Vocal Image Uses AI to Transform Communication, Raises $3.6M Seed Round

Estonia-based startup Vocal Image is redefining how people improve their communication skills with an AI-powered voice coaching app. With over 4 million downloads and 50,000 paid users, the platform has become one of Europe’s fastest-growing speech training startups, blending artificial intelligence with interactive exercises to help people speak with confidence.

Founded by Nick Lahoika, who once battled speech anxiety and unclear diction, Vocal Image grew from a simple YouTube channel into a subscription-based app offering guided vocal journeys. These include tongue twisters, breathing exercises, posture and gesture tips, and AI-driven feedback tailored to each user. “We wanted to make voice training affordable and accessible to anyone,” said Lahoika.

Helping Professionals and Building Confidence Globally

The app is designed for users with diverse goals — from professionals improving leadership and presentation skills, to individuals looking to boost self-confidence or train for public speaking. Vocal Image has also gained popularity among LGBTQ communities, providing tools for users seeking voice training in safe, inclusive environments.

By combining personalized AI feedback with an extensive practice library, the startup has positioned itself as a digital alternative to traditional vocal coaching, where users can practice freely without judgment.

Rapid Growth and New Funding

After relocating to Estonia from Belarus during political unrest, Vocal Image joined the Startup Wise Guys accelerator, which recognized it as one of its key success stories. The company reached $6.5M ARR (annual recurring revenue) on less than $1M of pre-seed funding, and as of August 2025, it now claims $12M ARR with steady global adoption.

Vocal Image recently secured a $3.6 million seed round led by French edtech investor Educapital, with participation from Specialist VC (Estonia) and Generations Fund (Germany). The fresh capital will support expanding the 20-member team — many of whom are Belarusian exiles — and rolling out more language localizations beyond its current support for English, Spanish, German, French, Ukrainian, and Russian.

Recognition and AI Advantage

The startup was recently selected as one of the five winners of the European AI Startup Program, backed by Hugging Face, Meta, and Scaleway. Vocal Image’s biggest advantage is its GDPR-compliant voice dataset, built from over 1 million labeled real-voice samples contributed by users through its Voice Rating feature. With more than 35,000 recordings per day, the platform continuously improves its AI accuracy by crowdsourcing feedback on whether a voice sounds “confident,” “childlike,” or something in between.

This unique dataset not only strengthens Vocal Image’s speech recognition and coaching AI, but also positions the company to tap into opportunities beyond its B2C app, including partnerships in AI-generated voices and speech technology development.

Rising Competition

While competitors such as Headway’s Skillsta app have begun adding AI-powered speech trainers, Vocal Image’s combination of a strong community-driven dataset, inclusive design, and fast-growing user base puts it ahead in the race to become the go-to AI communication coach.

Why It Matters

• Empowering users worldwide to overcome speech anxiety and enhance communication.
• AI-driven coaching makes professional-quality voice training accessible at scale.
• Rapid ARR growth highlights strong market demand for AI in communication skills training.
• Backed by leading European and global investors, Vocal Image is set to shape the future of speech and voice technology.