In 2018, Whispp was born from a straightforward yet transformative idea: to empower individuals with voice disabilities to communicate confidently. The inspiration came from our founders, Joris Castermans and Akash Raj Komarlu, whose personal experiences and conversations with those affected by vocal impairments highlighted a gap in traditional assistive technology.
Existing tools often relied on speech-to-text conversion, which, while useful, lacked the nuance and fluidity needed for natural conversations. These challenges drove us to rethink the possibilities of assistive communication technology.
We set out to develop something truly groundbreaking: a real-time, audio-to-audio solution that converts whispered or affected speech into a clear, natural voice.
“For us, Whispp was always about creating something that could bring people closer, giving them back the ease of everyday conversation.”
Over the years, our team has dedicated itself to perfecting this vision. Powered by advanced AI, Whispp now enables seamless communication across phone calls, video chats, and messaging. Unlike traditional solutions, Whispp eliminates frustrating delays, allowing for instant, natural interactions.
Fast forward to 2024, Whispp is proud to be recognized as one of TIME’s Best Inventions in the Accessibility category.
Each year, TIME honors innovations that profoundly impact our lives, evaluating submissions on originality, efficacy, ambition, and impact. This recognition celebrates not only the technology but also the mission behind it: to transform communication for individuals with voice disabilities and severe stutters.
Discover more about our journey, the technology behind Whispp, and what this recognition means for our community. Visit our website to explore our press kit and learn how Whispp is changing lives, one conversation at a time.
👉 Check out TIME’s full list of Best Inventions here
Related news
Whispp was honored to win €50,000 at the NN Social Innovation Startup Award, supporting our mission to empower clear communication for all.
At Inclusive Innovations 2024, Whispp demonstrated how our real-time assistive voice technology makes communication accessible for everyone.
Discover how Whispp is empowering users to overcome communication barriers in real-life moments, from dining to phone calls.
