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Tag: angel investors

  • Panels aim to demystify angel investing for women – WTOP News

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    Women-based companies only get a sliver of funding that men’s companies get — approximately 2% — but a new panel series about angel investing aims to help lower the barriers for women to invest in companies they believe in.

    Getting a startup off the ground requires a great idea — and a lot of money.

    Women-based companies only get a sliver of funding that men’s companies get — approximately 2% — but a new panel series about angel investing aims to help lower the barriers for women to invest in companies they believe in.

    “The more women we can get writing checks, the more women will get funded,” said Stephanie Marshall, Board President of Citrine Angels, and its nonprofit arm, Citrine Impact.

    An angel investor is someone with a high net worth who provides early-stage capital to startups, usually in exchange for equity. Angel investors use their own money, unlike venture capitalists who manage others’ funds.

    Starting Feb. 25, at Refraction in Tysons Corner, Citrine Angels will hold a Female Funder Panel Series. The series is free of charge.

    “We’re demystifying the angel investing experience,” Marshall said. “How do I make the decision to actually write that first check? How much should I be investing? How many investments should I make?”

    According to the Center for Venture Research, women represented 39.1% of the active angel investor market, down from 46.7% in 2023.

    “The unknown is scary,” Marshall said. “Maybe, as women, we’re used to socking away our 401(k) or investing in some stocks, but angel investing and private equity is a little bit different.”

    She says angel investors can align their investments with their personal values and priorities.

    “Maybe I grew up in the wireless industry, and I love wearables, and believe they can lead to better outcomes for health,” she offers, as an example. “I may decide that I’m only going to invest in wearables, because I understand that industry and what needs to happen in order for those companies to be successful, and for me to get my money back.”

    The series is designed for those who are “angel curious,” but may not necessarily see themselves as “investors” yet, and would benefit from an accessible on-ramp into angel investing.

    “Diversity among investors directly shapes where money flows and which ideas are funded,” Marshall said.

    “Even if I don’t have the trust fund or network of people to go to, and my family and friends don’t have 10, 20, or $30,000 dollars to give me, there are options,” she said.

    “There’s non-dilutive funding, there’s grants, there are other ways you can get start up funding to get your startup off the ground.”

    Get breaking news and daily headlines delivered to your email inbox by signing up here.

    © 2026 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

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    Neal Augenstein

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  • 7 Questions Every Founder Should Ask Potential Investors | Entrepreneur

    7 Questions Every Founder Should Ask Potential Investors | Entrepreneur

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    Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

    When I’ve pitched investors in the past, I prepare for the questions they’ll likely ask me, from market opportunity and size to financial metrics and timeline. From my own experiences and having consulted for multiple founders, I’ve learned that it’s just as important to interview your investors as it is for them to be convinced by your pitch.

    Choosing a partner goes beyond securing funds; it’s about finding a partner who believes in your vision and can contribute to the growth and success of it. Similar to a marriage, the investor-founder relationship should be built on trust, transparency and shared values. Take the time to make an informed decision, as it will significantly impact your company’s trajectory.

    Below are seven questions, alongside specific case studies, that founders should ask investors to help ensure a mutually beneficial partnership.

    1. How do you define your role as an investor?

    I’ve heard many responses to this, ranging from an investor wanting to be a resource to a decision-maker, which is why it’s crucial to ask this. Elle Lanning, Managing Director at Camino Partners and also a key member in the growth of KIND Snacks (currently valued at about $5B), always asks this question because both the investors and founders will have strong points of view. Lanning explains how “passion can be mistaken as direction,” and she’s persistent about reminding prospect and current investors that “while the Camino Partners team has their own point of views, it is up to the entrepreneurs and day-to-day leaders of a given company to run the business and make the best decisions for them.” The investor role is very diverse, particularly as some investors will see themselves in a governance capacity.

    KIND Snacks is a great case study for this question, as the founder, Daniel Lubetzky, bought back the stake owned by private equity firm VMG Partners for $220M in cash and notes. Lanning explains, “VMG was a solid partner for the time we worked together, but we reached a place where our objectives were different. We were fortunate to have run KIND in a healthy and sustainable way, so we had a lot of options when we decided that Daniel and the KIND team were best suited to continue to lead the brand’s growth.” It was a risk, but the result paid off, as the start-up is now valued at about $5 billion.

