The fastest way to learn a new language is to speak it frequently. But finding a conversation partner in that language is not always easy. That's why DeepAvatar developed a virtual assistant that allows you to have a conversation in real time, called SpeakAvatar. The originally Armenian startup wants to continue developing and launching the iOS app here in the North. 'The great experience with the NOM was the deciding factor for us to settle in the northern Netherlands. They helped us throughout the entire process, from application to relocation.'
Razmik Konstandian and Azat Davletshin started their entrepreneurial experience in 2021. 'But we've known each other for much longer,' says Konstandian. 'We were roommates during college and were already doing all kinds of things together, from sports to traveling. After graduation, we remained friends, but we went on separate career paths. Azat worked as an A.I. engineer and I worked as a software engineer. And quite coincidentally, we got the idea to start our own company at the same time. In 2022 we moved to Armenia, founded DeepAvatar and continued searching for a country with a more developed startup ecosystem and a respected jurisdiction.'
Startup Visa
Through the Startup Visa program, Kostandian and Davletshin ended up in the Netherlands. 'It really seemed like the ideal place for us, because the Netherlands has a very well-developed investment climate and startup ecosystem. And more importantly, almost everyone speaks English here, which makes it so much easier for us. The great experience with NOM was the deciding factor for us to settle in the Northern Netherlands,' says Konstandian. 'They helped us throughout the whole process, from application to relocation. We are still in a very early stage as a company, but I think the network here will also definitely be very valuable in our ambitions to grow further.'
Pivot
Initially, DeepAvatar came to NOM with a completely different idea. 'Our first idea was an A.I. tool to generate video presentations with. But during the validation process and interviews with potential customers, we quickly found out that it would be very difficult to translate this idea into a successful business. I think that has also been our biggest lesson as entrepreneurs. You want to go really fast, especially since with a Startup Visa you also only have a year to put something together. But running a business is ultimately a marathon and not a sprint, so we decided a pivot was necessary.
Virtual conversation partner
Konstandian and Davletshin landed on SpeakAvatar, an app that provides an easy and accessible way to learn a new language. "You learn a language fastest by having a conversation with someone. But finding someone who is a native speaker and can correct you where necessary is often easier said than done. So our idea was to develop a virtual assistant or avatar based on A.I. that you can video call at any time through the app. This assistant can ask open-ended questions so that it actually feels like a conversation. And in addition, such an avatar can track your progress in minute detail and provide feedback on your pronunciation and grammar.'
Future plans and applications
For the longer term, Konstandian sees more than enough opportunities for DeepAvatar: "I think the market for online education is going to change tremendously in the next 5 years because of the opportunities that A.I. offers. We focus on language learning now, but you could also think of applications in math, biology, physics and more.'
'But for the foreseeable future, we're of course busy focusing on product development and getting it right for the right niches in the market,' says Kostandian. 'Then it's a matter of further expanding the team and scaling up. We will eventually need an investment for that, but for now the priority for us is validating and finding the right business model.'