KUDO
KUDO is a real-time speech translation platform combining an AI engine supporting 70+ languages with a marketplace of 12,000+ professional interpreters across 200+ languages, serving corporate, government, education, and event customers globally.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2017
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What KUDO does
KUDO is a cloud-based real-time speech translation platform founded in 2017 and headquartered in New York, with additional offices in Geneva and San Francisco. The company combines an AI speech translation engine covering 70+ languages with an on-demand marketplace of 12,000+ professional human interpreters supporting 200+ spoken and sign languages, deployed across online meetings, in-person events, and permanent venue installations.
The product surface spans the KUDO AI Speech Translator, the Professional Interpreter Marketplace, the Live Speech Translation Online offering (with native Microsoft Teams integration and an embeddable widget for Zoom, Hopin, On24, and Bizzabo), the Live Speech Translation In-Person solution, a venue installation product, and iOS/Android mobile apps. Core technical capabilities include continuous real-time AI speech translation, Automatic Language Detection that identifies spoken language on the fly, and AI-generated multilingual meeting summaries. The platform has been used by 1.5M+ professionals.
KUDO monetizes through annual technology licensing (subscription, usage-based on meeting frequency and session length), transaction-based fees for interpreter bookings, and professional services. Go-to-market is sales-led enterprise with a heavy event-sponsorship overlay (LocWorld, DES, WorldSpeak, AI Summit Singapore, CNET Paris). The customer base spans corporate enterprises (Microsoft, Verizon, Burberry, Monster Energy, TriumphGroup, Kerry, Hyosung), government (Gobierno de España, City of Vallejo, OIV), education (Ontario College of Teachers, TEDx Bath), NGOs, and houses of worship. The company has raised approximately $27M in venture funding across 2020 and 2021, with Felicis Ventures leading both rounds.
KUDO firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- KUDO
- Legal name
- KUDO Inc.
- Website
- https://kudoway.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2017
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- KUDO is a real-time speech translation platform combining an AI engine supporting 70+ languages with a marketplace of 12,000+ professional interpreters across 200+ languages, serving corporate, government, education, and event customers globally.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
KUDO industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Live Speech Translation & Multilingual Communication Software
- NAICS
- Translation and Interpretation Services (54193), Software Publishers (5132)
- SIC
- Services-Prepackaged Software (7372)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Multilingual/Translation Communication Apps (BPAMACAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Speech Translation & Multilingual Speech Tech (HDAAAFAE)
Keywords
Where KUDO is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
KUDO business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Technology Licensing: Yearly license for KUDO's speech translation technology platform. Cost determined by organization usage including recurrence of meetings, length of sessions, and level of support needed.
- Professional Interpretation Services: Booking of professional human interpreters through the KUDO Marketplace for real-time interpretation
- Professional Services: Additional professional services offered alongside core technology and speech translation offerings
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Yearly licensing with usage-based cost determination |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels6 records
KUDO product offering
Product offeringCore offering
KUDO provides a cloud-based live speech translation and captions platform that delivers real-time multilingual audio and captions in 200 languages. Its two core engines are the KUDO AI Speech Translator (continuous AI translation across 70+ languages with regional variants, available 24/7, with Automatic Language Detection and AI-generated meeting summaries) and the Professional Interpreter Marketplace (on-demand access to 12,000+ human interpreters covering 200+ spoken and sign languages). The platform is sold under yearly enterprise licenses, with cost determined by organizational usage (meeting frequency, session length, and support level), and is deployed across online meetings, in-person events, and permanent venue installations.
Product overview
KUDO is a live speech translation and captions platform offering both AI-powered automated translation and professional human interpreter services. The platform comprises the KUDO AI Speech Translator (70+ AI languages, available 24/7) and the Professional Human Interpretation service via the Interpreter Marketplace (12,000+ interpreters, 200+ languages). These core offerings are delivered through multiple deployment options: Live Speech Translation Online (for virtual/hybrid meetings with native Microsoft Teams integration and embeddable widgets for Zoom, Hopin, On24, Bizzabo), Live Speech Translation In-Person (for on-site events), and Live Speech Translation For Venues (permanent room/venue installations). The platform supports 200 total languages and is used by 1.5 million professionals across corporate, government, education, and event sectors.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- KUDO AI: AI-powered speech translation and captions solution offering real-time translation in 70+ languages with automatic language detection and AI-generated summaries.
Products and services
- KUDO AI Speech Translator AI-powered speech translation solution that provides real-time audio and captions in 70+ languages including regional variants, available 24/7 on any meeting or event platform, with Automatic Language Detection and AI-generated meeting summaries.
- Professional Human Interpretation (Interpreter Marketplace) Marketplace platform connecting organizations with 12,000+ professional human interpreters available on-demand for 200+ spoken and sign languages, supporting live events and online meetings.
- Live Speech Translation Online Real-time speech translation solution for online and hybrid meetings, with native Microsoft Teams integration and an embeddable widget for use on Zoom, Hopin, On24, Bizzabo, and other platforms.
- Live Speech Translation In-Person Speech translation solution for in-person events, providing live-translated audio and captions for audiences in their chosen language during on-site conferences, meetings, and events.
