Augmental
Augmental is an MIT Media Lab spinoff that builds the MouthPad^, a custom 3D-printed intraoral Bluetooth device that translates tongue and head gestures into hands-free cursor control for primarily people with motor impairments, shipping direct-to-consumer in the United States.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2022
- HeadquartersSan Francisco, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Augmental does
Augmental is an MIT Media Lab spinoff founded by Corten Singer and Tomás Vega that develops the MouthPad^, an intraoral Bluetooth wearable positioned as the world's first hands-free touchpad. The device is custom-fitted to each user via 3D printing and dental resin, sits on the roof of the mouth, and converts subtle tongue and head movements into cursor control, clicks, click-and-drag, and scroll commands that are transmitted as standard Bluetooth HID input to phones, computers, and tablets across MacOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, and Android without installed software. Head-tracking was added in May 2024 as a software feature for all existing devices.
The company targets two customer segments: a primary segment of individuals with motor impairments, spinal cord injuries, paralysis, or limited hand mobility who use the MouthPad^ for daily computing, education, gaming, and creative work, and a secondary segment of general consumers and tech enthusiasts interested in novel hands-free human-computer interaction. The product is distributed exclusively direct-to-consumer through the company's own e-commerce site, gated by a US-only waitlist, with no disclosed retail or reseller channel. Pricing is not publicly listed; the bundled offering includes the custom device, wireless charging case, one-year warranty, lifetime software updates, and hands-on customer support, implying a one-time hardware purchase model rather than recurring subscription.
Augmental is venture-backed (approximately $7.5M raised across 2021, 2023, and 2024 rounds, with a $4M seed reported by Forbes in October 2024), operates from San Francisco with a team of approximately 14, and has been recognized with the Cannes Lions Grand Prix for Innovation (2023), CES Best Pitch (2024), CES Innovation Awards Honoree (2025), and a Forbes 30 Under 30 Social Impact listing for its co-founders. Distribution remains confined to the United States, and revenue figures have not been publicly disclosed.
Augmental firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Augmental
- Legal name
- Augmental
- Website
- https://augmental.tech
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2022
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Augmental is an MIT Media Lab spinoff that builds the MouthPad^, a custom 3D-printed intraoral Bluetooth device that translates tongue and head gestures into hands-free cursor control for primarily people with motor impairments, shipping direct-to-consumer in the United States.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Augmental industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Assistive Technology Hardware
- NAICS
- Electromedical and Electrotherapeutic Apparatus Manufacturing (334510)
- SIC
- Computer Peripheral Equipment, Nec (3577)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Assistive & Accessibility Input Devices (Switches, Adaptive Controllers, Braille Keyboards) (HDACAFAL)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Graphics Tablets, Styluses & Pen Displays (HDACAFAD)
Keywords
Where Augmental is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Francisco
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Augmental business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- MouthPad Hardware Sales: The company generates revenue primarily through direct sales of the MouthPad device. Each purchase includes the custom-designed device, wireless charging case, 1-year warranty, and lifetime software updates.
- Software Updates and Support: Lifetime software updates are included with device purchase, suggesting ongoing value delivery post-sale. Hands-on customer support is provided as part of the purchase package.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Standard MouthPad Package |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels5 records
Augmental product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Augmental designs, manufactures, and sells the MouthPad^, a custom 3D-printed intraoral wearable that sits on the roof of the mouth and converts subtle tongue and head gestures into Bluetooth cursor input. The device functions as a wireless, hands-free mouse for phones, computers, and tablets, primarily serving individuals with motor impairments while also appealing to general consumers interested in novel hands-free interaction.
Product overview
Augmental offers a single unified product, the MouthPad^. The MouthPad^ is a wearable intraoral device that sits on the roof of the user's mouth and translates tongue and head movements into Bluetooth HID input, functioning as a wireless mouse for phones, computers, and tablets. The company provides the MouthPad^ along with a wireless charging case, and customers receive a 1-year warranty, lifetime software updates, and hands-on customer support as part of their purchase.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- MouthPad^: The world's first hands-free touchpad - a smart mouthwear device that allows users to control their phone, computer, and tablet hands-free using tongue and head gestures.
Products and services
- MouthPad^ The MouthPad^ is a custom-fitted, 3D-printed intraoral wearable worn on the roof of the mouth that translates subtle tongue and head movements into Bluetooth HID mouse input (cursor control, clicks, click-and-drag, scroll). It is sold directly to consumers, primarily individuals with motor impairments such as spinal cord injuries, paralysis, or limb differences, enabling hands-free control of phones, computers, and tablets across MacOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, and Android. Each purchase includes the device, wireless charging case, 1-year warranty, lifetime software updates, and hands-on customer support.
