Boardmaker
Boardmaker is an AAC software platform under Tobii Dynavox that lets educators, therapists, and families build symbol-based communication boards and visual supports for individuals with communication disabilities such as ALS, autism, aphasia, and cerebral palsy.
- Company typePublic
- Founded1989
- HeadquartersPittsburgh, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingSoftware
What Boardmaker does
Boardmaker was originally operated as a standalone brand at goboardmaker.com; that domain has since been merged into tobiidynavox.com, positioning Boardmaker as a product line within Tobii Dynavox AB, a publicly traded company listed on NASDAQ Stockholm (ticker: TOBII) and headquartered in Sweden, with US operations based in Pittsburgh. The business model combines subscription or licensed software sales (Boardmaker 7), one-time purchases of resource templates and visual-support materials, and paid training, certification, and live-event services. Go-to-market is layered: direct-to-consumer e-commerce via the Tobii Dynavox storefront, consultative field sales through Solutions Consultants for larger clinical and institutional accounts, and a global International Partners program spanning North America, Europe, Asia, and Latin America. HIPAA compliance is maintained for healthcare-funded deployments, and pricing is quote-based rather than publicly disclosed, consistent with a mixed long-tail consumer and institutional buyer mix.
Boardmaker firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Boardmaker
- Legal name
- Tobii Dynavox
- Website
- https://goboardmaker.com
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 1989
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Boardmaker is an AAC software platform under Tobii Dynavox that lets educators, therapists, and families build symbol-based communication boards and visual supports for individuals with communication disabilities such as ALS, autism, aphasia, and cerebral palsy.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Boardmaker industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Assistive Communication Software
- akta.pro primary industry
- AAC (Augmentative & Alternative Communication) Devices, Apps & Training (EDAKAIAB)
Keywords
Where Boardmaker is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Pittsburgh
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Boardmaker business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Software Licenses: Boardmaker 7 is sold as a software product, likely through subscription or perpetual license models for educators, therapists, and individuals.
- Resource Materials: Pre-made communication board templates and visual support materials available for purchase through the e-commerce platform.
- Training and Support Services: On-demand training, live events, and certification programs for professionals using Boardmaker and AAC solutions.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Monthly | Quote-based pricing not publicly available |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Boardmaker product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Boardmaker is a software platform for creating, customizing, and managing augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) materials, including visual supports, symbol-based communication boards, and printable learning activities for individuals with communication disabilities. It is sold as Boardmaker 7 and integrates with the broader Tobii Dynavox assistive communication ecosystem spanning hardware devices (TD I-Series, TD Pilot, TD Navio, TD I-110, PCEye) and companion software (TD Snap, TD Talk, TD Control, TD Browse, TD Phone).
Product overview
Boardmaker is a core software product within the Tobii Dynavox AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) portfolio. It operates as a unified platform offering visual communication solutions, specifically designed for individuals with communication disabilities. Boardmaker 7 is positioned alongside other Tobii Dynavox products including TD Snap, TD Talk, TD Control, TD Browse, and TD Phone apps, as well as hardware devices like the TD I-Series, TD Pilot, TD Navio, TD I-110, and PCEye. The product has consolidated from its former standalone domain (goboardmaker.com) into the Tobii Dynavox platform. Boardmaker focuses on low-tech AAC resources and symbol-based communication tools.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Boardmaker 7: AAC software for creating visual supports and communication materials for individuals with communication disabilities.
Products and services
- Boardmaker 7 Software platform for creating, customizing, and managing augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) materials, including visual supports, communication boards, symbol-based learning activities, and printable resources. Designed for educators, speech-language pathologists, therapists, families, and individuals with communication disabilities such as ALS, autism, aphasia, and cerebral palsy.
Quantifiable outcome
- Enables communication for individuals who cannot speak
Companies that use Boardmaker
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Boardmaker technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Boardmaker partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- International Partners NetworkcoreTobii Dynavox distributes Boardmaker and its AAC products through an international partners network covering multiple countries including Canada, UK, Ireland, Sweden, France, Germany, Netherlands, Norway, Denmark, Spain & Latin America, Italy, China, and Japan. These partners resell and distribute Tobii Dynavox products including Boardmaker in their respective regions.
