In an era where burnout among healthcare professionals has become a global crisis, a Norwegian HealthTech startup, Noteless, is making waves by tackling this issue head-on. The Oslo-based company recently secured €3.5 million in funding, aimed at solving one of the healthcare sector’s most pressing problems: reducing the documentation burden shouldered by doctors. As a serial entrepreneur and advocate for innovative solutions, I’m always eager to explore startups that address systemic issues, and Noteless has certainly caught my attention.
The medical industry has long been plagued by inefficient processes, with clinicians spending hours on paperwork rather than patient care. Noteless aims to combat this inefficiency with an AI-driven solution to automate medical note-taking and free up valuable time for doctors. Here’s how this startup plans to disrupt the status quo and why their approach is a lesson for entrepreneurs everywhere.
How Automating Clinical Documentation Accelerates Impact
Noteless has developed an AI-powered platform that uses advanced speech recognition and natural language processing (NLP) technologies to generate medical notes during patient consultations. This tool not only eliminates hours spent sifting through paperwork but also improves the quality of patient interactions by creating more time for clinicians to focus on care.
As someone deeply engaged in bringing more women into STEM through gamepreneurship, I’ve often observed that technological solutions rooted in user empathy tend to succeed. Noteless understands the clinician’s pain point: a Haukeland Hospital study found that 60% of doctors spend more than half their day writing medical notes, time that could be directed to better patient outcomes.
In just one year, Noteless has grown its paying customer base by an astounding 360%, currently serving 3,000 clinicians across diverse healthcare markets in Norway, Denmark, Germany, and the UK. Their growth was further fueled by their ability to process over 3 million consultations to date, enabling them to provide consistent, high-quality services to key markets. For anyone in startup circles, these are metrics that scream scalability.
Funding and Industry Comparisons
Led by Redstone, the €3.5 million seed investment includes continued support from Futurum Ventures and Farvatn Ventures. This injection of capital positions Noteless as a key player in Europe’s burgeoning HealthTech sector. While the company is still at its seed stage, it stands tall next to competitors such as Germany’s Aiomics and Sweden’s Tandem Health, which have raised €2 million and €42.6 million respectively in 2025. Noteless has distinguished itself by focusing on automating clinical workflows specifically for general practitioners and specialists.
The demand in this space is immense, evidenced by the fact that AI-driven clinical tools globally have already secured about €48 million in funding in 2025 alone. However, Noteless distinguishes itself by focusing on local languages and medical efficiency, a move that resonates well with Nordic healthcare systems. Their recent recognition as "Health Startup of the Year" at the Health Technology Conference underscores the potential they have to make significant headway in the segment.
Lessons for Startup Entrepreneurs: What We Can Learn From Noteless
1. Empathy-Driven Innovation
Noteless identified a genuine problem doctors faced every day and designed a solution to alleviate that specific challenge. Their approach reaffirms that understanding your end-user deeply is crucial for any startup’s success.
2. Wide Appeal Without Losing Focus
By growing in key healthcare markets, such as Norway, Denmark, Germany, and the UK, Noteless has built a solid foundation in the Nordics before advancing its expansion globally. Even as it develops features catering to specialists beyond GPs, Noteless ensures the core product remains best-in-class.
3. Scaling via Validation
Pilot projects and clear metrics showcase that Noteless doesn’t just hope their tool will work, it’s already making a tangible difference. For entrepreneurs, this is a masterclass in the importance of continual refinement and proof-of-concept validation before scaling.
4. Integration of AI Across Verticals
HealthTech startups are embracing artificial intelligence to disrupt conventional workflows, Noteless, along with peers like Nabla and CodaMetrix, exemplifies how AI can automate resource-heavy processes. These success stories serve as a wake-up call for any industry still resisting technological upgrades.
How to Build a Burnout-Focused Startup
If you’re an entrepreneur looking to emulate Noteless’s trajectory, and I strongly recommend you do if inefficiency is a pain point in your industry, here are some actionable steps to follow:
- Start with Research: Identify the bottlenecks in your target market’s workflow (Noteless did this by investigating medical documentation burdens).
- Develop AI Tools for Practical Problems: Rather than generic applications, design niche technology that solves specific pain points.
- Iterate Through Pilot Testing: Partner with industry leaders in your field for small-scale tests before scaling.
- Secure Growth-Oriented Funding: Look for investors aligned with your mission to avoid losing focus while scaling.
- Optimize User Adoption: Make your product intuitive and ensure it delivers measurable time or cost savings.