    Related: 5 Questions Every Entrepreneur Should Ask Potential Investors

    2. What is your exit strategy?

    Having an understanding of the timeline expectation and eventual exit strategy for the investor will help you determine if your future plans are mutually aligned.

    Related: When Should Business Owners Start Developing an Exit Plan? Here’s What You Need to Know.

    3. Can you provide references from other companies you have invested in?

    In line with the saying, “If you don’t know the horse, you check the track record,” it’s crucial to gather insights about the investors’ style, reliability and how they work with partner companies. By speaking with other founders to get references about investors, you’ll get a candid opinion of the personalities, best skills and added value that the investors may be able to provide. Again, aligning values and personalities will set you up for the best partnerships.

    4. What value are you able to bring beyond capital?

    Alongside funding, investors can offer valuable advice, connections and industry expertise. Have they invested in similar companies before? At times, great advice or case studies can support your company even more than their investment. Understanding the additional support and value an investor can provide is paramount.

    Related: Investors Are Overlooking the Gig Economy. Here’s How to Unlock Its Untapped Value.

    5. What are your expectations for growth and performance?

    The response to this question will help you assess if the investor has realistic expectations and if the expectations align with your plans. Adam Harris, Founder and CEO of Cloudbeds, a company founded in 2012 that raised about $250M, prioritizes clarity in outcome alignment. Harris explains, “You need to know if your investors are underwriting your deal to require a 2x, 3x, 4x, or 10x return (or whatever the number is). This answer will dictate the amount of risk they’re willing to pursue and the type of capital investments that follow. Know when enough is good enough for the outcomes you are seeking (future fundraises, liquidity events, etc.).”

    Most investors don’t share their thoughts about underwriting a business, but knowing their outcome requirements will align you with investors at every growth stage.

    Harris suggests that all questions to investors center around the following:

    1. How do you incentivize and keep incentivizing me to build what we both want?
    2. How do you and I stay aligned with risk appetite, enterprise value extraction and what’s right for the business?
    3. How do you underwrite my deal?

    If you can get full transparency on responses for the above, you’ll have a better shot at alignment, allowing you to move faster to focus on the big objectives.

    Related: How PR Can Attract Investors and Add Value to Your Startup

    6. How often do you expect to meet after funding?

    Some investors are going to be far more high-maintenance than others, and communication styles can make or break a partnership. You do want a decent amount of interaction. Investors can help find clarity with high-level decisions, but I suggest they stay out of the details, as this may weigh and slow you down.

    7. We have a challenge with this issue. Do you have any insight into how we may help solve it?

    The response to this can be very telling because it will shed some light on how the investor thinks, works and the type of value they can offer. It also demonstrates to the investor that you are open to their feedback and value their expertise as a potential partner.

    Choosing the right investors goes far beyond getting capital. Through open and honest conversations, look to find partners who believe in your vision, feel good compatibility and offer a funding package that will contribute to the growth of your business. Take some time to make the most informed decision possible and ensure clarity across all questions and expectations. If it doesn’t feel like love at first sight, reassess.

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    Elisette Carlson

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  • Why Investors With an Entrepreneurial Past are Vital to Startup Success | Entrepreneur

    Why Investors With an Entrepreneurial Past are Vital to Startup Success | Entrepreneur

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    Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

    In this article, I would like to focus on one significant trait that some investors possess — an entrepreneurial background that enables them to establish strong connections with startups and better understand the ‘pains’ and challenges new founders face.

    Based on my personal experience as an entrepreneur I would like to highlight key aspects of communication with startups and why your entrepreneurial past makes you a little bit different from others.

    Related: 6 Steps to Finding the Right Investors for Your Business

    Speaking the same entrepreneurial language

    When communicating with founders, having an entrepreneurial background is extremely helpful. Founders can sense it, even from how questions are formulated, and they often highlight they have never been asked such questions before — questions are tailored with a deep understanding of the subject.

    And it’s not just about technology-related topics, but specifically business management, such as sales funnels, marketing strategies, product market fit and customer development. Besides managing businesses, having personal experience in creating acceleration programs and all the leading methodologies of Silicon Valley, which we have integrated into accelerators for many years to make them more effective, can enhance communication between investors and founders.

    With my experience of establishing 42 accelerators and collaborating with 1500 alumni startups, I have encountered familiar patterns, challenges and intricate situations when working with founders. We have found solutions together with startups in the past, and now I bring that experience to my current communication with founders.

