Konrad Zieliński, who lost his voice to cancer during his studies at the University of Warsaw, has founded Uhura Bionics, a startup focused on creating advanced voice restoration devices. Unlike traditional handheld speech devices or surgically implanted prostheses, which often sound robotic or require ongoing medical care, Zieliński’s goal was to develop a noninvasive wearable that enables users, particularly laryngectomees, to speak with emotion and natural intonation. After completing a PhD on bionic systems for voice loss, he launched Uhura Bionics in 2023, and the company was selected for TechCrunch Disrupt 2026’s Startup Battlefield 200.

Uhura Bionics currently markets two devices: a basic model and a premium version called Whitney, named after Whitney Houston, designed to deliver a richer emotional voice experience. Zieliński envisions Whitney becoming as common among voice-loss patients as glasses are for those with vision impairment. The startup plans to enhance these devices with more voice pitch options, including higher-pitched female voices, and to develop customization features so users can have unique voice profiles. At present, the products are sold as wellness devices with prices at $500 and $1,500 respectively, but Uhura is pursuing medical device certification to facilitate insurance reimbursement in Europe and the U.S.

The market for voice restoration technology for laryngectomees is estimated by Uhura to be worth about $2 billion and potentially larger if the technology can be adapted for other speech disorders. While other companies like Atos Medical and Laronix operate in this space, Uhura aims to differentiate through the emotional quality their devices offer. Zieliński will showcase Whitney’s capabilities not only at TechCrunch Disrupt but also at San Francisco Tech Week, where he plans to demonstrate singing using the device, highlighting the naturalness of the voice it produces.

Uhura Bionics represents a significant step forward in assistive communication technology by blending bionics and emotional speech synthesis. As the company advances its certification efforts and raises awareness through key tech events, it could change the way people who have lost their voice communicate daily, restoring emotional depth to their speech and improving quality of life. The upcoming TechCrunch Disrupt event in October 2026 will provide a major platform for Uhura Bionics to connect with the broader startup and investor community.