For a health-focused AI idea, these steps ensure you're building a product that’s both user-friendly and impactful.
Mistakes to Avoid in Scaling a HealthTech Startup
- Underestimating Customer Support Needs: Scalable adoption demands investment in onboarding and support.
- Failing to Adapt Locally: Different markets have unique regulations and cultural nuances, ignoring these can sabotage expansion plans.
- Overpromising Early: Establish trust by delivering on promises incrementally, especially in regulated industries like healthcare.
- Ignoring Feedback: Digital transformation is an iterative process, continuous improvement based on user data is essential.
Final Thoughts: The Impact of Noteless
Noteless does not merely sell technology; it offers emotional value. The ability to free up doctors’ time so they can focus on healing people rather than battling paperwork has wider implications, not just for medical practices but for the human condition itself. Innovation, after all, has to benefit society at its core.
For entrepreneurs, the takeaway from Noteless’s journey is the power of purpose-driven innovation backed by technology to make a real difference. Much like my push for more women in tech through platforms like Fe/male Switch, their mission reminds us that startups have an unparalleled ability to create impact from the ground up.
As we look forward to what lies ahead for AI and HealthTech, Noteless is a shining example of what can happen when technology meets empathy in an industry ripe for disruption. And for budding entrepreneurs looking for inspiration, their story is proof that the marriage of purpose and innovation is the secret sauce to success.
FAQ
1. What problem is Noteless addressing?
Noteless aims to reduce burnout among healthcare professionals by automating medical note documentation, a task that consumes significant time for clinicians. Learn more about Noteless's AI Solution
2. How does the Noteless platform work?
The platform uses AI technologies, such as speech recognition and natural language processing (NLP), to generate medical notes during patient consultations automatically. Learn about Noteless's AI features
3. How much funding has Noteless raised?
Noteless has raised €3.5 million in a seed funding round led by Redstone, with participation from Futurum Ventures and Farvatn Ventures. Discover details of Noteless funding
4. Who are their customers?
Noteless currently serves approximately 3,000 clinicians across Norway, Denmark, Germany, the UK, and the Netherlands, including general practitioners and specialists.
5. What results has Noteless achieved so far?
The company has processed over 3 million consultations and achieved a paying customer base growth of 360% in just one year. Check out Noteless's achievements
6. What distinguishes Noteless from competitors?
Noteless focuses specifically on automating clinical workflows for general practitioners and specialists while tailoring solutions to local languages, which sets it apart from other HealthTech solutions. See a comparison of HealthTech solutions
7. How is Noteless expanding?
Noteless has built a solid base in Nordic markets and is expanding its reach into the UK, Germany, and the Netherlands, supported by its recent funding round. Learn about Noteless's expansion
8. What recognition has Noteless received?
In October 2024, Noteless was named "Health Startup of the Year" at the Health Technology Conference for its innovative contributions to healthcare. Read about the Health Startup of the Year award
9. What feedback has Noteless received from users?
Studies, such as the one conducted at Haukeland Hospital, indicate that Noteless significantly reduces administrative burdens, with doctors reclaiming hours of their day previously spent on paperwork.
10. What can other startups learn from Noteless's approach?
Noteless's success highlights the importance of empathy-driven innovation, focusing on user pain points, and ensuring product scalability through pilot projects and proof-of-concept validation. Explore tips for startups based on Noteless’s strategy
About the Author
Violetta Bonenkamp, also known as MeanCEO, is an experienced startup founder with an impressive educational background including an MBA and four other higher education degrees. She has over 20 years of work experience across multiple countries, including 5 years as a solopreneur and serial entrepreneur. Throughout her startup experience she has applied for multiple startup grants at the EU level, in the Netherlands and Malta, and her startups received quite a few of those. She’s been living, studying and working in many countries around the globe and her extensive multicultural experience has influenced her immensely.
Violetta Bonenkamp's expertise in CAD sector, IP protection and blockchain
Violetta Bonenkamp is recognized as a multidisciplinary expert with significant achievements in the CAD sector, intellectual property (IP) protection, and blockchain technology.
CAD Sector:
- Violetta is the CEO and co-founder of CADChain, a deep tech startup focused on developing IP management software specifically for CAD (Computer-Aided Design) data. CADChain addresses the lack of industry standards for CAD data protection and sharing, using innovative technology to secure and manage design data.
- She has led the company since its inception in 2018, overseeing R&D, PR, and business development, and driving the creation of products for platforms such as Autodesk Inventor, Blender, and SolidWorks.
