Following on the heels of a successful first three years, speech coaching app Speeko released its 2.0 update this week.
Speeko uses artificial intelligence and automated speech recognition to listen to how you speak, measuring a variety of metrics including words used and pacing to see if you sound professional. The app then gives you coaching specifically tailored to how you can best improve your speaking skills.
2020 was a huge year for Speeko. Since the start of the pandemic, the company has seen a 5x increase in business and has now surpassed 100,000 users.
The new 2.0 version of the app comes with several updates including redesigned speech coaching lessons and exercises, over 30 brand new courses and 200 activities, and feedback on word choice.
“These are covering all kinds of topics like articulation, pacing, intonation, but also even bigger topics like charisma, emotion, persuasion, how to sound more confident over online presentations,” said Nico Aguilar, CEO and co-founder of Speeko. “We’ve had a ton of people reach out saying that what they’re using Speeko for right now is becoming a better speaker productive on Zoom meetings and other online settings.”
The 2.0 update also comes with increased accessibility for users with low vision or hearing loss. The company worked with the consulting firm Assistive Technologies Consulting to assess the app for features that were inaccessible to switch control users. They’ve built extensive support for VoiceOver, switch control, and other assistive technologies and have added transcripts as an alternative to audio-based content.
“It’s all going towards our mission of democratizing this skill,” said Aguilar. “We want to democratize the learning of public speaking, take the mystery out of it, make it more accessible for everyone in the world.”
The app offers a free tier for users and a paid subscription tier that provides more advanced analytics for $11.99 per month or $49.99 per year.
Previous Coverage
Speeko awarded $25,000 at Startup Pitch Day in Jefferson -Oct. 9, 2019
Speeko is using technology to create better public speakers -Jan. 22, 2019
