grow clinical partnerships and further develop its AI models for global use. Hospitals across North America are already integrating Stethophone into their workflows offering an early glimpse at how the future of cardiac care might look: mobile, AI-assisted and universally accessible.

For investors like Killick Capital and Klister Credit, Sparrow represents a rare convergence of AI innovation and clinical utility, a model where technology doesn’t just improve efficiency but expands access to life-saving care.

Clinical Validation and Proof That Stethophone Works

Technology alone doesn’t make a medical breakthrough, validation does. A recent peer-reviewed study at the University of Washington Medical Center, published in the International Journal of Medical Science and Innovation Research, evaluated Stethophone’s accuracy in detecting valvular disease and atrial fibrillation. The results were striking.

Researchers concluded that the platform’s AI achieved high diagnostic accuracy, calling it a potential “mechanism to revolutionize cardiac screening by employing widely available smartphone technology.” The study emphasized that earlier identification of murmurs and arrhythmias could lead to faster interventions and better outcomes.

According to Sparrow’s Chief Medical Officer and co-founder Dr. Yaroslav Shpak, the platform has already reached remarkable scale. “In the past year, about 40,000 patients and practitioners have used Stethophone, uncovering thousands of cardiac anomalies that might otherwise have gone unnoticed until later stages of disease,” he said.

That figure represents not only proof of demand but also validation of the company’s thesis: cardiac AI can work in the real world, not just in labs.

A New Era of MedTech! “Software as the Stethoscope”

Innovation of Sparrow BioAcoustics sits at the intersection of software, AI and medicine, a new frontier known as “Software as a Medical Device” (SaMD).

While digital health tools have flooded the market, few reach the level of clinical-grade reliability required by regulators like the US Food and Drug Administration. Stethophone’s FDA clearance is therefore a major milestone, signaling that smartphone-based bioacoustics has matured from concept to clinically accepted practice.

The implications extend beyond cardiology. Stethophone’s underlying AI framework could be applied to detect other systemic anomalies, from pulmonary patterns to vascular sounds opening pathways for multi-condition screening using nothing more than a phone. More broadly, Sparrow’s technology aligns with the growing movement to decentralize healthcare, shifting diagnostics out of hospitals and into the hands of patients.

Strengths and Considerations Sparrow BioAcoustics & Stethophone

Sparrow’s edge lies in its combination of accessibility, accuracy and regulatory rigor. Unlike wearable ECG devices or proprietary stethoscope attachments, Stethophone requires no additional hardware which is a crucial differentiator for scalability in diverse healthcare systems. Its clinical validation and FDA clearance lend it credibility in a crowded digital health market. Hospitals benefit from a tool that integrates seamlessly with telehealth and electronic health records, while individuals gain peace of mind through proactive monitoring.

Still, challenges remain. Widespread adoption will depend on clinician trust, regulatory expansion into new regions and ongoing AI refinement to ensure accuracy across populations and environments. As with all AI diagnostics, transparency, bias mitigation and data security will be key to long-term success.

What’s Next for Sparrow BioAcoustics ?

Sparrow is currently evaluating Stethophone at multiple clinical sites in the United States and Canada, with plans to scale further into Europe and Asia. The company recently presented updates at the Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics (TCT) conference in San Francisco and is set to appear at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions in New Orleans.

Beyond expansion, Sparrow’s team is exploring integrations with telemedicine platforms and hospital networks, envisioning a near future where Stethophone becomes a standard screening tool for primary care.

As CEO Mark Opauszky puts it, “Our goal isn’t to replace cardiologists, it’s to give them a powerful ally and to ensure every person, regardless of geography or income, has access to early cardiac screening.”

Role of Sparrow BioAcoustics in the Future of Cardiac Care

Sparrow BioAcoustics represents the next frontier in healthcare innovation, where AI meets accessibility to save lives. Its Stethophone platform reimagines the stethoscope for the digital era, shifting cardiac screening from hospitals to homes, from specialists to smartphones.

By listening more closely, through algorithms that hear what the human ear cannot, Sparrow is proving that early detection can be both clinical and convenient. And that the world’s most powerful medical device may already be in your pocket. As healthcare becomes increasingly intelligent and distributed, Sparrow BioAcoustics stands out as a symbol of what’s possible when technology listens,literally, to the heart.