Mylo Speech CEO and Founder Vincent Rocha
Recently, Mylo Speech became one of the nine Filipino startups named in the TOP100 Growth Program 2024, leading up to the Echelon X event at the Singapore Expo, May 15-16.
The programme spotlights startups poised for exponential growth, benefitting them with regional exposure, funding opportunities, mentorship, and access to exclusive networking events.
“Being part of Echelon’s TOP100 Growth Program is an ‘ausome’ opportunity for Mylo Speech Buddy and my fellow autism parents. This opportunity provides us unparalleled access to investors and mentors who can help us scale our impact. We are excited to leverage this platform to further our mission of supporting children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and speech delays,” said Vincent Rocha, CEO and Founder of Mylo Speech Buddy, in a press statement.
Mylo Speech is an app designed to support individuals with speech delays and ASD in their speech therapy journey.
ASD affects approximately one per cent of the global population, or 75 million individuals worldwide. The Philippines has around 1.2 million reported cases of ASD, with approximately one in 100 children diagnosed with autism.
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“Our goal is to help nonverbal children develop from zero words to their first spoken word and to address the urgent need for accessible and affordable therapy services for these individuals,” Rocha explains.
However, he stresses that the app is not meant to replace traditional speech therapy but to supplement it.
“Our app enables parents to actively support their child’s speech development at home, working alongside speech therapists and medical professionals to provide a holistic approach … We encourage families to continue with professional therapy while using our app at home for additional practice.”
Mylo Speech has a core team of four dedicated members, including Rocha, co-founder Enrico Aquino, and professionals from various fields, such as speech pathology and technology development. The startup has raised an undisclosed funding round and is open to new funding opportunities to expand its reach and improve its services.
In this email interview with e27, co-founder Rocha explains more details about how the platform works and how his own journey as a parent of an autistic child inspired the creation of Mylo Speech.
This is an edited excerpt of the interview:
How does the Mylo Speech platform work?
Mylo Speech Buddy uses a research-backed video modelling method that has been proven effective since the 1980s. It offers clear enunciation guidance and structured exercises. The app is available for download on the Apple Store and Google Play Store.
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Once downloaded, users can create an account using their email to access the learning language levels. The levels are based on how many words a child can speak. If unsure, it is best to start at level one.
The app suggests that each video module should be watched twice in the morning, afternoon and evening. It is recommended that a parent or an adult companion be present while the learner is watching to provide guidance.
A typical Mylo module lasts only three to six minutes, with preferred watch times of 10 – 20 minutes each in the morning, afternoon, and evening. This consistent, short practice throughout the day helps reinforce learning effectively.
“Ausome” parents can also monitor their child’s progress and celebrate their achievements in the app. This feature tracks milestones, assesses improvement, and provides valuable insights into their speech development journey.
Can you tell us about your product development process? Do you involve the autistic community in this process?
Our product development is collaborative and community-focused. We work closely with speech pathologists, occupational therapists, and medical professionals to develop the initial content of the Mylo app.
We aim to continue working closely with more speech-language pathologists and developmental paediatricians to ensure that we complement their efforts in assisting children with autism spectrum disorder and speech delay.
Additionally, as a parent of a child with autism, I bring personal insights to the development process. We actively seek feedback from families within the autism community to ensure our app meets their needs.
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Can you share any success stories/case studies from your users?
We are in the process of collecting testimonials from our users, who have shown significant, visible improvements in their children’s verbal abilities.
On a personal note, I have seen significant progress with my own son, Noah. He has moved from being nonverbal to speaking his first words, which has been incredibly rewarding.
What is your user acquisition strategy?
We leverage social media campaigns, partnerships with autism organisations, and participation in pitch competitions to raise awareness. Our “Ausome Stories” series, launched on April 2 during our app launch and World Autism Awareness Day, shares real-life success stories and has helped us reach a broader audience.
For this campaign, we have invited 11 families to share their real-life experiences. Our aim is to raise awareness about the lives and challenges faced by families with members diagnosed with ASD. We hope to garner support in spreading awareness about this important cause.
What is your plan for 2024?
This year, we plan to enhance the app’s features, expand our user base, and strengthen our partnerships with autism organisations. We already have over 50,000 downloads and aim to achieve 120,000 by the end of 2024. Our goal is to continue providing accessible speech therapy support tools and to make a significant impact on the lives of children with autism and their families.
While Mylo is currently only available in English, we are actively exploring the localisation of our content for different countries worldwide. Our team is dedicated to making Mylo Speech Buddy accessible to all individuals who could benefit from it, regardless of their language preference.
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Image Credit: Mylo Speech
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