Software Engineer, Speechify

Text-to-speech technology has been fraught with performance issues for a long time, though in recent years this has begun to change for the better. Products like Amazon Polly, Linguatech Voice Reader, and Natural Reader have made real inroads on this front. What may set Speechify apart, however, is the insight of founder Cliff Weitzman, who built the app to help people with dyslexia, ADHD, vision impairments and other learning difficulties.

The company’s future growth may depend largely on who it targets and how it does so. Thus far it’s been mostly branded as a learning assistant, lauded by parents, teachers and adult users with reading disabilities. This niche approach is interesting and offers a potentially large market in the education sector. However, the technology also has mainstream appeal, with the potential to be branded as a productivity booster or multi-tasking assistant.