Auricle YC Application

Winter 2021Active

Auricle went through Y Combinator in the Winter 2021 batch as a Healthcare company. Below: what the company does, who founded it, and its application to YC, reconstructed question by question in the real YC form.

YC batch: Winter 2021
Industry: HealthcareMedical Devices
Team size: 2
Status: Active
Launched: 2023

Founders

Francis WongFounder
Jay DhuldhoyaFounder

What Auricle does

Auricle is a medical device company building a breakthrough neurostimulation implant to restore hearing in millions of patients who no longer benefit from hearing aids, get less than 60% on a word recognition test, but aren't prepared to make the jump to a cochlear implant. Our approach preserves remaining natural hearing through a reversible and less invasive surgery, addressing the key concerns that hold most patients back from getting a cochlear implant (currently the only treatment option for these patients). The company spun out of Stanford Biodesign having completed two acute human clinical studies demonstrating the approach will work. The team is now focused on developing their full implant system for their first clinical trial. Auricle addresses a currently unserved profile of hearing loss that affects a growing population of 3.5 million patients in the US and represents an immediately accessible $1.2B market opportunity with existing reimbursement.

Auricle's YC application, reconstructed

Y Combinator application

Auricle, Winter 2021 batch. The real form questions, answered from public data.

Founders2
Company7
Progress7
Idea4
Equity3
Curious2
Batch Preference1

Company

Company name

Auricle

Describe what your company does in 50 characters or less.

Neurostimulation implant to restore hearing

What is your company going to make? Please describe your product and what it does or will do.

We are building a fully implantable neurostimulation device that restores hearing for people who don't get enough benefit from hearing aids but aren't ready for cochlear implants. Our implant preserves natural hearing and is less invasive and reversible, filling a gap in current treatment options.

Where do you live now, and where would the company be based after YC?

We live in Mountain View and Oakland, California, and plan to base the company in the Bay Area after YC.

Explain your decision regarding location.

We chose the Bay Area because of proximity to medical device manufacturing, clinical partners, and talent in neurotechnology and healthcare.

21 more answers in the full application

Founders, Progress, Idea, Equity, Curious, Batch Preference are in the full version. Create a free account to open it in YC Insights, next to every other YC batch.

See full application

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this the real Auricle YC application?

No. Y Combinator keeps submitted applications private. This is a reconstruction: the real YC form questions, answered from Auricle's public data (launch notes, founder backgrounds, product description). It shows how a company like Auricle would present itself to YC, not the text they submitted.