“People Said Our Dementia-Diagnosis AI Sounded Like Science Fiction—Now We’re Expanding into global” 27th Women Startup Competition

 

Jung Eun Shin, CEO of Voinosis
Won Excellence Award Last Year for Voice Analysis Technology
“The Award Made a Difference”

“In the past, many people were skeptical, asking whether this was some kind of technology from a science fiction movie. Now, investors are talking with us not about the technology itself, but about the business.”

Jung Eun Shin, CEO of Voinosis (pictured), which won the Minister of SMEs and Startups Award (Excellence Prize) at last year’s Women Startup Competition, said that the award significantly increased market confidence in both the company and its technology.

Voinosis is a digital healthcare startup that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to enable early screening for dementia and to manage cognitive function by analyzing voice data. The company’s name is a combination of “Voice” and “Diagnose.” CEO Shin, a former otolaryngologist, founded the company after losing her father to dementia, with the hope that “no one else should have to go through the same sorrow.”

Although Voinosis had already earned recognition in the global market for its technology—finishing as runner-up at the Startup World Cup finals in the United States in 2023—building the business was not easy. Shin said, “Whenever I met investors, I first had to scientifically explain how voice data and AI technology could be used to identify dementia and cognitive impairment at an early stage.” She added, “After receiving the award, skepticism about the company declined, customer trust increased, and it became much easier to move the business forward.”

The award also strengthened internal cohesion within the company. “As pride in the company grew, employee turnover dropped noticeably,” she said.

Since winning the award, the company’s business expansion has accelerated. In March, Voinosis was selected for the Ministry of SMEs and Startups’ Deep Tech TIPS Overseas Marketing Support Program, which provides R&D funding to startups with outstanding technological capabilities. In April, the company participated in Startup Japan Expo, the largest startup-focused exhibition in Japan, where it also formed a partnership with Japanese healthcare company MBTLink. In June, Voinosis exhibited at Smart Health Asia 2026, a digital healthcare trade exhibition held in Singapore.

Shin also offered advice to younger women entrepreneurs, emphasizing the importance of taking care of their health. “For many women business leaders, another round of work begins at home after they finish their workday at the office,” she said. “Business is not a sprint, but a marathon. That’s why it’s important to get enough rest and take care of your health so that you don’t lose it along the way.”

Reporter: Lee Kwang-sik
bumeran@hankyung.com