Optolexia

Optolexia, now operating as Lexplore, developed a method for the early identification of dyslexia in children by utilizing eye-tracking technology and artificial intelligence. The company was founded in 2015 by Gustaf Öqvist Seimyr, Mattias Nilsson Benfatto, and Fredrik Wetterhall, based on research from the Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, Sweden.

The core of Optolexia's product is a screening tool that analyzes a child's eye movements while they read text from a screen. A small camera records these movements, and the data is sent to a cloud-based platform, which uses machine learning algorithms to detect patterns indicative of dyslexia. This process provides rapid, objective results that help schools identify at-risk students much earlier than traditional screening methods allow. The solution was built using Microsoft Azure's cloud and machine learning capabilities.

The company's business model targets primary schools and municipalities, offering a tool to optimize resources by identifying which students require further investigation and support. The service was initially launched in Sweden and later expanded with pilot programs in the US and the UK. In March 2017, the company secured approximately $5.6 million in a funding round led by Gabriel Urwitz of Segulah and the Pomona Group to facilitate its international expansion, particularly into the U.S. market. Following this, the company began operating under the name Lexplore.

Keywords: dyslexia screening, eye-tracking technology, artificial intelligence, machine learning, edtech, reading assessment, learning disability identification, educational technology, Karolinska Institutet, Microsoft Azure, cloud-based analysis, student screening, early diagnosis, Lexplore, cognitive assessment, digital health, neurotechnology, pediatric screening, reading difficulties, visual data analysis