JawBuddy Raises 818,000 Euros to Combat Jaw Pain

Chronic jaw pain is a significant burden for many people who suffer from it. Among the common causes is craniomandibular dysfunction (CMD), a disorder of the masticatory system that can be associated with, among other things, pain in the jaw and facial area as well as tension headaches. Teeth grinding and clenching—medically known as bruxism—can also cause discomfort.

Treatment often involves bite splints and regular dental appointments. However, what patients can do on their own between visits is often left up to them. JawBuddy offers an app designed to support patients in their at-home therapy.

HALBZEIT Leads Funding Round

The financing round is led by the healthcare platform HALBZEIT. Other investors include dentist Dr. Siegfried Marquardt, who specializes in aesthetic and functional dentistry as well as implantology, and oral and maxillofacial surgeon Dr. Guido Sigron. Also participating are Mittelständische Beteiligungsgesellschaft Sachsen (MBG) and business angels Christophe Barriolade, Aldrich Huang, Jens Kosche, and Marc Scheidegger.

We invest where a large, underserved market, a clear clinical need, and a reimbursable model converge.

Luisa Wasilewski, Pool Captain at HALBZEIT

The total amount of 818,000 euros also includes the business angel bonus from the Sächsische Aufbaubank. The size of the individual investments and the valuation at which JawBuddy was financed are not known. For HALBZEIT, the primary focus is on the combination of medical need and a potential reimbursement model.

Smartphone Camera to Track Therapy Progress

JawBuddy is developing a personalized therapy program that supports patients with exercises and other self-therapy measures. The app is designed to complement existing dental treatment and, in particular, bridge the gap between office visits. According to the company, the app uses the smartphone camera to track therapy progress. JawBuddy aims to enable more continuous care without requiring patients to visit a dental office for every exercise or follow-up check.

The idea arose from personal experience. Leon Rauch, co-founder and CEO of JawBuddy, says he himself suffered from jaw pain for years.

I myself had jaw pain for years and experienced firsthand how little you can do between two dental appointments.

Leon Rauch, co-founder and CEO of JawBuddy

The app is designed for both people with CMD and patients with bruxism. Both conditions may require long-term treatment and regular self-exercises. JawBuddy is already registered as a Class I medical device under the European Medical Device Regulation (MDR). However, this does not mean that its therapeutic efficacy has already been proven by the announced clinical trial.

Clinical trial with 130 patients planned

A large portion of the funding is to be allocated to the scientific investigation of the digital therapy. JawBuddy plans to launch a multicenter, randomized controlled trial involving a total of 130 patients in December 2026. In this type of study, participants are randomly assigned to different treatment groups to systematically investigate the effect of an intervention.

According to the company, clinical pilot projects are already underway at five locations, including the University Hospital of RWTH Aachen. The planned study will lay an important foundation for the further medical evaluation of the application. The press release does not specify which specific endpoints will be examined or when initial results might be available. For JawBuddy, clinical evidence is likely to be crucial for establishing the product in the mainstream healthcare market in the long term.

Health Insurance Coverage as the Next Step

In addition to clinical validation, the startup is working on a model for cost coverage by statutory health insurers. According to the company, JawBuddy is already in negotiations with a major statutory health insurer regarding a service agreement. This could begin in early 2027.

However, a final agreement has not yet been reached. It also remains unclear which insured individuals would benefit from a potential contract and under what conditions the app could be reimbursed. Such an agreement would be an important step for the business model. Instead of marketing the app exclusively directly to patients, JawBuddy could gain access to a larger patient group through a health insurance provider. At the same time, reimbursement would lower the financial barrier for those affected.