Scale indicators1 record
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Boardmaker competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Smartbox Assistive Technology: Smartbox provides AAC hardware (Grid Pad, Eye Gaze) and software (Grid) used by SLPs and individuals with complex communication needs. It is a direct competitor in the integrated AAC ecosystem space, with overlapping symbol/grid-based content libraries and a similar clinical channel motion.
- CoughDrop: CoughDrop is a cloud-based AAC app and symbol-based communication platform with cross-device sync and a sharing/community model for SLPs and families. It overlaps with Boardmaker on symbol-based communication for non-speaking individuals and competes on price and ease of use.
- PRC-Saltillo: PRC-Saltillo is the leading direct competitor in AAC, offering both speech-generating devices and software platforms (e.g., TouchChat, Snap Core First) that compete head-to-head with Boardmaker in schools, clinics, and homes for the same SLPs, educators, and end-user populations.
- AssistiveWare: AssistiveWare builds Proloquo, Proloquo2Go, and Proloquo4Text, widely used symbol-based AAC apps for iOS. It competes with Boardmaker's authoring and communication offerings on the same clinical populations (autism, cerebral palsy, aphasia), with a strong direct-to-consumer and school-channel motion.
- Avaz: Avaz builds picture- and symbol-based AAC apps primarily targeted at children with autism and other communication disabilities. It competes with Boardmaker on the same authoring/communication workflow for SLPs, schools, and families.
- Lingraphica: Lingraphica specializes in AAC devices and apps for adults with aphasia, one of Boardmaker's explicitly served conditions. It competes for the same healthcare-funded end users and shares a similar clinical-channel, reimbursement-driven GTM motion.
Others
- Crick Software: Crick Software develops literacy and learning-support tools (Clicker, DocsPlus, WriteOnline) used heavily in special education and speech-language settings. It is adjacent to Boardmaker as it serves the same educators and SLPs with complementary special-ed content tools rather than direct AAC.
Broad incumbents
- Apple (Accessibility): Apple embeds AAC-adjacent accessibility features (Live Speech, Personal Voice, iOS Switch Control, built-in speech tools) directly into iPhone and iPad. As a broad incumbent, it does not specialize in AAC authoring like Boardmaker but its free platform-level features compete for low-acuity use cases.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Boardmaker social profiles
Digital presenceBoardmaker compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Boardmaker financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Boardmaker leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Boardmaker funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Boardmaker 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 Boardmaker
What does Boardmaker do?
Boardmaker is a software platform for creating, customizing, and managing augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) materials, including visual supports, symbol-based communication boards, and printable learning activities for individuals with communication disabilities. It is sold as Boardmaker 7 and integrates with the broader Tobii Dynavox assistive communication ecosystem spanning hardware devices (TD I-Series, TD Pilot, TD Navio, TD I-110, PCEye) and companion software (TD Snap, TD Talk, TD Control, TD Browse, TD Phone).
Is Boardmaker a public or private company?
Boardmaker is a public company. It is classified as public and is currently operating.
When was Boardmaker founded?
Boardmaker was founded in 1989. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Boardmaker based?
Boardmaker is headquartered in Pittsburgh, United States, in the North America region.
How does Boardmaker make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Software Licenses are the primary driver. The others are resource Materials and training and Support Services.
Who are Boardmaker's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Smartbox Assistive Technology, CoughDrop, PRC-Saltillo, AssistiveWare, Avaz and Lingraphica. Crick Software is listed as an others. Apple (Accessibility) is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Boardmaker have an API?
No public API is recorded for Boardmaker.
What industry is Boardmaker in?
Boardmaker's product category is Assistive Communication Software. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAKAIAB, AAC (Augmentative & Alternative Communication) Devices, Apps & Training.