As healthcare systems across Europe face increasing operational pressure, administrative inefficiencies are becoming a major barrier to delivering timely patient care. In Italy, where phone calls remain the dominant channel for booking medical appointments, clinics and diagnostic centres are often overwhelmed by high volumes of incoming requests. CiaoDott, a newly launched voice AI startup, is aiming to address this challenge by automating patient communication and streamlining appointment management. The company has raised €1.5 million in a pre seed funding round to accelerate the development of its platform.
Funding to scale voice AI in healthcare
The €1.5 million round was led by Techshop, with participation from Vento, Club degli Investitori, Growth Engine, and Alpha Venture. The funding will be used to enhance the company’s technology and expand its reach across Italy’s healthcare sector.
Founded in 2025, CiaoDott is focused on building a vertical voice AI solution tailored specifically for medical environments. The company aims to improve how healthcare providers manage patient communication by automating routine interactions.
Addressing telephone overload in clinics
In Italy, the telephone continues to play a central role in healthcare access. More than 70 per cent of medical appointments are booked via phone calls, yet a significant portion of these calls go unanswered due to limited administrative capacity.
This creates delays for patients and adds pressure on healthcare staff, who must balance administrative tasks with clinical responsibilities. CiaoDott’s platform is designed to reduce this burden by handling a large share of incoming calls autonomously.
The system can manage around 70 per cent of patient interactions, including appointment bookings, rescheduling, and responses to common enquiries. By automating these processes, healthcare organisations can improve responsiveness while freeing up staff to focus on patient care.
A vertical approach to AI in healthcare
CiaoDott differentiates itself through a specialised approach tailored to the healthcare sector. Unlike generic AI solutions, the platform is designed to follow medical workflows accurately and handle the specific requirements of patient communication.
This includes understanding appointment types, managing availability, and ensuring that responses remain consistent and reliable. The goal is to provide a seamless experience for patients while maintaining the operational standards required in healthcare settings.
The company’s focus on vertical integration allows it to address the unique challenges of medical centres more effectively than general purpose tools.
Early traction and market opportunity
CiaoDott has already established collaborations with several healthcare organisations, including medical centres and diagnostic laboratories. These early partnerships demonstrate the practical application of its technology and provide validation of its approach.
The market opportunity is significant. Italy’s healthcare sector represents a large and complex ecosystem, with thousands of facilities requiring efficient communication systems. With healthcare spending accounting for a substantial portion of the country’s economy, there is growing demand for solutions that improve operational efficiency.
As clinics and healthcare providers look for ways to optimise processes and manage increasing patient demand, voice AI is emerging as a promising tool.
Expanding capabilities and use cases
With the new funding, CiaoDott plans to further develop its platform and expand its capabilities across additional medical specialities. This includes areas such as orthopaedics, dentistry, and dermatology, where appointment management can be particularly complex.
The company also intends to invest in marketing initiatives to increase adoption and build awareness among healthcare providers.
By extending its solution to a broader range of use cases, CiaoDott aims to become a comprehensive communication layer for medical organisations.
Improving efficiency and patient experience
The automation of routine communication tasks has the potential to significantly improve both operational efficiency and patient satisfaction. Faster response times, consistent information, and reduced waiting periods can enhance the overall experience for patients seeking care.
At the same time, healthcare professionals benefit from reduced administrative workloads, allowing them to dedicate more time to clinical activities.
Supporting the future of healthcare operations
As voice AI technology continues to advance, its applications in healthcare are expanding. Solutions like CiaoDott highlight how automation can be integrated into existing workflows without disrupting core services.
By focusing on a specific and high impact problem, the company is positioning itself as a key player in the digital transformation of healthcare operations in Italy.
With fresh funding and early market traction, CiaoDott is working to redefine how medical centres manage patient communication, aiming to create a more efficient and responsive healthcare system.
