Melbourne-based healthtech startup Lyrebird Health has secured $12 million in fresh funding to expand its innovative AI medical scribe technology into the UK and Middle East. The funding round was led by Fire V Capital and Octopus Ventures, with support from Startmate, bringing the company’s valuation to $50 million.
Cutting Through the Noise in Healthcare Admin
Founded in 2023 by Kai Van Lieshout and Linus Talacko, Lyrebird Health is solving a massive pain point in healthcare—clinical documentation.
- ✅ Doctors are often burdened with hours of paperwork daily
- ✅ This administrative load leads to burnout and impacts patient care
- ✅ Lyrebird’s solution frees up 6–8 minutes per consultation
The startup’s AI platform acts as a real-time medical scribe, listening to doctor-patient conversations and automatically turning them into clinical notes. The notes are then integrated directly into Electronic Medical Records (EMRs)—a crucial digital tool for storing patient history.
“This administrative burden is driving talented healthcare professionals from the field at precisely the moment we need them most,” said CEO and co-founder Kai Van Lieshout.
Why this Funding Matters
This $12M raise will help Lyrebird Health:
- ✅ Enhance its product’s AI capabilities
- ✅ Improve EMR system integration
- ✅ Expand into the UK and Middle East markets
The platform is already showing strong early traction, especially in the UK. Octopus Ventures partner Uthish Ranjan noted, “Their early success in the UK gives us strong conviction that they’re well-positioned to scale in our local market.”
With healthcare systems worldwide facing clinician shortages, increasing admin pressure, and a push for digital efficiency, Lyrebird Health’s timing is spot-on.
Expansion Into the Middle East
The move into the Middle East comes at a time when regional healthcare systems are undergoing major digital transformation. Hospitals and clinics are actively seeking solutions that improve both operational efficiency and staff satisfaction.
- ✅ Strong government focus on AI and digital health
- ✅ Growing demand for clinician support tools
- ✅ EMR adoption rates steadily increasing
By entering this market, Lyrebird is well-positioned to support medical professionals with a much-needed tool to streamline workflows and refocus attention on patient care.
What’s Next for Lyrebird?
With this capital injection, the company plans to:
- ✅ Hire more engineers and product developers
- ✅ Form strategic partnerships with healthcare providers
- ✅ Scale across both private and public healthcare systems
Lyrebird Health’s AI-driven approach is more than just a time-saver—it represents the future of how clinicians interact with technology.