Danish startup takes home €10,000 prize to enhance communication for the deaf community

DeafTawk, a Denmark-based startup, secured €10,000 prize after winning the Global MediaTech Pitch Day, alongside Vochlea Music. DeafTawk specializes in real-time sign language interpretation, aiming to bridge communication gaps for the deaf community by integrating their services with platforms like YouTube and Netflix. The company plans to use the funding to expand its reach and enhance its platform’s capabilities. The founders’ personal experiences with disabilities fuel their mission to foster inclusivity and accessibility, serving over 45,000 users worldwide.

Denmark-based DeafTawk and UK-based Vochlea emerged as the champions of the Global MediaTech Pitch Day, being selected from over 400 applicants. The event, which was part of the Annual Mediatech Investment Program, was hosted by Raw Ventures on September 26.

DeafTawk, founded by Ali Shabbar, Wamiq Hasan and Abdul Qadeer, captivated the judges with its approach to communication accessibility. What makes DeafTawk especially remarkable is the personal connection between the founders and their mission—Ali, who is visually challenged, and Wamiq, who suffers from hearing loss, have a deep understanding of the barriers faced by differently-abled communities. Their innovation brings real-time sign language interpretation to life, facilitating communication between the deaf community and professionals, such as doctors and teachers in ways that were not previously possible.

The platform’s ability to integrate with streaming services like YouTube or Netflix further expands its reach, allowing real-time sign language translations during video content. This is especially valuable since the deaf community often struggles with reading subtitles, finding them too fast-paced. This, combined with their vision for inclusive communication, sets DeafTawk apart from other media technology solutions, not only meeting current needs but also paving the way for a more accessible future.

DeafTawk has grown to serve over 45,000 users and created more than 1,100 jobs for qualified interpreters. By fostering greater accessibility and connection, the company is breaking down communication barriers and ensuring that the global hearing-impaired community can engage fully with the world.

Following a rigorous and highly competitive selection process led by experts from Raw Ventures, Meta, OPPO, SEO Entertainment GmbH A LEONINE COMPANY, medianet berlinbrandenburg e.V., Startup Wise Guys, and Music Tech France, DeafTawk and Vochlea Music demonstrated exceptional innovation, potential, and a strong alignment with the future of media technology.

“Today, while every participant showcased exceptional promise, we faced an unprecedented scenario – two startups that so compellingly embodied our vision for the future that choosing between them became impossible. The jury deliberations were intense, with votes scattered across several impressive contenders. We’ve made the bold decision to recognize not one, but two winners. Their innovative approaches—DeafTawk’s mission to bridge vital communication gaps for the global deaf community and Vochlea’s potential to revolutionize music creation—reflect the transformative potential we seek to nurture. Both startups walked away with a prize of €10,000 each, and we’re beginning discussions about potential investments of up to €1 million in each winner to support their future growth,” says Victoria Palatnik, Managing Partner at Raw Ventures.

Following a successful program last year, Raw Ventures has expanded its support for mediatech startups. Apart from the Global MediaTech Pitch Day, which has become a landmark event igniting innovation and collaboration among mediatech visionaries and investors, the program now includes the selection of four startups for the monthly Raw Mediatech Online Pitching sessions. Through this initiative, Raw Ventures aims to invest in 20-30% of the startups that complete the program. While global startup funding has shown signs of recovery, with Q2 2024 reaching $79 billion (a 16% quarter-over-quarter increase), the landscape remains challenging for many early-stage companies.

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