- Her leadership has been instrumental in scaling CADChain from a small team to a significant player in the deeptech space, with a diverse, international team.
IP Protection:
- Violetta has built deep expertise in intellectual property, combining academic training with practical startup experience. She has taken specialized courses in IP from institutions like WIPO and the EU IPO.
- She is known for sharing actionable strategies for startup IP protection, leveraging both legal and technological approaches, and has published guides and content on this topic for the entrepreneurial community.
- Her work at CADChain directly addresses the need for robust IP protection in the engineering and design industries, integrating cybersecurity and compliance measures to safeguard digital assets.
Blockchain:
- Violetta’s entry into the blockchain sector began with the founding of CADChain, which uses blockchain as a core technology for securing and managing CAD data.
- She holds several certifications in blockchain and has participated in major hackathons and policy forums, such as the OECD Global Blockchain Policy Forum.
- Her expertise extends to applying blockchain for IP management, ensuring data integrity, traceability, and secure sharing in the CAD industry.
Violetta is a true multiple specialist who has built expertise in Linguistics, Education, Business Management, Blockchain, Entrepreneurship, Intellectual Property, Game Design, AI, SEO, Digital Marketing, cyber security and zero code automations. Her extensive educational journey includes a Master of Arts in Linguistics and Education, an Advanced Master in Linguistics from Belgium (2006-2007), an MBA from Blekinge Institute of Technology in Sweden (2006-2008), and an Erasmus Mundus joint program European Master of Higher Education from universities in Norway, Finland, and Portugal (2009).
She is the founder of Fe/male Switch, a startup game that encourages women to enter STEM fields, and also leads CADChain, and multiple other projects like the Directory of 1,000 Startup Cities with a proprietary MeanCEO Index that ranks cities for female entrepreneurs. Violetta created the "gamepreneurship" methodology, which forms the scientific basis of her startup game. She also builds a lot of SEO tools for startups. Her achievements include being named one of the top 100 women in Europe by EU Startups in 2022 and being nominated for Impact Person of the year at the Dutch Blockchain Week. She is an author with Sifted and a speaker at different Universities. Recently she published a book on Startup Idea Validation the right way: from zero to first customers and beyond, launched a Directory of 1,500+ websites for startups to list themselves in order to gain traction and build backlinks and is building MELA AI to help local restaurants in Malta get more visibility online.
For the past several years Violetta has been living between the Netherlands and Malta, while also regularly traveling to different destinations around the globe, usually due to her entrepreneurial activities. This has led her to start writing about different locations and amenities from the POV of an entrepreneur. Here’s her recent article about the best hotels in Italy to work from.
About the Publication
Fe/male Switch is an innovative startup platform designed to empower women entrepreneurs through an immersive, game-like experience. Founded in 2020 during the pandemic "without any funding and without any code," this non-profit initiative has evolved into a comprehensive educational tool for aspiring female entrepreneurs.The platform was co-founded by Violetta Shishkina-Bonenkamp, who serves as CEO and one of the lead authors of the Startup News branch.
Mission and Purpose
Fe/male Switch Foundation was created to address the gender gap in the tech and entrepreneurship space. The platform aims to skill-up future female tech leaders and empower them to create resilient and innovative tech startups through what they call "gamepreneurship". By putting players in a virtual startup village where they must survive and thrive, the startup game allows women to test their entrepreneurial abilities without financial risk.
Key Features
The platform offers a unique blend of news, resources,learning, networking, and practical application within a supportive, female-focused environment:
- Skill Lab: Micro-modules covering essential startup skills
- Virtual Startup Building: Create or join startups and tackle real-world challenges
- AI Co-founder (PlayPal): Guides users through the startup process
- SANDBOX: A testing environment for idea validation before launch
- Wellness Integration: Virtual activities to balance work and self-care
- Marketplace: Buy or sell expert sessions and tutorials
Impact and Growth
Since its inception, Fe/male Switch has shown impressive growth:
- 5,000+ female entrepreneurs in the community
- 100+ startup tools built
- 5,000+ pieces of articles and news written
- 1,000 unique business ideas for women created
Partnerships
Fe/male Switch has formed strategic partnerships to enhance its offerings. In January 2022, it teamed up with global website builder Tilda to provide free access to website building tools and mentorship services for Fe/male Switch participants.
Recognition
Fe/male Switch has received media attention for its innovative approach to closing the gender gap in tech entrepreneurship. The platform has been featured in various publications highlighting its unique "play to learn and earn" model.