Key Takeaways
• Paris-based startup Poppins secures €5 million in funding to expand its clinically validated dyslexia therapy app.
• The solution delivers home-based support using a game-based format, complementing speech therapy—not replacing it.
• Developed with input from leading neurologists and tested in a 6,000+ participant clinical trial, the app is evidence-based.
• The latest funding round was led by Racine² and brings the company’s total funding to €20 million.
An estimated 1.3 million children in France live with dyslexia, yet the nation employs only 25,000 licensed speech therapists.
This imbalance results in waiting periods of up to 24 months, depriving children of timely support and increasing the risk of long-term academic and psychological challenges.
Dyslexia is the most prevalent learning disability, affecting up to 80% of children with learning disorders. Early intervention is critical, and the lack of accessible therapy remains a national concern.
Poppins: A Tech-Based Response to Therapy Gaps
Founded in 2018 by François Vonthron and Antoine Yuen, Poppins is a healthtech startup originating from École Polytechnique.
It focuses on developing medical-grade digital tools for treating neurodevelopmental disorders, with a core focus on dyslexia.
The startup has created a video game-based app that allows children to:
• Practice language and cognitive skills at home
• Complement, not replace, traditional speech therapy
• Engage in regular, self-paced intervention routines
The app targets the critical care gap between clinic visits, giving children an engaging, structured way to reinforce what they learn during therapy sessions.
Built with Scientific Rigor and Clinical Validation
The app’s development involved a multidisciplinary team of medical professionals and researchers, including:
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Professor Michel Habib, a neurologist at La Timone Hospital (AP-HM)
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Professor David Cohen, head of psychiatry at La Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital (AP-HP)
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Input from the French Dyslexia Federation, ensuring real-world relevance and usability
Poppins was subjected to a double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial involving more than 6,000 families across France. The study confirmed the app’s efficacy in improving dyslexia symptoms when used as a home-based supplement to professional care.
Leadership Statements on Mission and Scale
As the startup prepares for broader deployment, Poppins CEO and co-founder François Vonthron emphasized the need for scaling access:
“The results of our work must now benefit as many people as possible in order to reduce the loss of opportunity caused by difficulties accessing care and increase care capacity for children with dyslexia.”
Investor sentiment aligned with this mission. Eric Gossart, Partner at Serena, added:
“Dys disorders affect 8 per cent of our youth. The consequences on academic success, mental health, and professional integration underscore the public health imperative to improve care pathways to guarantee each child early and intensive support, including in areas most under pressure due to a lack of speech therapists.
Racine2 is proud to support a rigorous and humble team in its mission of strong societal impact.”
Funding Details and Strategic Deployment
The new €5 million funding round was led by Racine², with continued support from:
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Bpifrance Patient Autonome Fund
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Eurazeo
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Kurma Partners
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BNP Paribas Développement
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Verve Ventures
With this investment, Poppins’ total funding now stands at €20 million. The company plans to use the capital to:
• Integrate the platform more deeply into national healthcare pathways
• Expand geographically into underserved regions
• Partner with educational and clinical organizations for wider adoption
By combining clinical credibility, multidisciplinary design, and accessibility, Poppins aims to redefine how early intervention in dyslexia is delivered—at home, every day, and for everyone in need.
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