Q
Category: Voice / Speech AI
A stealth-mode AI startup developing 'silent speech' technology that enables users to communicate with devices through facial movements and subvocalization without making any audible sound. Q was founded in 2022. The company is led by Aviad Maizels. Based in Ramat Gan, Israel. Team size: 100. Total funding raised: $160.0M. Latest round: Series B. Key investors include Kleiner Perkins, Spark Capital, Aleph, Gradient Ventures, Matter Venture Partners, Exor.
- Founded
- 2022
- Headquarters
- Ramat Gan, Israel
- Team size
- 100
- Total funding
- $160.0M
Value proposition
Provides a seamless, private, and noise-immune human-computer interface by decoding intent from facial muscle movements and internal speech signals.
Products and solutions
Silent Speech Recognition Engine, Facial Movement-to-Text Translation AI, Neural Audio Reconstruction Models, Subvocal Command Interface for Wearables
Unique value
The ability to achieve high-accuracy 'speech' recognition without acoustic input, effectively allowing users to 'talk' to AI assistants silently in public or crowded spaces.
Target customer
Consumer electronics users, individuals with speech or vocal impairments, and professionals in high-noise or privacy-sensitive environments.
Industries served
Consumer Electronics, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Accessibility & Assistive Technology, Defense & Secure Communications
Technology advantage
Led by the core team that developed PrimeSense (the tech behind Microsoft Kinect and Apple's FaceID), the company leverages world-class expertise in computer vision, sensor fusion, and neural signal processing.
How they differentiate
Utilizes non-invasive 'silent speech' technology that decodes facial muscle movements and subvocalizations into text/audio using computer vision and neural signal processing, avoiding the need for brain implants or audible input.
Main competitors
Meta (Reality Labs), Neuralink, Cognixion
Key partnerships
Apple (Acquirer and primary integration partner), Kleiner Perkins (Former Lead Investor), Spark Capital (Former Investor), Aleph (Former Investor)
Notable customers
Apple (Acquirer/Parent Company)
Major milestones
Founded in 2022 by the creators of PrimeSense (FaceID technology), Raised $160M in a massive Series B round in 2024, Acquired by Apple for approximately $2 billion in January 2025
Growth metrics
Scaled from founding to a $2 billion acquisition in under 3 years; grew team to 100+ specialized AI and hardware engineers while in stealth.
Market positioning
High-end stealth R&D leader in next-generation Human-Computer Interaction (HCI).
Geographic focus
Global (via Apple integration), with primary R&D operations in Israel.
Patents and IP
Proprietary IP related to subvocal recognition and facial motion tracking (specific patent filings are typically absorbed into Apple's portfolio post-acquisition).
About Aviad Maizels
Aviad Maizels is a high-profile serial entrepreneur and former Apple executive. He is best known as the co-founder and CEO of PrimeSense, the Israeli 3D sensing company that developed the technology for Microsoft's Kinect and was acquired by Apple in 2013 for $360 million. Following the acquisition, Maizels spent nearly nine years at Apple as a Senior Director before founding Q in 2022. He also has a background in the Technical R&D Section of the Israel Ministry of Defense.
Official website: https://q.ai