Sydney edtech startup Language Confidence, which makes use of synthetic intelligence to assist folks study to talk English, has raised US$1.5 million (A$2.05m) in a seed spherical.
The spherical was led by Southeast Asian VC Wavemaker Companions with assist from Sydney early-stage VC Investible.
The funds are earmarked for increase Language Confidence’s product vary of AI-powered APIs and automatic English checks, in addition to constructing its already international buyer base.
Language Confidence provides an API (plugin) that ‘listens’ to college students and might assess and proper their spoken English pronunciation with visible suggestions. The API may be plugged into any digital platform and improve spoken merchandise’ engagement, retention and pupil’s studying.
The automated English check, provided as a white-labeled platform, can be utilized, together with mock high-stakes testing, placement testing, and diagnostic testing for universities, faculties, on-line platforms and governments.
Co-Founder and CEO Nick Jenkins stated Language Confidence’s API product is utilized in a variety of how from check preparation, to B2B and company English, direct-to-consumer (as an app) and the learning-assisted (i.e. dyslexia) markets.
“There are 1.4 billion folks spending US$60 billion making an attempt to study English, and there merely aren’t sufficient lecturers to go round,” he stated.
“I wished to automate and scale what I used to be doing as an actual human instructor with a concentrate on talking. There’s a enormous alternative to unlock common entry to the English language by leveraging synthetic intelligence.”
He fashioned sturdy relationships with PhD college students at MIT’s Speech Lab, who shared his imaginative and prescient and went on to turn out to be shareholders and technical advisors to the startup.
Jenkins, who comes from a household of educators, stated his startup has helped democratise entry to high-quality language training.
“We provide our API on a per-student or per-usage foundation, and our check at a per-test charge. We’re very enthusiastic about what the long run holds, contemplating the purchasers we’ve secured and the curiosity we’re seeing in our expertise,” he stated.
“I imagine in companies that do one thing good for the world and construct a big, sustainable enterprise on the similar time. Language Confidence is strictly that.”
Having employed a chief industrial officer and seen 5x progress enterprise clients and greater than 10x uplift in inbound leads in 2021, with out outbound gross sales and advertising, Jenkins is now trying to ramp up progress around the globe.
Eric Manlunas, Basic Accomplice at Wavemaker Companions Southeast Asia, praised his focus.
“Nick is a three-time founder who skilled first-hand the ache factors of educating English, giving him distinctive perception into the area,” he stated.
“With that perception, Language Confidence has constructed the best-in-class API-based product that’s beloved by stakeholders throughout the board, from conventional universities to international edtech gamers.
“Even with a lean staff, it has been in a position to compete towards well-funded opponents and signal institutional purchasers, serving to 1000’s of scholars study and converse English consequently. We’re extremely excited to see how the Language Confidence staff will revolutionize English studying globally.”
