ReadLer Raises €350K for AI Speech Assistant Speaklee
Amsterdam-based startup ReadLer has successfully secured a €350,000 convertible loan from the Noord-Holland Innovation Fund, marking a significant step forward for its AI-powered digital speech assistant, Speaklee. This crucial investment is set to accelerate the development of Speaklee, a tool specifically designed to aid children grappling with speech and language disorders, providing them with instant feedback on pronunciation and fostering improved communication skills.
Speaklee, incubated at the Vrije Universiteit’s Demonstrator Lab, leverages advanced machine learning algorithms to dissect words into their smallest speech units, known as phonemes. This allows the technology to meticulously analyze each phoneme for correct pronunciation, offering detailed, almost tutor-like guidance to young users. Beyond individual words, Speaklee guides children through a structured progression of sounds, words, sentences, and even entire texts, integrating established speech therapy techniques like strategic consonant placement and word practice to gradually increase difficulty. To maintain engagement, the platform incorporates gamified elements, making practice an enjoyable experience. For speech therapists and parents, Speaklee offers an intuitive dashboard to monitor a child’s growth, set personalized tasks, and review comprehensive reports detailing practice frequency, progress, and common mistakes, thereby enabling consistent practice at home between professional sessions.
ReadLer’s commitment extends beyond technological innovation; the company is driven by a profound social mission. Founded by Quint Wiersma, Francisco Blasques, and Pascal Koot, the team aims to expand access to speech therapy, promoting equal opportunities and inclusion for children with language and speech impairments. Their vision includes a “speech fountain” initiative, pledging to donate one Speaklee app for every one sold through NGO partnerships, thereby making literacy more accessible globally. This commitment is further solidified by a strategic partnership with Koninklijke Auris Group, a leading Dutch institution specializing in language, hearing, and speech therapy, with whom ReadLer collaborates on content development and real-world effectiveness testing. The company is also actively pursuing pathways for Speaklee to be covered by health insurers, underscoring its dedication to accessibility.
The founders bring a robust blend of academic and business acumen to ReadLer. Quint Wiersma, the CEO, is a Postdoc Data Scientist, while Francisco Blasques serves as a Professor of Econometrics and Data Science, heading the technical and AI development. Pascal Koot joined to bolster the team’s business development and go-to-market strategies. Their academic roots are deeply embedded, having emerged from the Vrije Universiteit’s Demonstrator Lab, an academic pre-commercial incubator. ReadLer’s innovative approach has already garnered significant recognition, including winning the 2024 Summer Pitch Event organized by the Demonstrator Lab and securing the Amsterdam Science & Innovation Award 2025 in the Society category. The startup also had the opportunity to pitch at the World Summit AI in 2024, showcasing its potential on a global stage.
The investment from the Noord-Holland Innovation Fund is a testament to Speaklee’s potential for both technological advancement and societal impact. Ludolf Stavenga, the fund manager, emphasized that ReadLer “combines smart technology with social impact,” highlighting such applications as “essential for the future of healthcare and education.” The fund itself is a collaborative initiative backed by various institutions, including the Province of North Holland and the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, specifically designed to provide convertible loans to innovative startups in the region.
This funding arrives at a time when artificial intelligence is increasingly revolutionizing the field of speech therapy. AI-powered tools are enhancing diagnostic capabilities, enabling rapid and accurate assessments of language skills, and facilitating earlier interventions. They offer the potential to provide personalized therapy plans, real-time feedback, and continuous support outside of traditional one-on-one sessions, addressing challenges like large caseloads for speech-language pathologists and improving overall accessibility to care. Speaklee stands at the forefront of this transformation, aiming to make a tangible difference in the lives of countless children by fostering clear communication and, ultimately, promoting greater inclusion in society.