- Live Speech Translation For Venues Venue installation solution for permanent or semi-permanent speech translation infrastructure in conference rooms, meeting venues, and corporate spaces requiring fixed multilingual capability.
- KUDO Mobile App
Quantifiable outcome
- 59% of employees working in another language worry about missing information
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use KUDO
Customer profileNamed customers29 records
Segments7 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
KUDO technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration5 records
AI capability6 records
Feature6 records
KUDO partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- LocWorld 2026 & 2027coreKUDO named Official Interpreting Tech Sponsor for LocWorld 2026 and 2027, providing live speech translation and captioning services for this major localization industry conference.
- DES - Digital Enterprise Show 2026coreKUDO became the official live translation partner for Digital Enterprise Show 2026 in Malaga, delivering multilingual capabilities for this enterprise technology event.
- WorldSpeak 2026coreKUDO returned as Official Sponsor for Live Speech Translation and Captions at WorldSpeak 2026, providing English and Canadian French AI speech translation.
- AI Summit Singapore 2026minorKUDO sponsors AI Summit Singapore 2026, delivering real-time AI speech translation and captions in Malay, Mandarin, and other languages for this AI industry event.
- CNET Paris 2026coreKUDO returns as Official AI Translation Partner for CNET Paris 2026, showcasing latest major feature enhancements including Automatic Language Detection and AI Summaries.
- DelsurcoreDelsur Language Services Argentina joins KUDO's global partner network, providing live interpretation services for LATAM markets including cybersecurity giant implementations.
- AltrimediaminorAltrimedia joins KUDO's global partner network, strengthening multilingual communication solutions across Europe and the Americas.
- Microsoft TeamscoreNative integration with Microsoft Teams enabling seamless interpretation during Teams meetings without requiring additional plugins or separate applications.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
KUDO competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Unbabel: Unbabel combines AI translation with human post-editors for enterprise customer communication and content localization — adjacent in combining AI and human linguists on a single platform.
- Interprefy: Interprefy offers a cloud platform combining AI speech translation with on-demand human remote interpreters for multilingual meetings and events — the closest direct competitor to KUDO across both online and in-person deployments.
- Wordly: Wordly provides AI-powered real-time translation and captions for meetings, webinars and events, targeting enterprise customers with similar use cases to KUDO AI Speech Translator (no human marketplace layer).
- ZipDX: ZipDX is a remote simultaneous interpretation platform for conference calls and multilingual meetings, competing with KUDO's professional interpretation offering for enterprise conferencing use cases.
- Translated: Translated is a global translation services and AI platform (with MT, interpretation and localization offerings) targeting enterprises — competing with KUDO in multilingual enterprise communications.
- Boostlingo: Boostlingo provides a remote interpretation platform and marketplace for video, phone and on-site interpretation across many languages — a direct competitor in the multilingual meeting/event interpretation space.
Broad incumbents
- LanguageLine Solutions: LanguageLine is the largest U.S. interpretation and translation services provider, offering phone, video and on-site interpretation across 200+ languages — a broad incumbent competing with KUDO's human interpreter marketplace.
- Lionbridge: Lionbridge is a global translation and localization services giant spanning written, spoken and digital content — overlapping with KUDO on enterprise multilingual communication and interpretation.
- Microsoft Translator: Microsoft Translator is built into Microsoft Teams and offers real-time speech translation across many languages; as both a KUDO distribution partner and platform incumbent, it represents the single most consequential competitive threat.
- RWS Group: RWS (formerly SDL) is a large language services and localization company offering translation, interpretation and AI-enabled language technology — competing with KUDO in enterprise multilingual communication.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
KUDO social profiles
Digital presenceKUDO financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
KUDO leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
KUDO funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors10 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
KUDO M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about KUDO
What does KUDO do?
KUDO provides a cloud-based live speech translation and captions platform that delivers real-time multilingual audio and captions in 200 languages. Its two core engines are the KUDO AI Speech Translator (continuous AI translation across 70+ languages with regional variants, available 24/7, with Automatic Language Detection and AI-generated meeting summaries) and the Professional Interpreter Marketplace (on-demand access to 12,000+ human interpreters covering 200+ spoken and sign languages). The platform is sold under yearly enterprise licenses, with cost determined by organizational usage (meeting frequency, session length, and support level), and is deployed across online meetings, in-person events, and permanent venue installations.
Is KUDO a public or private company?
KUDO is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was KUDO founded?
KUDO was founded in 2017. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is KUDO based?
KUDO is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
How does KUDO make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Technology Licensing is the primary driver. The others are professional Interpretation Services and professional Services.
Who are KUDO's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Unbabel, Interprefy, Wordly, ZipDX, Translated and Boostlingo. Broad incumbents are LanguageLine Solutions, Lionbridge, Microsoft Translator and RWS Group.
Does KUDO have an API?
No public API is recorded for KUDO.
What industry is KUDO in?
KUDO's product category is Live Speech Translation & Multilingual Communication Software. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAMACAJ, Multilingual/Translation Communication Apps, with a secondary code of HDAAAFAE, Speech Translation & Multilingual Speech Tech. Its NAICS code is 54193 and its SIC code is 7372.