Speech therapy startup Iyaso secures pre-seed funding

Speech therapy company Iyaso has raised $500K in a pre-seed funding round led by Malpani Ventures, along with participation from several angel investors.

The proceeds will be used to develop novel and innovative AI-powered digital therapeutics that redefine how speech and communication challenges are treated worldwide, Iyaso said in a press release.

Founded in 2023 by Viraj Kulkarni, Iyaso is an AI-powered platform offering solutions for speech therapy. It aims to help users overcome stuttering through speech therapy and provides a guided program to enhance fluency and develop a positive attitude toward speaking. The platform aspires to empower speech therapy using AI to make it more effective, engaging, and accessible than ever before.

According to market research, over 400 million people worldwide struggle with speech and language disorders, which directly impact their academics, careers, and social interactions.

According to the Pune-based company, it has developed structured and personalized interventions to help users learn, practice, and apply speech therapy techniques in real-world situations.

Iyaso states that its first product, Eloquent for Stuttering, has been used by more than 20,000 users across over 150 countries since its launch in July 2024. Eloquent helps people who stutter improve fluency and confidence through AI-driven exercises and immersive practice simulations. Early validation studies show a 53% reduction in stuttering severity and a 34% improvement in communication confidence, with more than 75% of participants moving to a lower stuttering severity category after using it.