Swiss startup Typewise has raised €1 million to develop its next-gen smartphone keyboard

Swiss-based startup Typewise has successfully raised €1 million in a seed round from Swiss investors to develop the future between human and machines through on-device, AI powered, text prediction technology.

Typewise Keyboard was the first app produced by the company and has been downloaded over 450,000 times in just a few months. The purpose is to reduce typos by 4x compared to other keyboards while offering full user privacy.

The new funding has allowed the company to plan the release of its advanced AI text prediction technology as part of a research grant in collaboration with Europe’s leading science institution, ETH Zurich. Ultimately, this technology will bring text predictions to any application.

One of the most important human-machine interfaces is the smartphone keyboard. According to Typewise, we use it 76 times per day on average on a range of apps. 70% of smartphone users, however, aren’t happy with frequent typos as the traditional keyboards are too small and the keys are too close together. According to a study by the University of Cambridge, one out of five worlds typed contains a typo.

Due to the fact that keyboards can record what users write, 77% of users are concerned about their privacy. AI technology is used in most keyboard apps to reduce typos, relying on an internet connection to train their central algorithms or to feed their business models with user data. Unfortunately, big keyboard apps such as Go Keyboard and Kika Keyboard have abused this and subsequently been banned from the app stores.

On the contrary, Typewise ensures 100% full privacy as all the data stays on the device.

With greater control, this next generation smartphone keyboard will decrease typos and ensure a more enjoyable typing experience.