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Otsimo develops an educational platform providing assistive technology and game-based learning applications for children with developmental disabilities. Its core offerings, Otsimo Special Education and Speech Therapy, target cognitive, behavioral, and communication skill development. The platform integrates educational games and an open-source AAC tool, designed with educators for diverse learning needs.
Otsimo was founded in 2016 by Sercan Degirmenci and Zafer Elcik. The company's inspiration arose from Elcik's personal experience supporting his younger brother, diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. This insight drove them to develop accessible educational tools for children facing similar developmental challenges, addressing a critical need for such resources.
The company primarily serves children with special needs, offering tailored digital tools for their development. Otsimo's vision centers on democratizing access to early childhood special education and speech therapy globally. It empowers children to build essential cognitive, communication, and motor skills, promoting an inclusive learning environment via accessible digital interventions.
Otsimo has raised $330K across 1 funding round.
Otsimo has raised $330K in total across 1 funding round.
Otsimo has raised $330K in total across 1 funding round.
Otsimo's investors include ACT Venture Partners, omer erkmen.
Otsimo is a technology company building mobile apps for special education, primarily targeting children with autism, Down syndrome, and other developmental disabilities. Its core products include the Otsimo Special Education app with over 50 gamified educational games and the Otsimo Speech Therapy app, which uses speech recognition to personalize learning and assess speech skills.[1][2][4][6] These apps serve families, educators, and children worldwide—reaching over 350,000 users across the US (48%), Turkey (15%), UK (11%), and others—solving the gap in accessible, home-based education by delivering ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis)-aligned content without ads, instructions, or institutional dependency.[2][4][5][6] Growth momentum includes expansions like a free open-source AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) tool, partnerships (e.g., Sago Mini), and features like adaptive speech exercises, with a team of about 25-30 specializing in design, development, and special education.[1][2][4]
Otsimo emerged from a personal mission: co-founder Zafer Elcik (CEO), at age 10, watched his younger brother—diagnosed with severe autism at age 2—struggle with nonverbal communication and illiteracy, inspiring him and CTO Sercan Degirmenci to build a simple color-matching game that sparked rapid progress.[4] This evolved into Otsimo around 2015-2016 as a mobile platform for neurodiverse children, starting with severe autism support, then adding AAC and speech therapy after community testing.[2][4] Early traction came from educator feedback, certifications (e.g., Teacher With Apps, Autism Parenting Magazine), and global App Store features, pivoting from assistive tech to comprehensive special ed apps while localizing for international reach.[2][4][5]
Otsimo rides the edtech wave merging AI (speech recognition) with neurodiversity-focused tools, addressing a critical gap: 1 in 36 US children has autism, yet accessible special ed remains scarce outside institutions.[1][2][6] Timing aligns with post-pandemic remote learning demand and rising awareness of inclusive tech, amplified by mobile proliferation and studies validating AAC/ABA efficacy for behavior and speech gains.[4][5][6] Market forces like global localization needs and insurer partnerships favor scalable apps over costly therapy; Otsimo influences the ecosystem by open-sourcing AAC, inspiring social impact startups, and proving for-profit models can democratize education for underserved kids.[2][3][4]
Otsimo is poised for expansion through insurer/government deals and deeper AI personalization, potentially doubling its 350,000-user base amid growing neurodiversity demands.[2] Trends like multimodal AI and inclusive edtech will shape it, evolving from autism-focused to broader developmental tools while amplifying impact via partnerships. Its influence may grow as a benchmark for ethical, child-centric tech, fulfilling the founder's vision of self-sufficient kids worldwide—transforming one brother's story into global potential.
Otsimo has raised $330K across 1 funding round. Most recently, it raised $330K Seed in February 2020.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 1, 2020 | $330K Seed | — | ACT Venture Partners, Omer Erkmen | Announced |
