United Language Group

What United Language Group does

United Language Group (ULG), operating under the Propio brand, is a Minneapolis-based language services and technology platform serving enterprises, government agencies, and healthcare providers across the United States. The company offers four core interpreting modalities (Video Remote Interpreting via Propio ONE, Over-the-Phone Interpreting, On-site Interpretation, and American Sign Language Interpreting) backed by a network of 20,000+ interpreters covering 300 languages, alongside a translation and localization suite spanning 200+ languages with specialized offerings in app/software localization, website localization, technical translations, multimedia localization, e-learning, and multilingual text-to-speech. The proprietary technology stack includes Propio Analytics for real-time reporting, Propio Workforce OS for scheduling and workforce management, and the Propio Complete Automation Suite for AI-enabled workflow automation. Interpreters are vetted and trained to comply with HIPAA, FERPA, and GLBA standards, enabling the company to serve regulated verticals.

The company pursues a direct enterprise sales motion targeting 13 verticals including healthcare (primary), legal, government, financial services, education, life sciences, and insurance. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed. ULG was built through a PE-backed roll-up strategy beginning with the 2016 investment from Northern Pacific Group and Yukon Partners, followed by acquisitions of KJ International Resources (2016), Merrill Brink International (2016), Language Select (2016), and VIA (2018). In 2024, ULG received a $1.8 million, five-year CMS Community Navigator Grant to deliver healthcare navigation services to non-English-speaking communities in South Carolina, signaling a move into federally funded health equity programs. The company reports 12,000+ partner organizations and a 30+ year operational history (via the Propio brand legacy).

Name

United Language Group

Legal name

United Language Group

Website

https://unitedlanguagegroup.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

United Language Group (Propio) is a Minneapolis-based language services provider offering interpreting (VRI, OPI, on-site, ASL) and translation/localization across 300 languages to 12,000+ enterprise, healthcare, government, and legal clients, supported by proprietary platforms and a 20,000+ interpreter network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Language Services

NAICS

Translation and Interpretation Services (541930), Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services (5418)

SIC

Communications Services, Nec (4899)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAFAIAH

Content Localization, Translation & Transcreation

Business & Public Services/Marketing, Advertising & PR Services/Content Marketing & Production (Copy, Video, Design)

SECONDARYBPAMACAJ

Multilingual/Translation Communication Apps

Business & Public Services/Web, Mobile & Digital Platforms/Messaging, Voice/Video & Communication Apps

SECONDARYMPAHAFAD

Translation & Transcreation Services (Script/Dialogue Adaptation)

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Media Technology & Services (Post-Production, VFX, Animation, Streaming Infrastructure)/Localization & Versioning (Subtitling, Dubbing, QC)

SECONDARYMPAAANAH

Multilingual Multimedia Localization (Subtitling, Dubbing, Voiceover)

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Advertising, Marketing & PR Services/Marketing Localization & Transcreation Services

Keywords

• Language interpretation services
• Translation and localization
• Video remote interpreting
• Over-the-phone interpreting
• Multilingual communication

Headquarters

HQ city

Minneapolis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

United Language Group provides on-demand interpreting and translation/localization services delivered through proprietary technology platforms (Propio ONE, Propio Analytics, Propio Workforce OS) and a 20,000+ interpreter network covering 300 languages. Offerings span video remote interpreting, over-the-phone interpreting, on-site interpretation, ASL interpreting, and document/software/website translation services for healthcare, legal, government, financial, and other enterprise clients.

