Wara Samar
9th June 2025
MedTech World Startup Pitch Winner NousQ Raises $7.5M to Bring Needle-Free Ear Surgeries Closer to the Clinic
MedTech World Startup Pitch Winner NousQ has successfully closed an over-subscribed USD 7.5 million Pre-Series A funding round in early 2025. The investment will accelerate the company’s mission to make ear tube surgery faster, safer, and needle-free through its flagship innovation: CLiKX, a handheld robotic device that transforms a traditionally invasive procedure into a quick clinic-based intervention.
“This important milestone fuels the CLiKX mission to move ear tube surgeries out of the operating theatre-general anesthesia setting to the clinic—local anesthesia or anesthesia-free setting. So millions the world over can hear their clicks again!” shared the NousQ team.
Also Read: MedTech Innovator’s 2025 Cohort Announced: Startups to Pitch at MedTech World Bay Area, June 26–27
From MedTech World Pitch Stage to Global Backing
Founded by Dr. Lynne Lim, a senior ear-nose-throat (ENT) surgeon and adjunct associate professor at the National University of Singapore, NousQ is committed to addressing a global clinical need: making ear surgeries more accessible and less traumatic, especially for children. Each year, more than one million children worldwide undergo ear tube surgery under general anesthesia, a practice that CLiKX aims to disrupt by reducing both cost and risk.
NousQ’s momentum has been steadily building over the last two years. Dr. Lim first made her mark at MedTech World’s inaugural Singapore roadshow in 2024, where she won the pitch competition and was featured as one of the event’s standout innovators. She returned in 2025 with even greater conviction—clinching the top prize again at MedTech World Dubai’s Startup Pitch Competition earlier this February.
A New Standard for Ear Tube Procedures
From the outset, CLiKX has drawn attention for its potential to shift standard of care protocols. Instead of requiring an operating room, general anesthesia, and extensive post-operative care, CLiKX offers a simplified and precise solution with real-time safety monitoring and one-touch activation—all in a device that fits in the palm of a hand.
At a time when health systems are under pressure to deliver more with less, NousQ’s technology could provide significant relief by cutting surgical wait times, reducing anesthesia risks, and expanding access to care—especially in low-resource settings.
The oversubscribed round signals strong investor confidence in NousQ’s clinical vision and commercial potential. As Dr. Lim and her team look ahead to scaling and regulatory milestones, the company’s success is also a reminder of the power of platforms like MedTech World to amplify promising startups.
Up Next: MedTech World Bay Area, California 2025
Be part of MedTech World Bay Area on June 26–27, 2025—a two-day event designed to connect forward-thinking sponsors, investors, and rising MedTech startups. Held in partnership with MedTech Innovator, this exclusive forum brings you face-to-face with 100+ emerging companies and influential leaders driving the next wave of healthcare innovation. If you’re looking to build strategic partnerships or stay ahead of MedTech developments, this is the place to be. To explore sponsorship opportunities or reserve your place, contact us at [email protected].
