SonicHear selected for DWIH Innovate: Michigan Softlanding 2026

As part of DWIH Innovate, the Michigan Softlanding Program will support a selected group of research-based start-ups from Germany in exploring opportunities for transatlantic collaboration and U.S. market engagement. In line with the DWIH's mission to connect research and innovation ecosystems internationally, and with the objectives of Germany's Hightech Agenda, the program is designed to foster transatlantic networks, provide first-hand expertise on the U.S. innovation landscape, and connect participating start-ups with potential partners across research, industry, investment and technology transfer.

Two Cities, Two Sides of Michigan's Innovation Ecosystem

The selection feedback highlighted our approach to bringing our hearing-screening solution into use, alongside our team's background, ambitions and proposed engagement with the programme.

An opportunity to learn, build connections and strengthen our path from prototype to practice.

The five-day programme offers opportunities to connect with research organisations, industry partners and investors, and explore Michigan's innovation ecosystem. Its focus on research, technology transfer and commercialisation is relevant as we continue developing SonicHear's MVP.

For us, this is an opportunity to learn from others' experience and explore how those lessons could support affordable newborn hearing screening in India.

We thank the DWIH New York team for this opportunity and look forward to sharing further updates as our preparations progress.

Our mission is simple. Our ambition is bold: work with partners to help screen 20 million newborns by 2030.