Neuroengineer Maria Eduarda Franklin, 23 years old, founder of the health solutions startup DBrazil, was one of 200 selected for the second phase of the Northeast Paraíba Startup Program. Maria Eduarda, who is also a biomedical engineer from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), founded the company in December 2021, with the aim of creating a space where “young scientists could focus on developing solutions that reach who needs it most.” 

The approved project aims to develop an individual sound amplifier device, to improve the quality of sound capture and delivery to people with some degree of hearing impairment. 

This is not the first time that the company has been approved in an acceleration notice. In addition to Startup Nordeste, DBrazil was also selected in the InovAtiva notice, a hub that aims to boost Brazilian innovative entrepreneurship, where it achieved one of the 10 best positions among innovative companies in the health sector; and by Catalisa, from the Brazilian Micro and Small Business Support Service (SEBRAE), where it was among the 25 best projects in Brazil. 

“I get extremely worried when I see research efforts ending in an article. The products we develop often don't reach those who need them most. What we are looking for is to create a quality product for those who need to consume it”, says Maria Eduarda. 

Currently, DBrasil has a team of 11 young scientists, in addition to the company's 4 founders. They are researchers in the areas of information technology, engineering and design, focused on developing the products and solutions designed by the company. “We are bringing scientists to the market. Our team is made up of young scientists, so we are doing research all the time, but focused on the product”, he adds.