Quantifiable outcome
- Users achieve up to 8.51 bits per second (BPS) cursor control speed in benchmark testing
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Augmental
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Augmental technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Augmental partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Augmental competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Tobii Dynavox: Tobii Dynavox is the dominant vendor of eye-tracking-based AAC and computer-access hardware for individuals with motor impairments, including ALS, cerebral palsy, and spinal cord injuries. It is the closest substitute for Augmental's MouthPad for users who cannot move their hands, competing for the same reimbursement-funded accessibility budgets.
- Smartbox Assistive Technology: Smartbox builds AAC devices, accessible switches, and environmental controls for people with disabilities, serving schools, clinics, and individuals. Like Augmental, it competes for the alternative-input category with a focus on hands-free or low-effort computer control for users with motor limitations.
- PRC-Saltillo: PRC-Saltillo manufactures AAC speech-generating devices, accessible input switches, and accompanying apps widely used by speech-language pathologists and disability service providers. It is a comparable channel-led competitor in the accessibility-input market Augmental targets with the MouthPad.
- Ablenet: Ablenet produces adaptive switches, AAC devices, and accessibility hardware used by individuals with physical and cognitive disabilities. It overlaps with Augmental's MouthPad in providing non-traditional input mechanisms for users who cannot operate a standard mouse or keyboard.
- AssistiveWare: AssistiveWare provides AAC and accessibility software (Proloquo, Keeble) used on iOS by people with motor and speech impairments. It is complementary to but competitive with Augmental for accessibility user attention and budgets, particularly among users who can already operate a touchscreen or switch.
Emerging players
- Synchron: Synchron is developing a minimally invasive brain-computer interface (Stentrode) for patients with severe paralysis, enabling hands-free device control. It addresses a similar end-user need as Augmental (hands-free input for motor-impaired users) but through a different (implantable, neurovascular) modality, making it an emerging alternative rather than a direct competitor today.
- Neuralink: Neuralink is developing implantable brain-computer interfaces for direct cursor and device control, with applications for paralysis and motor impairment. It targets the same accessibility users as Augmental but via implanted electrodes; a Neuralink user quote on the Augmental site explicitly compares the two, indicating they are perceived substitutes in the market.
- Emotiv: Emotiv makes consumer and research EEG headsets that interpret brain signals and facial gestures for device control, used in accessibility, gaming, and research. It competes with Augmental for the broader 'alternative input device' narrative but with a head-worn modality rather than intraoral.
- OrCam Technologies: OrCam builds wearable AI devices (MyEye, MyReader) for people who are blind or visually impaired, providing audio descriptions of visual content. It is comparable to Augmental as a venture-backed wearable-AI accessibility hardware company targeting niche user populations with premium pricing.
Broad incumbents
- CTRL-Labs / Meta Reality Labs: CTRL-Labs (acquired by Meta in 2019) developed wrist-based EMG neural interfaces for hands-free input to AR/VR and computing devices. As part of Meta's broader Reality Labs portfolio, it represents an incumbent effort to commercialize non-invasive alternative input methods that would overlap with Augmental's value proposition if scaled.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Augmental social profiles
Digital presenceAugmental financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Augmental leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Augmental funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds4 records
Investors14 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Augmental M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Augmental
What does Augmental do?
Augmental designs, manufactures, and sells the MouthPad^, a custom 3D-printed intraoral wearable that sits on the roof of the mouth and converts subtle tongue and head gestures into Bluetooth cursor input. The device functions as a wireless, hands-free mouse for phones, computers, and tablets, primarily serving individuals with motor impairments while also appealing to general consumers interested in novel hands-free interaction.
Is Augmental a public or private company?
Augmental is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Augmental founded?
Augmental was founded in 2022. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Augmental based?
Augmental is headquartered in San Francisco, United States, in the North America region.
How does Augmental make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. MouthPad Hardware Sales are the primary driver. The others are software Updates and Support.
Who are Augmental's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Tobii Dynavox, Smartbox Assistive Technology, PRC-Saltillo, Ablenet and AssistiveWare. Emerging players are Synchron, Neuralink, Emotiv and OrCam Technologies. CTRL-Labs / Meta Reality Labs is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Augmental have an API?
No public API is recorded for Augmental.
What industry is Augmental in?
Augmental's product category is Assistive Technology Hardware. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDACAFAL, Assistive & Accessibility Input Devices (Switches, Adaptive Controllers, Braille Keyboards), with a secondary code of HDACAFAD, Graphics Tablets, Styluses & Pen Displays. Its NAICS code is 334510 and its SIC code is 3577.