Fangchang Ma
Fangchang Ma is Co-Founder and CEO at Nuance Labs. He previously held research roles at Apple and was a Research Intern at DJI.
Nuance Labs raises $50M Series A to build full‑duplex AI that processes and generates real‑time human cues
Seattle-based Nuance Labs, founded in early 2025 by former Apple PhD researchers Fangchang Ma, Edward Zhang, and Karren Yang, raised $50 million in Series A to build a single "full-duplex" foundation model that simultaneously processes and generates real-time conversational cues from live audiovisual signals. The startup aims to create AI avatars that respond with human-like facial expressions, tone, and timing to enable more natural, in-the-moment interactions.
Nuance Labs raises $50M Series A from Lightspeed with NVIDIA as investor to build full‑duplex conversational foundation model
Nuance Labs raised a $50M Series A led by Lightspeed Venture Partners with NVIDIA joining as a new investor to build a full‑duplex foundation model that perceives and responds to speech, facial expression, gaze, and tone in real time to enable more lifelike, emotionally expressive avatars.
Nuance Labs raises $50M Series A led by Lightspeed to build human foundation model for smoother AI avatars
Nuance Labs raised $50 million in a Series A led by Lightspeed to build a "human foundation model" that reduces lag and awkwardness in AI avatars by adding emotional intelligence and unifying fragmented voice, language, and animation pipelines. Existing investors Accel and South Park Commons returned, and new backers include Nvidia and Define Ventures.
Nuance — founded by three ex-Apple researchers — raises $50M Series A to build audiovisual, emotionally intelligent AI avatars
Seattle-based startup Nuance, founded by three ex-Apple researchers, raised $50 million to build a single-system AI that delivers audiovisual, emotionally intelligent conversations and plans a public research preview later this year.
Nuance Labs, Founded by Ex-Apple PhDs, Raises $10M to Build Emotional AI Model, Chooses Seattle Over San Francisco
Nuance Labs, founded by ex-Apple PhDs Fangchang Ma and Edward Zhang, raised $10 million led by Accel to develop an AI model that understands and expresses emotion, choosing Seattle as their base over San Francisco. The startup aims to create more realistic AI and has attracted local talent enthusiastic about their mission.
Organizations
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Nuance Labs Co-Founder and CEO 2025–present · current
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South Park Commons Founder Fellow 2024–2025 · past
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Apple Research Manager 2022–2024, Senior Research Scientist 2021–2022, Research Scientist 2019–2021 · past
Education
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Massachusetts Institute of Technology Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Autonomous Systems & Robotics · 2013–2019
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The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Bachelor of Engineering, Computer Engineering · 2009–2013
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University of Pennsylvania Computer Engineering · 2012
