Auvia aims to close maternal mental health gaps with voice-based support

As part of MKEStartup.News’ exploration of Wisconsin’s regional startup ecosystems, we’re spotlighting standout innovators from the New North region this week.

About 1 in 8 women in the U.S. report symptoms of postpartum depression (PPD), translating to over 460,000 mothers each year. Less known is that 1 in 10 dads experience PPD. Behind these statistics are families in crisis.

When Appleton-based entrepreneur Nicole Hurd experienced prenatal depression during her first pregnancy, she was surprised by how isolated and unsupported she felt. Diagnosed at 26 weeks, she continued to struggle well into postpartum, all while trying to maintain a relationship, work full-time and care for her newborn.

“It was a really long time to feel disconnected and disoriented,” Hurd said. “I didn’t feel like I had safety wrapped around me.”

She knew that support was available, but nothing seemed like the right fit. Many of the maternal mental health tools she looked at felt impersonal, outdated, or difficult to use. And like many new mothers, Hurd did not reach out to her doctor. She admitted she was not honest during her six-week postpartum screening regarding her mental health because she feared the consequences, which may have included hospitalization or a temporary loss of custody.

“We created this double-edged sword of silent suffering because of the fear and stigma,” she said. “Both sides of the coin are bad, which then means people are falling through the cracks.”

In the midst of this difficult time, Hurd became a single parent.

“It felt shattering,” she said. “It’s like I teleported somewhere and then I teleported back and everything was different.”

That life-changing experience led Hurd to launch her emerging company, Auvia, in 2024. The maternal mental health app is designed to close three gaps she believes are critical in supporting new parents: self-sufficiency, partner communication, and reliable safety support.

Auvia uses consent-based voice biomarker analysis technology to support its users. When a user speaks into the app, the tool measures tone, pitch and other vocal attributes to detect emotional changes. It then compares those markers to clinical data sets the team is developing with university partners.

“When you say you’re fine, the app actually knows if you’re not fine,” Hurd said. “If you dip below your (vocal)baseline, two things happen. You’ll be prompted to reach out to your healthcare provider, and your opted-in support network will receive a gentle message to check in.”

Each user can identify up to three support contacts. The alert is intentionally vague, avoiding stigma or alarm while prompting timely connection.

“We want your support network to come to you,” she said. “Asking for help can be very hard sometimes.”

A unique focus on both parents

Unlike traditional maternal health apps, Auvia includes the partner. Users can choose to share filtered emotional insights through the app, allowing each partner to better understand what the other is experiencing.

“If you only focus on the mom, the person who is supposed to be supporting her gets left out of the story,” Hurd said. “If the partner isn’t mentally sound, you’re leaving opportunity for relationship breakdown, and then a baby ends up being passed back and forth between two different homes in their early infant stage.”

Auvia’s design encourages clearer communication without judgment or emotional overload. The app can extract “helpful” language, making it easier for partners to respond with empathy rather than defensiveness.

Designed for a two-year postpartum window

The app is built for use from pregnancy through the first two years postpartum, a period when symptoms are most likely to emerge and strain relationships.

“If your partner has postpartum, you’re ten times more likely to have postpartum yourself,” Hurd noted. “We really do mirror emotion.”

While some companies partner with healthcare systems, Hurd does not plan to integrate Auvia into clinical screening frameworks. She believes the reporting requirements tied to postpartum mental health screenings are a barrier to honest communication.

“If we can’t get women to be honest at their six-week postpartum checkup and nobody is asking why, we have some issues,” she said.

Instead, she aims to partner with doula organizations and maternal support networks across Wisconsin.

Early release expected in 2026

Auvia is currently in development and is expected to launch a beta version in early 2026. More than 200 people have already signed up for early access, which will be capped to ensure a manageable rollout.

“We want to make sure our environment is stable and can handle the load,” Hurd said.

For Hurd, the work is both personal and urgent.

“At the end of the day, this is about fostering healthier families and better environments for infants to come into,” she said.