Understanding Zoe, an Australian startup helping parents support neurodivergent children, will expand its product and market penetration after securing $770,000 (US$500,000) from a leading US health-tech investment fund.
The investment from Verge HealthTech Fund, which backs early-stage health-tech startups worldwide, will be used to build out the startup’s offering, delve deeper into the market, and fund research, with an investigation commissioned by Understanding Zoe scheduled for release next week.
Founded by life and business partners Laetitia Andrac and Johan Erchoff, Understanding Zoe emerged from the pair’s own experience managing their daughter’s autism diagnosis, clinical assessments, and therapy suggestions.
Their solution: an AI-enabled app consolidating those torrents of information, making it easier to put those ideas into practice.
Launched in 2024, Understanding Zoe allows parents and caregivers to share diagnoses, day-to-day reports, and observations about their child with a secure chatbot.
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The backend AI system app stores and analyses that data, allowing Understanding Zoe to track patterns in behaviour and provide suggestions to parents.
This can help parents with simple tasks, like suggesting books or sensory-friendly restaurants, through to more complex recommendations, like ways to support a child through overwhelming moments.
It can also prepare notes and briefings based on information fed into the chatbot, making it easier for adults to share details and progress updates with others in the child’s care circle.
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Teachers, therapists, and out-of-home caregivers can also use Understanding Zoe, tapping into the data provided by parents while feeding their own recommendations and insights into the system.
Andrac says this gives users a holistic overview of what is helping, while highlighting areas for improvement, making it easier to coordinate a tailored care plan.
In a statement shared exclusively with SmartCompany, Andrac said the investment comes at a “crucial moment” for parents, carers, and neurodivergent children.
“Verge’s belief in our mission allows us to scale a solution built from lived experience: one that turns daily overwhelm into coordinated, neuroaffirming care,” she said.
Andrac said the funding also validated her own experiences.
“As a neurodivergent, CALD and woman founder, this milestone sends a powerful signal that diverse lived experience and purpose-led innovation can attract meaningful investment,” she said.
“What began with my daughter at our kitchen table is now growing into something that can change the way families everywhere access understanding and support.”
“Every child deserves the best care, especially autistic, ADHD or other neurodivergent kids,” said Verge HealthTech Fund managing partner Scarlett Chen, in a statement accompanying the raise.
“However, it is not easy to do. Parents know, your whole world changes instantly when that thick diagnosis report lands in your hands.”
Understanding Zoe’s traction among users and strong reviews encouraged the fund to invest, she added.
The startup now joins Australia’s own Macuject in the fund’s growing portfolio.
Understanding Zoe continues to raise funds in the same investment round.
