TalkiPlay

Based in Melbourne, Australia, TalkiPlay is an educational technology company founded in 2018 by Dr. Annie McAuley. The company's creation was driven by Dr. McAuley's personal journey to support her daughter, who was experiencing a language delay. This personal motivation is deeply rooted in Dr. McAuley's own past; at age 18, she suffered a traumatic brain injury that required her to relearn how to walk and talk. Leveraging her Ph.D. in medical science, she developed a solution to make language practice engaging for her child.

TalkiPlay offers a tangible, play-based learning system designed to address speech and language delays in children, particularly those aged 2 to 6. The business operates in the EdTech and assistive technology markets, serving individual families, speech pathologists, and early learning centers. Revenue is generated primarily through the sale of its physical product kits. The core product consists of a handheld smart speaker, NFC-enabled “smart” stickers, and a companion mobile application. Parents or educators place the stickers on everyday objects or on the included wooden toys, such as a rainbow set. When a child taps the sticker with the speaker, the device plays words, sounds, or songs related to that object, turning the child's environment into an interactive learning experience. The app allows for progress tracking and game selection, providing data for parents and therapists to monitor development.

The company's approach is designed to supplement traditional speech therapy, especially for children on long waiting lists for professional services or those needing extra practice between sessions. The system focuses on making repetitive language practice fun and less frustrating for children, including those with autism. An independent research trial in 2019 indicated that children using TalkiPlay showed significant improvements in language development outcomes and were more engaged in language activities. Since its inception, TalkiPlay has raised approximately $531K in funding through rounds that included participation from Scale Investors, Artesian, BlueChilli, and a grant from business.gov.au. Keywords: speech therapy tool, language development, EdTech, assistive technology, early learning, pediatric speech delay, child communication, play-based learning, Dr. Annie McAuley, NFC learning, educational toys, autism support, language acquisition, parent resources, speech pathology, early intervention, interactive learning, vocabulary building, educational hardware, child development