Cavell: the AI assistant easing doctors’ workload and restoring patient focus

Born out of frustration with the inefficiencies of modern healthcare, Cavell is a Ghent-based health tech startup tackling one of the sector’s biggest pain points: the administrative overload that pulls doctors away from their patients. Founded in 2024 by neurologist Pieter Olivier, AI engineer Anthony Rathé, and Vlerick alumnus Louis Verdonckt, Cavell is developing an AI assistant that listens during consultations, surgeries, or nurse rounds and automatically turns those conversations into structured, coded medical reports, saving doctors up to 20% of their time.

After securing a €25,000 grant from the Vlerick Student Entrepreneurship Fund in 2024, the team has since raised €1.5 million in pre-seed funding and moved into the dynamic Wintercircus startup campus. With several strategic investors now on board, Cavell is focused on further developing its technology and expanding across Belgium and beyond.

A shared vision, different paths

Each of the three founders came to the same conclusion from different directions. Pieter saw the problem firsthand in his medical practice. Anthony lived it indirectly, through his partner, a neurology resident who spent countless evenings typing reports. And Louis saw the cost of administrative inefficiency from inside the corporate healthcare world, working at Johnson & Johnson.

For Louis, the transition from engineering to entrepreneurship was sparked at Vlerick. “The Vlerick environment really woke up my entrepreneurial side,” he recalls. “But I still started out in the corporate world to understand how healthcare systems work from the inside.” The missing piece, he discovered, was speed and ownership. “I’m someone who likes to move fast and work closely with people - not through emails or Teams messages.”

That drive led him to join Anthony and Pieter, who had already been developing the first version of Cavell’s product. From the beginning, the fit was obvious. “We’re not just complementary in our skills,” says Louis. “We actually enjoy doing the parts the others don’t.” That allowed them to divide and conquer: Anthony heads product, Pieter keeps the tool grounded in clinical reality, and Louis leads go-to-market and strategy.

Building Cavell, brick by brick

Officially founded in April 2024, Cavell benefited early on from public and institutional support, including a €25,000 grant from the Vlerick Student Entrepreneurship Fund, as well as subsidies from VLAIO and the City of Ghent. “Without that support, we wouldn’t have survived long enough to raise our first round,” says Anthony.

That round came earlier this year: €1.5 million in pre-seed funding from a mix of strategic investors. The funding will be used to further develop the technology and scale the product across Belgium and Europe.

Scaling from the heart of Ghent

Cavell is now headquartered in the vibrant Wintercircus - an environment buzzing with energy and collaboration. “Being here helps us move faster,” says Louis. “Whether it's quick advice on pricing or connecting us with hospitals. It really makes a big difference.”

Anthony adds that seeing the realities of other startups is also grounding. “From the outside, you just see success stories. Here, you see the struggles too—and that’s oddly reassuring. Everyone’s figuring it out as they go.”

The founders have also learned some hard-earned lessons. Louis offers this advice: “Don’t wait for 100% certainty. People with strong academic backgrounds often want full control before they act - but that moment never comes. At some point, you just have to take the leap.” Anthony agrees: “You’ll never have all the answers, and I underestimated how much certain efforts compound. Once you validate your concept and believe in your team, take the risk. It’s not easy, but it’s worth it.”

And even if the path is far from linear, both founders are clear about the personal payoff. “It’s not a walk in the park, you have to do everything yourself,” says Louis. “But the journey itself is beautiful. We’ve told each other many times: even if we go bankrupt now, no one can take this experience away from us.”

The next leap: expanding the impact

While Cavell started with doctors, its potential extends further. “We’re already exploring applications with nurses, physiotherapists, and psychologists,” says Louis. “Our goal is to reduce friction wherever we can without forcing clinicians to change the way they work.”

For now, the team is focused on hiring and building a product that seamlessly blends into healthcare professionals’ workflows. “It’s not just about saving time,” Anthony says. “It’s about making healthcare more human.”

The applications for the pitching round of the Student Entrepreneurship Fund 2025 are open.