    Entrepreneurs then — investors now

    Investors with entrepreneurial backgrounds bring valuable insights and expertise to the table. They have firsthand experience navigating the challenges and uncertainties of building a business, which allows them better to understand the struggles and aspirations of startup founders. Here are some great examples from the venture world.

    Mark Suster is a well-known voice in the investing world, having written extensively about investing in startups and building them on his website, Both Sides of the Table. He possesses the unique ability to discuss both sides of the table due to his experience as a two-time entrepreneur, having sold a company to a French firm and another to Salesforce. Currently, he serves as a partner at Upfront Ventures in Southern California (SoCal).

    Marc Andreesen, viewed as a pioneer in the tech space, founded Netscape, Opsware, Ning, and now his investment firm, Andreessen Horowitz. He’s an expert in tech trends and a frequent speaker in the angel investing space.

    Reid Hoffman is one of the most sought-after opinion makers in Silicon Valley. He is widely recognized for founding the largest business social network in the world, LinkedIn. Moreover, he has successfully translated his entrepreneurial acumen into profitable investments, with key stakes in companies like Facebook, Airbnb, and PayPal.

    Related: 5 Questions to Prepare for Ahead of Your Meeting With Investors

    Benefiting from an entrepreneurial past: from coaching to strategic planning

    An investor with entrepreneurial skills can provide valuable support and guidance to a startup in several ways. Here are some ways in which such an investor can help:

    • Fundraising strategy. The primary role of an investor is to provide funding to the startup and help them with fundraising strategy going forward. This financial support is crucial for the startup to develop its products or services, hire talented employees and scale its operations. With their entrepreneurial experience, the investor can assess the startup’s financial needs and give some strategic advice on funding allocation. Additionally, can guide the founder towards better fundraising strategy and preparation for investor meetings.
    • Strategic planning. An investor with entrepreneurial skills can help the startup create a solid business plan and set strategic goals. They can provide insights and expertise gained from their own entrepreneurial background, helping the startup identify potential challenges and opportunities. Together with the startup’s founders, they can develop a roadmap for growth and devise strategies to overcome possible challenges.
    • Shared perspective. I think this is one of the most important ways of communication, and here is why. An investor with an entrepreneurial background can better understand startups’ challenges and opportunities. They have likely experienced similar struggles, such as fundraising, market-entry, scaling and operational issues. This shared perspective helps establish rapport and empathy with startup founders, fostering better communication and mutual understanding.
    • Mentoring and coaching. Startups often appreciate investors who can go beyond providing capital and act as mentors or coaches. An investor with an entrepreneurial background is well-suited to fulfill this role. They can offer guidance on overcoming challenges, making critical business decisions and navigating the ups and downs of entrepreneurship. Their ability to draw upon personal experiences can be particularly impactful in helping startups succeed.

    I love seeing founders passionate about their startups, and our fund sometimes goes the extra mile to advise startups, even if they didn’t receive investments from us. It’s important to remember that when rejecting a startup, there is always the possibility that it may return in the future after making significant improvements in key metrics. Therefore, it is in our best interest to provide additional advice on what steps they need to take to attract funding.

    I receive requests from founders for personal consultations quite often. We were thinking about how to turn this demand into something beneficial for startups and society and came up with a very good solution. We decided to combine venture and charity by launching a project with the Podari.Life charity fund called “30 min/lunch with VC to save lives.”

    Relationship building

    Investors with an entrepreneurial past can leverage their extensive network and connections to open doors, make introductions and facilitate strategic partnerships for the startups they work with. This network can be instrumental in helping startups access resources, industry expertise and potential customers.

    For example, the CEO of one of our portfolio companies, PicUp, recently embarked on his first visit to the USA. He took the initiative to go on an extensive tour, visiting key states and connecting with potential partners and investors. I understand firsthand how challenging it can be to establish new connections in a foreign country, especially in the USA and particularly in Silicon Valley, which has no analogs in the world. With this in mind, we decided to assist by connecting the company with investors and key players in the Silicon Valley innovation ecosystem in advance.

    Related: The Things Successful Leaders Do and Don’t Do to Build Relationships

    What matters the most

    In summary, it is not solely the investors’ entrepreneurial experience that founders find appealing. Rather, their experience in different roles inside a business allows investors to have a wider view and help early founders avoid common mistakes while building the next big thing. After all, venture investment is a long-term relationship, and you want to build partner-like relationships with people you will most likely work with for the next 8-10 years until your exit.

