Motion Light Lab

What Motion Light Lab does

Motion Light Lab (ML2) is a non-profit Deaf creative lab and research program operating within the Visual Language and Visual Learning Center (VL2) at Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C. The lab develops bilingual ASL/English digital storybook apps and 3D signing avatar technology using motion capture, alongside a portfolio that includes the free VL2 Storybook Apps, the 18-week ASL Literacy Activities curriculum, the PLAYFVL early-intervention family kit, the Here Comes Mavo! animated children's series, and the Dimensions: Episode One feature film. Its technical stack combines motion-capture-based 3D character animation with bilingual (signed and written) content production pipelines, supported by a Deaf-led team of engineers, animators, designers, and researchers. The Storybook Creator platform functions as a content-creation layer that third parties (including partner REAL's Bilingual Stories Bookshelf app) use to produce their own localized bilingual apps, while the CoLab program operationalizes international expansion by training partner organizations in 14+ countries to build content in their native sign languages.

ML2 distributes its products free of charge to end users via the App Store, Google Play, YouTube, the Podia-hosted ASL Literacy Activities platform, and direct website downloads, with supplementary in-person Storytime Sessions at schools, libraries, and cultural institutions. The customer base spans three primary segments: deaf children and their families (the primary end-user segment), educators of deaf students in U.S. and international schools, and international non-profit/government organizations participating in the CoLab program. Institutional customers such as the Smithsonian American Art Museum, Maryland School for the Deaf, and DC Public Library represent engagement and visibility partnerships rather than contracted revenue.

The lab is funded primarily through institutional and foundation grants rather than commercial revenue. Primary funding sources include the National Science Foundation (as part of the Gallaudet University Science of Learning Center on Visual Language and Visual Learning), the Elevate Prize Foundation, the LEGO Foundation, UNICEF, and Ashoka, supplemented by donations. Strategic partners include Gallaudet University (institutional host), Pigmental Studios (co-developer of Here Comes Mavo!), and a network of CoLab partners across North America, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia.

Name

Motion Light Lab

Legal name

Motion Light Lab

Website

https://motionlightlab.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Motion Light Lab is a Deaf-led non-profit creative lab at Gallaudet University that builds bilingual ASL/English storybook apps, 3D signing avatars via motion capture, and animated content for deaf children, families, educators, and international partner organizations globally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Deaf Education Technology

NAICS

Language Schools (61163), Language Schools (611630)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812)

akta.pro primary industry

Sign Language Learning Programs (ASL/BSL, etc.) (EDAMAFAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Translation, Language Accessibility & Reading Support Tools (e.g., TTS, Captions, Immersive Reader) (EDAFAOAL), Language Learning Media (Audio Labs, Pronunciation, Interactive) (EDAGALAE)

Keywords

• Bilingual storybook apps
• Sign language technology
• Deaf education tools
• ASL learning apps
• Sign language avatars

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington, D.C.

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations

Revenue model

1. Grants and Foundation Funding: Primary funding from National Science Foundation (NSF) as part of Gallaudet University Science of Learning Center. Additional support from foundations including UNICEF.
2. Donations: Donation-based support model encouraging contributions to fuel projects for deaf children.
3. Partnership Collaborations: Co-development partnerships with international organizations who provide initial funding and team resources to create localized storybook content.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Motion Light Lab creates free bilingual American Sign Language (ASL)/English storybook apps, 3D signing avatars, and educational resources designed for deaf children and their families. The lab develops interactive learning experiences that translate English text into ASL storytelling through digital media, alongside training programs and partner collaborations that extend the reach of its research into deaf education.

Product overview

Motion Light Lab operates as a Deaf creative lab offering a portfolio of educational technology products centered on sign language literacy. The core offerings include the VL2 Storybook Apps platform (bilingual ASL/English storybook apps available on App Store and Google Play), the free ASL Literacy Activities resource (18+ weeks of daily content), the Storybook Creator platform (enabling organizations to create their own bilingual apps), and the PLAYFVL family support program. Supporting technologies include Signing Avatars (3D avatars via motion capture) used in entertainment products like 'Here Comes Mavo!' and 'Dimensions: Episode One'. The ML2 x ECHO Training program provides healthcare provider education, while the Co-Lab Program facilitates international partnerships to expand the global digital library across multiple sign languages.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• PLAYFVL: Play and Language Access for Your Family through Visual Learning. A family support program ensuring sign language access for deaf children through a kit including soft blocks, board books, play guides, and facial tissues.
• VL2 Storybook Apps
• VL2 Storybook Creator
• ASL Literacy Activities
• CoLab Program

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 70 million deaf people globally use sign language as primary language, yet only 3% receive education in sign language - representing massive unmet need ML2 addresses
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability3 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship, regional and minor.

