Portuguese startup Metablue Solution has launched an international crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo, aiming to raise $250,000 to complete the development of Otitest, a connected medical device designed to detect early signs of ear infections in children.
Otitest, shaped like an ear thermometer, combines RGB light technology, fiber optics, and artificial intelligence to collect optical and thermal data from the ear canal and eardrum.
The system’s algorithm, now under development, estimates the probability of acute otitis media – a middle ear infection that often causes pain, fever, and irritability – in children between six months and seven years old.
The device is intended for home use by parents and caregivers. It is also designed to support healthcare professionals, particularly pediatricians, as a complementary monitoring tool, while telemedicine providers and daycare centers may adopt it for remote triage.
In addition to enabling early detection without the need for immediate in-person consultations, the company highlights benefits such as reducing unnecessary emergency visits, supporting more judicious use of antibiotics, and giving families greater reassurance. An educational app is also planned, offering games and content to help children learn about ear care.
Campaign objectives
For CEO Raul Almeida, a biomedical engineer, the mission is not just professional but also personal, as he experienced repeated ear infections as a child that nearly caused him to lose his hearing. Those experiences shaped his determination to ensure other families would not face the same situation.
“Our mission is to protect the ears of tomorrow. We want to make detecting ear infections as easy as detecting fever.”
He describes the Indiegogo launch as an important step both financially, to fund the next phase of development, and strategically, to demonstrate market demand.
“The funds raised will help us grow our team, cover clinical insurance, and fund biological, electrical, and EMC certification tests,” he told Portugal Startup News.
“It will also strengthen our position for the next investment round. We have not yet closed our current fundraising, and much of the feedback from investors has been about demonstrating market interest.”
The company, a spinoff of the University of Porto, notes that beyond validating demand and raising funds, the campaign is also meant to build a user base.
Almeida said they want to build a community of parents who care about their children’s ear health, with Otitest serving as the first test of how strongly that mission is embraced.
Indiegogo’s international reach, he noted, will be essential for gathering customer insights outside Portugal and positioning the solution as a global product.
The wider impact of ear infections
The need for solutions in this field is significant. At least 80% of children under five experience a case of acute otitis media, which may result in complications. The World Health Organization estimates that in resource-poor countries, about 51,000 children under five die each year from complications of the condition.
Hearing loss in children is not only a medical issue but also one with lasting social and educational consequences.
Research shows it can hinder speech and language development, reduce attention and listening skills, and contribute to behavioral and emotional problems. Over time, these challenges may lead to poorer school performance, early school-leaving, and even limited opportunities in adulthood, with impacts felt by both families and communities.
Why Indiegogo
Regarding the choice of Indiegogo, Almeida said the team selected the platform because it is a trusted global marketplace, used by thousands who believe in early-stage innovation and want to help bring meaningful ideas to life, adding that they value this spirit of “community-powered progress.”
The campaign includes four rounds of early-bird promotions offering discounted access to the device, with plans to ship up to 2,500 units. Delivery is currently projected for late 2026 or early 2027, although the goal is to deliver sooner. Backers are promised monthly updates and quarterly reports during the process.
The company began preparing for crowdfunding last year but only shifted focus to it in April after reaching a new stage of prototype development. Notably, Almeida said one of the challenges was navigating advertising policies involving children.
“Using baby models and involving parents was a carefully considered decision,” he said. “We spent significant time studying regulations and best practices around content featuring minors, ensuring that anything we publish online is respectful, appropriate, and aligned with our values.”
Next steps in development
The company has already built final engineering prototypes in collaboration with INL and Everythink and is collecting clinical data at ULS de Braga and 2CA-Braga.
Pre-compliance testing has been completed for electrical safety, electromagnetic compatibility, and biocompatibility barriers, and a functional app and cloud system are in place for anonymized data storage.
Looking ahead, the startup plans to use the crowdfunding proceeds to complete trials, expand its team, and pursue CE marking and FDA approval, with next steps including a large-scale clinical study, broader testing in daycares and pediatric clinics, and educational campaigns for parents. They are also developing OtiVet, a veterinary version of the device for dogs.
Global growth plans
Almeida said their current target markets are Iberia and the United States, and that they have already engaged in conversations with the FDA and Notified Bodies for CE marking.
“For global expansion, our initial focus will be to strengthen our presence within the U.S. as well as in European countries where ear infections are highly prevalent, such as Italy and France. However, this is a global problem, and countries in Africa, South America, and Asia are also on our radar.”
The core team includes Almeida, software developer Faustino Pinto, and product designer Nayara Hernandez, supported by advisors in medicine, regulation, and business, among them pediatricians and senior engineers.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice, investment advice, or an endorsement of the campaign. Readers should conduct their own research before making any financial commitments.
Featured image: From left: Software developer Faustino Pinto, product designer Nayara Hernandez, and CEO Raul Almeida. (Photo courtesy of Metablue)
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