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    Zamir Shukho

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  • How Founders Can Demonstrate their Founder-Market Fit to Investors | Entrepreneur

    How Founders Can Demonstrate their Founder-Market Fit to Investors | Entrepreneur

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    Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

    In the early stages, startups often lack impressive numbers to showcase their potential. That’s why investors primarily examine the co-founding team to assess how likely they are to build a thriving company.

    In simpler terms, investors are looking for something called founder-market fit when the founders’ skills, experience, and personal qualities align with what the market needs.

    But how can a founder determine if they have this so-called founder-market fit?

    A background check

    Deep industry expertise can indicate a strong match between the founders and their target market. The ability to execute ideas is vital for early-stage founders, and the more bulletproof they are in their domain, the higher the chance they’ll be able to do it.

    It’s also about knowing what to disrupt and how, because, at its core, a founder-market fit means that the person starting the company has personally experienced the problem they’re now trying to solve.

    In some cases, outsiders have disrupted industries they knew little about, but generally, founders have a much better chance of succeeding if they have a sense of how a specific market works. About 35% of startups fail because the founding team doesn’t know enough about the market and what customers actually need.

    The best way to know an entrepreneur has a founder-market fit is to look at their education, previous employment, and projects. How long have the founders been active in this industry? How well do they know its problems? How badly do they want to change the status quo?

    There are many examples of this: Airbnb’s founders hosted people in their apartments before building a marketplace for homestays; Slack began as an internal communication tool for a company owned by one of the founders — he knew what app his team needed.

    Health tech startup Theranos is a well-known case of the opposite when a lack of industry knowledge — among other things — led to a startup’s failure. Investors were swayed by the founder’s grand vision: they collectively invested $1.3 billion. Unfortunately, they overlooked the significance of the founder’s background.

    The founder, Elizabeth Holmes, promised to revolutionize health care while having only two semesters of chemical engineering classes at Stanford.

    Related: 6 Lessons Entrepreneurs Can Learn From the Fall of Theranos

    Synergy among co-founders

    When a founder presents me with a startup that heavily relies on sales but struggles to articulate their thoughts, it raises a red flag. In such situations, investors should carefully assess the other co-founders in the team, seeking a partner who brings the required expertise — in this example, in sales.

    Founder of Awesomic, a platform that matches web design talents with businesses, Roman Sevast has a background in software development. He takes full responsibility for Awesomic’s technical aspects and product development, while another founder, Stacy Pavlyshyna, is a former digital marketer who handles operations, communications and marketing.

    This serves as a good illustration of where both co-founders bring their domain expertise to the table, and their collaboration enables them to achieve a solid founder-market fit.

    A prominent global example of a synergistic partnership is the relationship between Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs.

    Related: 5 Expert Tips on How to Choose a Co-Founder for Your New Business

    How to tell investors about founder-market fit

    To increase the likelihood of securing funding, early-stage founders should make sure they communicate their founder-market fit to investors. My several tips:

    • Share specific examples of the co-founders’ industry challenges and how they resolved them.
    • Emphasize accomplishments relevant to the target market, such as previous startup ventures, industry accolades, significant milestones, or partnerships.
    • Present a compelling narrative about a co-founder that showcases their in-depth industry knowledge. Instead of stating “5 years of IT experience,” highlight achievements by saying, “developed a product used by 300,000 clients”.
    • Demonstrate a scalable business model that aligns with market needs and show how exactly it aligns.

    Problem-solving experience

    This does not suggest that successful startups can only emerge from founders with prior experience. Quite the opposite, according to Sebastian Mallaby’s book “The Power Law,” groundbreaking ideas often originate from individuals who are outsiders to the industry.

    These outsiders, however, must possess certain character traits that enable them to achieve a founder-market fit. I’d like to highlight perseverance and curiosity.

    Outsiders should thoroughly study the market to understand their potential customers, launch effective marketing campaigns, and ultimately develop a product that people will find valuable. Curiosity serves as the driving force behind acquiring the necessary knowledge.

    Perseverance is crucial because the market landscape constantly changes, and founders continuously overcome new challenges. We seek to invest in founders who are prepared to adapt to evolving market conditions, meet customer demands and embrace emerging trends.

