{"id":184323,"date":"2025-10-23T18:52:54","date_gmt":"2025-10-23T15:52:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tehnopol.ee\/?p=184323"},"modified":"2025-10-24T17:01:35","modified_gmt":"2025-10-24T14:01:35","slug":"startup-story-helli-x-tehnopol-startup-incubator","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tehnopol.ee\/en\/startup-story-helli-x-tehnopol-startup-incubator\/","title":{"rendered":"Startup Story: Helli X Tehnopol Startup Incubator"},"content":{"rendered":"

Dozens of high-potential startups develop their products and services every year in the Tehnopol Startup Incubator accelerator<\/a>. One of them is Helli \u2013 let\u2019s get to know them better!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Helli<\/a> is developing a communication software \u2013 a speech communicator \u2013 that helps nonverbal and speech-impaired children express their needs, feelings, and thoughts. Helli doesn\u2019t speak for<\/em> the child \u2013 it gives the child the ability to communicate. Whether it\u2019s \u201cI want to play,\u201d \u201cI\u2019m in pain,\u201d<\/em> or simply \u201cNo.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A child\u2019s ability to express themselves shouldn\u2019t depend on complicated devices or expensive assistance. AAC-based (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) speech communicators have been scientifically proven to be effective tools for developing nonverbal children\u2019s communication and social skills, helping prevent frustration and supporting the development of verbal speech.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But Helli\u2019s goal is not only to create a technological tool. Around Helli there\u2019s also a supportive community \u2013 a space where families facing similar challenges don\u2019t have to feel alone. Helli helps families reach suitable specialists, information, and necessary services more quickly. It also serves as a connecting link between different support systems \u2013 so the child doesn\u2019t have to wait, the family doesn\u2019t have to search alone, and real solutions become truly accessible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Helli\u2019s story was shared by Sirli Kapper<\/strong>, co-founder and Head of Strategic Development, Rando Kraav<\/strong>, co-founder and CTO, and Maia K\u00e4rdla<\/strong>, Community Lead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How did the idea of creating your own startup come about?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Helli was born from Rando\u2019s family\u2019s personal need. When his young daughter was diagnosed with an autism spectrum and speech disorder, he discovered a harsh reality: in Estonia, it was difficult to find or provide the child with a practical and affordable way to communicate and express herself. Existing solutions were expensive, complex, and not age-appropriate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That\u2019s how the idea was born \u2013 to create a simple tool that would allow Elly to communicate and express her needs and feelings. This became the beginning of Helli. Today, it has grown into something much more: a living, evolving communication software that gives children a voice and a way to express themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What has been your biggest challenge and your greatest achievement so far?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The biggest challenge has probably been a personal one \u2013 time management. How do you develop Helli with your whole heart while also having a full-time job, a family, and household responsibilities? We\u2019re a small team working on something with a large scope \u2013 product development, community work, training, and strategy. It requires constant balance, focus, and a clear division of roles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But that\u2019s exactly why we\u2019re proud \u2013 we\u2019ve accomplished a great deal together in a short time. What unites us is our belief in what we\u2019re creating and in the people we\u2019re creating it for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Helli\u2019s biggest success is that we\u2019re moving steadily toward a goal where our communication software will be accessible to all children who need it \u2013 with national support, regardless of their family\u2019s financial situation or background. We\u2019re developing a solution that helps solve very real, everyday challenges for children and families. Helli grows together with the children and families who use it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What makes your startup stand out from the competition?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Helli has been created with<\/em> users, not just for<\/em> them. We\u2019re not simply building features \u2013 we\u2019re building a practical solution that works even in crisis situations and can be used on any smartphone, even without internet access or network coverage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Helli doesn\u2019t require a special device or continuous professional input \u2013 it\u2019s software that enables the child to communicate independently. Everything evolves together with the child \u2013 the content, the voice, the choices, and the overall experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