Product overview

United Language Group operates Propio Language Services as a comprehensive language services and technology platform offering interpreting and translation/localization solutions. The core product portfolio includes four main interpreting modalities (Video Remote Interpreting via Propio ONE, Over-the-Phone Interpreting, On-site Interpretation, and ASL Interpreting) supported by a 20,000-interpreter network across 300 languages. The translation and localization suite provides specialized services including app/software localization, website localization, document translation, technical translations, multilingual marketing, e-learning localization, content moderation, multimedia localization, and text-to-speech capabilities. Technology platforms include Propio Analytics (real-time reporting), Propio Workforce OS (scheduling and workforce management), and the Propio Complete Automation Suite (AI-powered workflow automation). The ecosystem is tied together through PropioPass as an access portal and maintains compliance with HIPAA, FERPA, and GLBA requirements.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Video Remote Interpreting (VRI) On-demand video-based interpretation service enabling users to connect with qualified interpreters through the Propio ONE platform or any web-based conferencing tool; designed for hospitals, clinics, and enterprise clients needing immediate language access.
• Over-the-Phone Interpreting (OPI) 24/7/365 on-demand telephone interpretation with industry-specific interpreters to ensure accuracy for healthcare, legal, financial, and other enterprise use cases.
• On-site Interpretation In-person interpretation services delivered at hospitals, clinics, courtrooms, legal offices, community programs, and schools for situations requiring physical presence.
• American Sign Language (ASL) Interpreting Interpretation services for deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals using American Sign Language, delivered on-site or remotely as needed.
• Translation and Localization Document translation and localization services covering app/software localization, website localization, technical translations, multilingual marketing, multimedia localization, e-learning localization, content moderation, and multilingual desktop publishing across more than 200 languages.
• Propio ONE Proprietary video remote interpreting platform that integrates with web-based conferencing tools to deliver fast on-demand connections to qualified interpreters.
• Propio Analytics Real-time analytics and reporting platform providing detailed, customizable dashboards on interpretation usage, performance metrics, and key performance indicators for enterprise clients.
• Propio Workforce OS Workforce management system for coordinating, scheduling, and viewing on-site interpretation appointments from a single interface to reduce costs and improve efficiency.
• Propio Complete Automation Suite AI-powered automation suite that streamlines language services workflows including AI Translations, supporting enterprise clients with automated translation and localization pipelines.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 12,000 partner organizations nationwide trust Propio language services

Named customers3 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Feature3 records

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Welocalize: Mid-sized global translation and localization services provider offering enterprise content localization, interpretation, and AI-powered language solutions. Comparable in size, multi-vertical focus, and blend of human services with technology platforms.
• Lionbridge Technologies: Global translation, localization, and interpretation services company with deep enterprise and technology vertical coverage. Backed by H.I.G. Capital, Lionbridge competes head-to-head with ULG on multilingual content services and AI-augmented translation workflows.
• LanguageLine Solutions: Largest US interpretation and translation services provider, offering VRI, OPI, on-site, ASL, and document translation across 200+ languages. Acquired by Teleperformance for ~$1.5B, it is ULG's most direct competitor in enterprise healthcare and government language access contracts.
• TransPerfect: One of the largest privately held language services and translation technology companies globally, with comprehensive interpretation, translation, and localization offerings. Closely comparable to ULG in breadth of services and enterprise sales motion.
• CyraCom: Interpretation services company specializing in healthcare with phone and video remote interpreting. Notably, ULG/Propio maintains a CyraCom Client Portal login link, suggesting either prior relationship or overlapping client infrastructure; CyraCom is a direct competitor in healthcare interpretation.
• Sorenson Communications: Leading provider of ASL interpretation services and video relay for deaf and hard-of-hearing communities. Directly competes with ULG's ASL Interpreting line of business and shares the same regulatory compliance and interpreter certification requirements.
• Language Select: Translation and interpretation services company acquired by ULG in 2016; representative of the regional translation firms in ULG's competitive and acquisition set. Pre-acquisition operated as a comparable enterprise language services provider.

Emerging players

• Smartling: Translation management platform combining cloud TMS technology with professional translation services. Comparable in pursuing a SaaS-plus-services model and targeting enterprise digital content localization, though smaller scale than ULG.
• Stepes: On-demand mobile interpretation and translation platform targeting enterprise and on-demand use cases. Represents the tech-enabled, app-first segment of language services that ULG's Propio ONE VRI platform competes with on speed and accessibility.

Broad incumbents

• RWS Holdings: Public language services and intellectual property services company (acquired SDL). Operates broader portfolio of IP, life sciences, and language services, competing with ULG primarily in translation, localization, and content management for large enterprises.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/unitedlanguage
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/united-language-group

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors3 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A4 records

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about United Language Group