What TELO AI does

TELO AI INC. is a privately-held U.S. education technology company that builds conversational AI products for English Language Learners (ELL) in K-12 schools. The platform is purpose-built around voice-first, 1-on-1 speaking practice and ships in two delivery forms: a physical, screen-free Embodied AI Robot for classroom stations and a browser-based Web Platform that runs on Chromebooks, tablets, and laptops districts already own. Both forms are powered by the same underlying conversational AI engine, which adapts difficulty, vocabulary, and feedback in real time based on detected student performance, detects personal interests to personalize future sessions, and delivers natural in-context error correction rather than interrupting corrections. The product suite includes five practice modes (Conversation, Lesson Practice, Role Play, Skill Training, Ask & Learn), three application modules (ELL/English, Ask Telo for K-8 academic subjects, and Foreign Languages in French/Spanish/Italian), and a Teacher Dashboard that maps participation, vocabulary growth, error types, and progress to state ELL standards including WIDA, TELPAS, ELPAC, NYSESLAT, Texas ELPS, California ELD, and Mississippi ELPT.

The company monetizes through annual or multi-year (1–3 year) subscription licenses priced per classroom or per student across three tiers — Starter (1 classroom), Grade-level (5 classrooms), and District-wide (20+ classrooms with volume pricing) — with an attached one-time hardware purchase for the Embodied Robot and optional professional services including a dedicated account manager. Distribution is enterprise sales-led, supported by procurement-cooperative enablement: Telo is an awarded vendor on TIPS (covering 7,000+ member districts and schools), Region 19 Allied States Cooperative (839 districts), Region 7 ESC (95 Texas districts), and Region 18 ESC (40 members), plus 29+ direct approved ISDs. Native SSO and rostering integrations with Clever and ClassLink reduce deployment friction, and the company is FERPA-compliant with an explicit policy of not training its AI models on student data.

TELO AI is led by co-founders Alexis Jamin (CEO) and Oliver Scott (CTO), appears to be founder-owned with no disclosed external funding, and operates with a small in-house team of educators, engineers, and designers. Beyond U.S. K-12 public districts (the primary segment), the company also targets private and charter schools, international language centers and tutoring franchises, and has signaled a forthcoming expansion into U.S. K-12 Special Education. Customers span Texas-area ISDs as the visible core (Austin, Round Rock, Plano, Frisco, Aldine, Lewisville, Richardson, Pearland, Brownsville, Mesquite, Coppell, La Joya, Humble) alongside pilots in Alabaster City Schools (Alabama) and Franklin Square (New York).

Name

TELO AI

Legal name

TELO AI INC.

Website

https://mytelo.ai

Company type

Private

Founded year

2025

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

TELO AI is a privately-held U.S. education technology company that provides AI-powered 1-on-1 speaking practice for English Language Learners in K-12 schools, delivered via an Embodied AI Robot and a web platform, and sold to school districts through procurement cooperatives and direct sales.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

K-12 English Language Learner Software

NAICS

Language Schools (61163), Exam Preparation and Tutoring (611691)

SIC

Services-Prepackaged Software (7372)

akta.pro primary industry

AI-Powered Language Tutors, Chatbots & Speaking Practice Tools (EDAFAOAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

AI-Powered Tutoring & Study Assistant Platforms (EDANAGAD)

Keywords

• Conversational AI platform
• English learner software
• K-12 ELL speaking practice
• Embodied AI robot
• Teacher analytics dashboard

Headquarters

HQ city

Miami

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Subscription Licensing (Per Classroom): Recurring subscription model with per-classroom or per-student licensing. Includes Teacher Dashboard, SSO integration (Clever/ClassLink), and all practice modes. Available in Starter (1 classroom), Grade-level (5 classrooms), and District-wide (20+ classrooms) tiers. Volume pricing for larger deployments.
2. Hardware Sales (Embodied AI Robot): One-time hardware purchase for Embodied AI Robot (physical screen-free companion). Bundled with software subscription. Premium option priced higher than web platform alone.
3. Professional Services: Online teacher training (pre-recorded videos) included with subscriptions. Optional dedicated account manager with direct phone and email for district-wide deployments.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

TELO AI builds a conversational AI platform purpose-built for K-12 English Learners (ELLs), delivering 1-on-1 voice-first speaking practice through two channels: a physical, screen-free Embodied AI Robot and a browser-based Web Platform usable on existing classroom devices. The offering includes five structured practice modes, ELL standards-aligned analytics through a Teacher Dashboard, and SSOs with Clever and ClassLink, sold as per-classroom or per-student subscriptions to U.S. school districts.

