Estonia-based startup, Vocal Image, is redefining how people develop their communication abilities by combining artificial intelligence with personalized coaching. With over four million downloads, the subscription-based app has become a fast-growing platform for voice training and public speaking improvement.

At the heart of this innovation is CEO Nick Lakhoika, whose personal journey inspired the company’s mission. Originally from Belarus, Lakhoika once struggled with speaking anxiety and unclear diction, but through dedicated voice coaching, he overcame these challenges to excel in public speaking and pitch competitions. Together with co-founder Maryna “Rusia” Shukiurava, he transformed their early YouTube tutorials into Vocal Image, an accessible alternative to traditional one-on-one coaching.

The app provides users with an interactive library of tongue twisters, breathing exercises, gesture advice, and increasingly, AI-driven feedback. Thanks to co-founder and CTO Mikalai Karaliou, Vocal Image has integrated machine learning tools that deliver automated, personalized coaching tips, making professional development more affordable and effective.

Beyond leadership training and public speaking, the app also supports users aiming to boost self-confidence, including members of the LGBTQ community, an area Shukiurava actively advocated for in Belarus. The company itself was founded by Belarusian entrepreneurs who relocated to Estonia following political repression in their home country.

Since joining the accelerator Startup Wise Guys in Tallinn, Vocal Image has achieved rapid growth, reaching $12 million in annual recurring revenue (ARR) with over 50,000 paying subscribers. Its expansion has been fueled by a $3.6 million seed round, led by French edtech venture capital firm Educapital, alongside Estonia’s Specialist VC and Germany’s Generations Fund.

Recognition has also come from major players. Vocal Image was recently named one of five winners in the European AI Startup Program, organized by Hugging Face, Meta, and Scaleway. Despite rising competition from platforms like Headway’s AI-powered speech trainer, Vocal Image maintains a strong position with its GDPR-compliant AI models and a growing dataset of over one million voice recordings, labeled by its community through the Voice Rating feature.

With a 20-member team—many of them Belarusian exiles—the company plans to expand its development capacity and introduce more language options beyond English, Spanish, German, French, Ukrainian, and Russian. As the demand for AI-powered communication tools continues to rise, Vocal Image positions itself as a leading force in helping people worldwide find their voice with confidence.