    Founders never know which particular problems they will face when starting a business. But if they previously solved problems in a chosen market or if they show they have grit, VCs take it as a good sign.

    Related: Beyond the Basics: 5 Surprising Qualities Investors Seek in a Winning Team

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    Vital Laptenok

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  • How to Attract Investors During Tough Times | Entrepreneur

    How to Attract Investors During Tough Times | Entrepreneur

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    Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

    Whether the economy is doing well or in a phase of uncertainty, the fundamentals of building an investable start-up remain the same. You don’t need to be a mind reader to determine what investors want to know.

    Here are five tips to help convince potential investors that your solution solves a big problem for a large market and that your team has the talent, creativity and character to deliver on your business plan in favorable or uncertain market conditions.

    1. Be clear about the problem

    It is more important than ever to be clear with investors about the problem your company solves. The number one thing that matters today is how quickly and clearly an entrepreneur can articulate the problem that her startup solves. Why? Because investors know that when a startup fails, it is usually because there is insufficient demand for the product. What specifically about your solution will make customers change what they are currently doing and pay for your new product?

    Related: 5 Things to Do Now to Propel Your Business in 2023

    2. Know your audience

    Determine beyond any doubt that you are working in a space that an investor cares about and that your vision and goals align with theirs. Investors in technology-driven high-growth companies are looking for hyper-growth in specific industries, for example, advanced materials, information technology or biotechnology — large markets with tremendous opportunities. If your vision isn’t stoked by the risk and endurance it takes to build and scale those businesses, high-growth entrepreneurship is likely not the right path for you.

    3. Provide the evidence

    Nothing beats demonstrating your first-hand understanding of your market. Entrepreneurs who have lived with a problem in previous roles or their personal lives uniquely understand the impact and the potential gains of their solution. Suppose that’s your backstory, great. If not, describing what you learned and how you pivoted from surveys, interviews and by listening to customers builds credibility—especially when some of those customers are willing to become early adopters and go through multiple iterations to prototype your technology and prove your business model. Convincing customers helps convince investors.

    Investors expect entrepreneurs to be enthusiastic. When that passion is combined with an understanding of customers’ needs and of the impacts that your startup solving their problems can have on their bottom line, investors pay attention. Focusing on your customer’s pain points and the payback of your solution encourages investors to focus on you.

    Related: A Good Story Isn’t Enough to Get Your Startup Funded. Here’s What Else
    You Need

    4. Understand the economics

    What has to happen for your new business to achieve 20, 50 or 100% year-over-year growth? Investors will listen when you demonstrate your clear understanding of the business unit economics for your company. Show how you can gain enough traction with the first feature set and early adopters to prove the market and technical viability of your solution and market. Sometimes entrepreneurs are so focused on a specific solution that they become less open to a solution that could be better. Show that you know how to listen for signals and to narrow up or pivot if that’s what it takes to scale.

    While there may be multiple longer-term markets and product enhancements, don’t dilute your team’s focus. Can you build the solution? Is there a gap in the solution? Can you plug in? Focus on business development, not product innovation. Prove scalability in the first market and generate enough revenue to secure follow-on funding to support additional growth.

    Related: 5 Things Investors Want to Know Before Signing a Check

    5. Show your flexible mindset

    Investors want to collaborate with high-integrity, coachable entrepreneurs. Every interaction with you influences whether you are someone investors will trust and want to invest in. Balance the tightrope between ego and confidence. Be willing to acknowledge what you know and what you don’t. It’s rare to find an entrepreneur who hasn’t made mistakes.

    Eventually, almost every startup will need a flexible mindset to pivot on some aspect of their business plan. Seek trusted advice, then follow your instincts. Successful entrepreneurship always comes back to the basics — market validation, product/market fit and staying focused on the business plan.

    Trustworthy, confident and coachable entrepreneurs don’t allow an uncertain economy to distract them from executing their business plan.

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    Kristy Campbell

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  • Why Shark Tank’s Aman Gupta told investors they ‘missed the boAt’

    Why Shark Tank’s Aman Gupta told investors they ‘missed the boAt’

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    D2C entrepreneur and boAt Co-founder Aman Gupta, who gained huge popularity as a ‘shark’ in the Indian adaptation of start-up reality show ‘Shark Tank’ is a great believer in “hustle”. Even though the word is often interpreted negatively, Gupta says he can’t work with somebody who doesn’t “reciprocate” his level of energy and “drive”.  