Product overview

TELO AI offers a unified conversational AI platform for English Learner speaking practice, available via two delivery channels — the Embodied AI Robot (a physical screen-free device) and the Web-based Platform (browser-based, on existing school devices) — both powered by the same conversational AI engine and Teacher Dashboard. The portfolio includes five structured practice modes (Conversation, Lesson Practice, Role Play, Skill Training, Ask & Learn), three language apps (ELL/English, Ask Telo for academic subjects, and Foreign Languages for French/Spanish/Italian), and a Teacher Dashboard delivering AI-generated analytics mapped to state ELL standards. The Embodied Robot and Web Platform are the two primary deployment options; the apps are modules accessible within or alongside these channels.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Telo Embodied AI Robot A physical, screen-free AI robot companion that holds 1-on-1 voice conversations with students to deliver focused, distraction-free speaking practice in real classrooms. Sold to U.S. K-12 school districts and bundled with a software subscription and Teacher Dashboard.
• Telo Web-based Platform A browser-based conversational AI platform accessible on tablets, Chromebooks, and laptops that delivers the same Telo speaking practice experience on devices schools already own, usable both in class and at home. Sold via per-classroom subscription to U.S. K-12 school districts.

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 1 additional hour/month of personalized speaking practice per student
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

AI capability7 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• ClevercoreTechnology or IntegrationNative SSO and rostering integration with Clever. Allows districts to provision classes and let students log in with one click through Clever's education identity platform.
• ClassLinkcoreTechnology or IntegrationNative SSO and rostering integration with ClassLink. Compatible with ClassLink's identity and portal solutions for easy student login and class provisioning.
• TIPS Purchasing CooperativeflagshipChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAwarded vendor on TIPS (The Interlocal Purchasing System) contract enabling 7,000+ member districts and schools nationwide to purchase Telo without running a separate RFP. Primary cooperative distribution channel.
• Region 19 Allied States CooperativecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorApproved through Allied States Cooperative (839 districts) providing multi-state purchasing eligibility for Telo deployments.
• Region 7 ESCcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTexas Region 7 ESC purchasing cooperative with 95 member districts. Streamlined procurement for member districts requiring no separate RFP.
• Region 18 ESCminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTexas Region 18 ESC cooperative with 33 school districts and 7 charter schools. Additional procurement pathway for Texas districts.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• IXL Learning: Large incumbent adaptive learning platform covering math, ELA, and language practice across U.S. K-12 districts. Overlaps with Telo on standards-aligned practice and district licensing, though it spans a much broader subject set.
• Quizlet: Wide-reach student learning platform expanding into AI tutoring (Q-Chat). Comparable on AI-driven study assistance and broad K-12 reach, but the product is less specialized for ELL speaking practice.
• Duolingo: Mass-market language-learning platform combining AI-driven conversation practice with adaptive lessons. Overlaps with Telo on conversational AI and adaptive language instruction, but serves primarily consumer rather than K-12.
• Rosetta Stone Education: Long-standing language-learning provider with a K-12 / district edition. Overlaps with Telo on ELL instruction and district contracts, though it predates the LLM/c onversational AI wave and uses more scripted speech practice.

Direct peers

• Speak: AI-powered conversational speaking tutor for language learners. Closely comparable conversational AI architecture, voice-first practice, and adaptive feedback loop, though currently consumer/mobile instead of K-12.
• Imagine Learning: Established K-12 ELL/language-acquisition platform with district-wide deployments. Overlaps directly with Telo's K-12 ELL customer base, standards alignment (WIDA/state EL frameworks), and subscription licensing motion.
• Lexia Learning (Lexia Core5/PowerUp): Provider of adaptive literacy and English-language intervention tools widely used in U.S. school districts. Closely comparable on K-12 ELL adaptive instruction, district sales motion, and progress-monitoring dashboards.
• Newsela: Adaptive reading and content platform widely deployed in U.S. districts, with built-in supports for ELLs and standards-aligned instruction. Comparable on K-12 ELL use cases, tiered district licensing, and teacher dashboards.
• Cambly: 1-on-1 spoken-language practice platform connecting students with conversational tutors. Comparable 1-on-1 speaking-practice positioning, though Cambly uses live human tutors while Telo uses conversational AI.

Emerging players

• HelloTalk / Tutorful: Language-exchange and tutor-marketplace platforms supporting conversational language practice. Shares conversational language-learning goals with Telo, though delivery is peer/tutor-driven rather than AI-driven.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about TELO AI