Talktu tops Pitch2Win5, wins $10,000 for AI-powered speech therapy platform
Talktu, an AI-driven platform improving speech and language skills in children, has clicned the $10,000 top prize at Pitch2win5, top prize at Pitch2Win5, held in Lagos on Wednesday, July 30, 2025.
The annual competition brings together early-stage startups building solutions with real-world impact, offering them a platform to pitch before investors, secure mentorship, and gain industry recognition.
This fifth edition, organised by TechCircle, opened applications on May 26, 2025, shortlisting 12 finalists for the grand finale. Since its inception, Pitch2Win has helped spotlight some of Nigeria’s most promising early-stage startups, connecting them with funding, sponsorship, and strategic partnerships. Through multiple stages, contestants are given the chance to pitch their startups, showcase their innovative solutions, meet investors, get sponsorship and mentorship, connect with industry leaders and unlock real opportunities for growth.
To come on top, Talktu outperformed twelve other finalists in a fiercely competitive process at the grand finale. Co-founders Sarah Andino, Ibraheem Salako, and Victoria Aigbekan set out to dismantle the steep barriers that often block children from getting effective speech therapy: the high costs, the scarcity of specialists, and the geographic inaccessibility. Talktu’s platform blends accessibility with personalisation: parents get comprehensive assessments and progress tracking to see exactly how their child is improving, direct chat access to speech specialists for real-time guidance, and interactive, gamified therapy activities that turn what could be a stressful process into a fun, confidence-building experience for the child.
During the award presentation, Andino expressed her joy at the win, saying it fuels their passion to help children, especially those with special needs, to have a voice and thrive.
“Our vision is to ensure that every child, regardless of location or financial capacity, gets the support they need to communicate confidently,” said Victoria Aigbekan, one of the co-founders, after the win. “Winning Pitch2Win5 is a validation of that mission and a push forward.”
Another exceptional startup at the event was Lumi by Hiprep, securing the Japan IVS Delegates’ Choice award ($3,000) and the audience choice award ($1,000). The startup is an AI-powered study companion designed to help children learn core subjects at their own pace. It provides personalised, skill-based learning in a fun and engaging way, addressing challenges like overcrowded classrooms and limited teacher support.
What this win means for Talktu
Apart from the $10,000 prize money, Talktu will also receive other benefits, including access to mentorship and networking opportunities. Also, by joining the ranks of Pitch2Win5 winners, Talktu now stands alongside former notable finalists such as Regxta, Pharmarun, Figorr, among others.
With this event, Pitch2Win has retained its position as one of Africa’s leading startup competitions, helping past participants secure over $50,000 in funding. Beyond the prize money, the platform has contributed to putting Nigeria on the global stage, where its startups are increasingly recognised for their creativity, resilience, and technology-driven innovations. It has become a showcase of the country’s ability to produce solutions that can compete and stand out anywhere in the world.
Do you have an innovative business (small, mid-scale business or startup) that adds value, creates opportunities or solves bold problems? Then you’ve got a story worth telling? Shoot us an email with SUBJECT “Story Worth Telling (+Name of Business)” to [email protected]