• REAL (Research in Early Literacy)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerREAL's Bilingual Stories Bookshelf app is built using ML2's Storybook Creator platform. This is a major partnership with REAL, a significant partner in early literacy for deaf children.
• Gallaudet UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerML2 is part of the Visual Language and Visual Learning Center (VL2) at Gallaudet University. Located at 800 Florida Avenue NE, Washington, D.C. 20002.
• Pigmental StudioscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-development partner for 'Here Comes Mavo!' - the first children's animated series featuring a deaf protagonist with 3D avatars using sign language. Featured in Forbes coverage.
• Smithsonian American Art MuseumflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Musical Thinking exhibit with ASL translations, haptics, and accessibility support. Featured in Forbes coverage.
• Eversa (Canada)regionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoLab partner in Montreal, Quebec, Canada working on sign language advocacy through digital tools.
• Canales Asociación Civil (Argentina)regionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoLab partner in Buenos Aires, Argentina creating localized bilingual storybook content.
• National Association of the Deaf ThailandregionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoLab partner in Bangkok, Thailand working on sign language advocacy.
• Gesture Literacy Knowledge StudioregionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration for Storytime Sessions at DC Public Library with ASL storytelling.
• World LearningregionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational education organization partner.
• IKEAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner supporting accessibility and inclusion initiatives.
• KentalisregionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational organization supporting deaf education.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Marlee Signs: Marlee Signs, co-founded by Marlee Matlin, is an ASL learning app delivering video-led instruction by Deaf instructors. It targets families and hearing adults learning ASL and competes with ML2 for app-store-driven adoption and family segment mindshare in accessible sign language education.
• Signing Time / Two Little Hands: Signing Time is one of the most established sign language educational media brands for deaf and hearing children, producing DVDs, books, and digital content teaching ASL to kids. It is the closest direct competitor to ML2's bilingual storybook app model, serving overlapping families and schools with supplemental ASL learning resources.
• HandSpeak: HandSpeak is a long-running online ASL resource offering dictionaries, lessons, and learning tools for ASL learners. It competes with ML2 in the digital ASL education space, addressing learners seeking structured instruction in ASL with visual sign language content, similar to ML2's storybook approach.
• Lingvano: Lingvano is a mobile sign language learning app focused on ASL with structured lessons, video by Deaf instructors, and gamified practice. It serves a similar learner segment as ML2 via app-store distribution, but targets adult conversational ASL more than children's bilingual literacy—making it a partial-overlap emerging peer.
• Signing Savvy: Signing Savvy is an ASL dictionary and learning platform used widely by families and educators of deaf children. It overlaps with ML2's educator and family segment, providing another digital channel for ASL vocabulary and instruction, though its format (dictionary lookup) differs from ML2's immersive storybook experiences.
• The ASL App: The ASL App is a mobile-first ASL learning platform offering conversational lessons taught by Deaf ASL teachers. While its format differs (lessons vs. storybooks), it competes directly for the same learner segments—families, educators, and hearing adults seeking accessible ASL instruction through app-store distribution.

Emerging players

• Vooks: Vooks is an animated storybook streaming platform for children, producing animated read-aloud content with educational intent. While it does not specialize in ASL or deaf education, its animated children's book format and educator distribution overlap with ML2's storybook app concept, making it a thematic adjacent competitor as accessibility-focused story content expands.

Others

• Ava (Ava Me): Ava provides real-time captioning and accessibility software for Deaf and hard-of-hearing users in workplaces and education. While not a children's media company, Ava operates in the broader Deaf accessibility ecosystem that includes ML2's work and shares overlapping end-user communities and institutional accessibility buyers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/motionlightlab
• Instagraminstagram.com/motionlightlab
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/motion-light-lab

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Motion Light Lab