AAC-based solutions like Helli help prevent frustration and behavioral issues by offering children a safe way to express themselves \u2013 in everyday life, not just during therapy sessions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why Tehnopol Startup Incubator?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because Tehnopol dares to support startups whose success isn\u2019t measured only by scalability, but also by impact. For us, Tehnopol is like a nest \u2013 a place where we aren\u2019t forced into predefined boxes, but are supported in growing in our own way \u2013 unique, at our own pace, but with full commitment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Where do you see your startup in one year? And in five years?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In one year, Helli will be an officially supported service within Estonia\u2019s national support system \u2013 available to all children with speech or communication difficulties, regardless of their family\u2019s financial situation. At least 500 families will be using Helli daily so their children can express themselves and participate fully in everyday life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In five years, Helli will have expanded internationally and will be used in several countries, supporting children in their native languages. As a communication tool, Helli will have become an important part of the daily work of speech therapists and special educators \u2013 especially for children who are nonverbal or have limited speech.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Helli will support therapists and teachers alike \u2013 as AAC-based tools have proven effective in helping nonverbal children communicate confidently and develop both at home, in kindergarten, and in school environments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Who will be the next Estonian unicorn?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Probably someone who knows how to do a simple thing really well \u2013 and doesn\u2019t think \u201coutside the box,\u201d<\/em> but without boxes at all.<\/em> We hope it will come from a field where technology truly helps people \u2013 whether it\u2019s communication, education, mental health, or everyday wellbeing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The possibilities are endless \u2013 the question is who will bring them to life. We will.
So maybe Helli is<\/em> the next Estonian unicorn?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Which books, podcasts, publications, or thought leaders do you follow and recommend to other early-stage founders?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Helli team has closely followed field-specific discussions and content over the years \u2013 especially those related to child development, communication, parenting, and neurodiversity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One interesting Estonian-language podcast is Vikerraadio\u2019s \u201cPeresaade\u201d<\/a>, which covers a wide range of topics \u2013 from family systems to neurodevelopment, speech, and education. The format is thoughtful, calm, and rooted in real-life experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019ve also found Jaan Aru\u2019s talks on neuroscience and brain development and Jaan Aps\u2019 and Stories For Impact<\/em>\u2019s podcast \u201cMis m\u00f5ttes?\u201d<\/a> on social impact and systemic change deeply inspiring.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We value deeper reflection that connects everyday problems with a science-based and ethical approach. Such discussions often inspire startups like ours \u2013 they help us understand real-life challenges through genuine experiences and guide us as developers to create solutions that prevent or alleviate those problems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Technology often holds the key to making the invisible visible and giving a voice to those who have none.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

About the team<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sirli Kapper<\/strong> is a strategist focused on meaningful development work and real-life collaboration. She believes that truly effective solutions are born through co-creation<\/em> with real users. With long-term experience in social innovation and change management, Sirli brings together families, specialists, and decision-makers to work toward a common goal. When the mindset changes \u2013 practical change follows.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rando Kraav<\/strong> is a technology lead and systems designer whose path has taken him from 3D design to software development. He has the ability to make complex technology simple and human-centered. Rando ensures that Helli isn\u2019t just functional \u2013 but logical and alive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Maia K\u00e4rdla<\/strong> is a community lead and empathetic connector whose background spans education, therapy, and social change initiatives. Her strength lies in understanding users and translating their needs into the language of development. Maia ensures that Helli grows with<\/em> its community \u2013 not apart from it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a team, we believe that Helli\u2019s success lies in the synergy of our diverse experiences and perspectives \u2013 the connection between technology, personal experience, and systems thinking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Applications for the Startup Accelerator are currently closed, but the next opportunity opens in January. In the meantime, you can express your interest on this page<\/a> to be the first to know when it\u2019s time to apply!<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Dozens of high-potential startups develop their products and services every year in the Tehnopol Startup Incubator accelerator. One of them is Helli \u2013 let\u2019s get to know them better! Helli is developing a communication software \u2013 a speech communicator \u2013 that helps nonverbal and speech-impaired children express their needs, feelings, and thoughts. Helli doesn\u2019t speak […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":28,"featured_media":184320,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"_s2mail":"yes","footnotes":""},"categories":[182],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-184323","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-startup-incubator"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tehnopol.ee\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/184323","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tehnopol.ee\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tehnopol.ee\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tehnopol.ee\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/28"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tehnopol.ee\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=184323"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.tehnopol.ee\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/184323\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":184324,"href":"https:\/\/www.tehnopol.ee\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/184323\/revisions\/184324"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tehnopol.ee\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/184320"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tehnopol.ee\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=184323"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tehnopol.ee\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=184323"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tehnopol.ee\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=184323"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}