ELSA

ELSA develops AI-powered speech recognition technology for English language learners. Its ELSA Speak app delivers instant feedback on pronunciation, fluency and intonation, and offers round-the-clock AI coaching for scenarios including IELTS exam and job interview preparation. The company reports more than 50 million learners, with 4 million exercises practised daily.

At the core of the product is a proprietary speech recognition engine trained on data from speakers of 195 different native languages. Rather than simply scoring accuracy, the engine identifies why a word is mispronounced and how to correct it, helping learners build muscle memory for sounds absent from their native language. The technical work spans speech recognition, artificial intelligence, machine learning, natural language processing and linguistics.

ELSA operates in the education technology, language learning and test preparation verticals, with a presence in Vietnam and globally. The company was founded out of the founder's own experience of accent bias, and its team brings together linguists, engineers and educators. Its stated approach to product development emphasises personal, judgement-free learning, with a focus on making mistakes feel safe and progress measurable.