    While talking about building a D2C juggernaut in boAt, one of India’s top consumer electronics brands, Gupta shared that he didn’t find too many backers early on in the journey.

    “It was a tough category. When we started [in 2016], not many online brands were funded in this space. We went to 40 angel investors, and once they started asking questions, we came back and delivered on those points,” Gupta shared at the ASCENT Conclave 2022. “Today I look at those investors and tell them – you missed the ‘boAt’,” Gupta added.

    boAt raised its first major round of funding in 2018, when D2C-focused early-stage investor Fireside Ventures pumped in Rs 6 crore ($900,000) into the start-up. “Kanwal [Kanwaljit Singh, Managing Partner at Fireside] bet on me and I gave him decent returns,” Gupta shared.

    At the time of funding, Singh had said in a statement, “boAt has the makings of a truly iconic brand… We look for brands that have identified white spaces and come up with solutions and products that cater to these target audiences. boAt as a brand is doing exactly that.”

    Today, boAt is backed by giant investors, including Warburg Pincus, Qualcomm Ventures, InnoVen Capital, among others. The company claims to have clocked revenues of Rs 3,000 crore at the end of FY22, growing at 100 per cent year-on-year. It also intended to go public, before pulling out of the IPO last month.

    While stressing on the importance of “hungry” founders — a philosophy he follows when he chooses his investments on Shark Tank India — Gupta said, “Hustle is the first quality I look for in a founder, and it has worked for me.”

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  • International Startup Competition Sparks Innovation in Language Technology

    International Startup Competition Sparks Innovation in Language Technology

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    Online challenge offers platform for innovative startups that seek to revolutionize language learning

    Press Release
    –

    Mar 2, 2022


    HONOLULU, March 2, 2022 (Newswire.com)
    –
    Four first-time entrepreneurs are vying to create the best new product to fill a need in world language education. The competition is hosted by The Language Flagship Technology Innovation Center (Tech Center) at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa.

    The 2022 virtual event on March 5, 3-4:15 p.m. EST, will be emceed by Nicole Naditz, a nationally recognized language educator and language learning technologist.

    The four startup companies are based in the United Kingdom, Bulgaria, and the United States. During the competition, the finalists will pitch their innovation. A panel of experienced professionals from a wide variety of fields will provide feedback, and select the winner. Audience members will cast their votes for a People’s Choice award.

    All finalists will receive exposure and access to thousands of language educators, successful companies and The Language Flagship international network.

    “The upcoming competition reflects a fascinating juxtaposition of diverse approaches from media, language pedagogy, and data-centered viewpoints,” said Richard Medina, project lead and Faculty Specialist at the Tech Center.

    Finalists:

    • Charlala (Illinois)—Charlala has two core tools: a simulated conversation tool and a digital whiteboard tool. Educators use the platform to assess speaking proficiency and practice conversation activities. The platform also converts any device into a digital canvas to engage students in authentic conversations through activities, including card talks, weekend chats, and storytelling.
    • JinbuPal (South Carolina)—JinbuPal is a web-based mobile app designed to help learners jumpstart their Mandarin skills. JinbuPal’s card-based system features character and word cards, similar to digital flashcards. JinbuPal confronts users with all the characters and words they will need to reach 90% recognition when engaging with real-world content. 
    • Lirica (United Kingdom)—Lirica is a mobile application that teaches all the building blocks of the language through music. The app intelligently matches up core language components with the lyrics of different pieces of popular music, fitting them to difficulty levels, so that beginners and more experienced learners can succeed. 
    • Worddio (Bulgaria)—Worddio is a vocabulary and pronunciation app which uses audio flashcards and is targeted primarily at non-native English speakers. With more than 270,000 words in 34 languages, Worddio is the ideal companion for those who wish to grow and enrich their language learning. 

    Tech Center Director Julio C. Rodriguez said that the products created by the 2022 LaunchPad finalists are examples of creativity and innovation in the design of technologies that support the learning and teaching of languages. 

    “The LaunchPad offers our private sector colleagues a unique opportunity to garner valuable feedback from experts in the field and the Tech Center community at large. We hope that LaunchPad finalists will use this feedback, which is offered at an early stage of their product’s development, to improve the fit between their products and the needs of world language professionals,” Rodriguez said.

    Register for free on the Tech Center website.

    Source: The Language Flagship Technology Innovation Center

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