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Jan 15 2021

High-tech Babel fish: How the Timekettle WT2 Edge Translator breaks language barriers

Normal conversations are energetic and messy. You and your friends might talk over each other, interrupting each other with new ideas and clarifying questions. Which means that if you and your friend don’t speak the same language, a traditional translator would slow down your conversation to the speed of a walkie-talkie. Helpful, but not exactly a replacement for a fluid chat.

The Timekettle WT2 Edge is the first in-ear translator that preserves the nuances and flow of a natural conversation. The WT2 Edge are bi-directional simultaneous translation earbuds that translate in real-time as you speak and listen, delivering what you said to your listener’s ear in as little as 0.5 seconds with up to 95% accuracy in 40 languages and 93 accents. 

We sat down with the Timekettle team to learn more about how they made a working Babel fish and how they hope to foster more connections worldwide by breaking down language barriers.

Who are the team members of your project? What’s their story?

Timekettle was founded in 2016 by Leal Tian, who was named to the Forbes China 2018 30 Under 30 list. Over the past four years, the Timekettle team has acquired a number of rising stars: Doctor Liang Tian, who works in neural machine translation; Wei Shiei, one of the leading experts in the vector voice algorithm field; Yuman Wang, a software and hardware architect with over a decade of experience; and Alex Qin, a serial entrepreneur who has generated millions of dollars with his business successes. Timekettle has become an open and international start-up, and our staff includes specialists from Japan, the United States, France, and more.

How did it all begin?

We knew we could make a handheld translator faster than an in-ear style, but we believe the cross-language conversation is more than the translation itself. A face-to-face conversation involves exploring and enhancing a relationship from start to finish, and we knew that our design would determine whether our translator would push the conversation forward or hold it back. The in-ear translator seemed to be the best way to achieve our goals, but we lacked a technical solution to make the concept a reality. We re-rooted codes and architected the software and hardware. We spent more than one million dollars and worked on it for a year and a half, but we still failed. We thought about abandoning the in-ear concept and reverting to a handheld translator instead, but we believed in designing a product that made the conversation so natural, it was like the translator wasn’t there at all.

We were lucky: We broke through our technical bottleneck and created a wearable, in-ear translator in 2018. Timekettle WT2 series Translator earbuds are still the best experience translator in the world. We appreciate the backers who supported Timekettle’s product idea, and media outlets like Techcrunch who introduced our idea to the world. They inspire us to feel what we’re doing is worthy. We’re excited to help people break the language barrier in a new way.

How did backer feedback help you make this latest version of your earbuds?

Over the past year, more than 100,000 backers and users from 89 countries and regions have used the WT2 Plus Translator. We received thousands of emails with feedback on the product that helped us design new features. We’ve created a more intelligent voice pick-up capacity, and we also released a feature that allows people to chime in while the other person is still speaking. With other translators, speakers have to wait their turn to talk, but that isn’t how a real conversation happens. Simultaneous Mode lets people speak more naturally. It also enables people to use the Translator in places where there might be a lot of background noise, like streets, restaurants, shopping malls, and more. We’re excited to showcase these features with our new model, WT2 Edge.

Can you briefly explain what your product is? 

Timekettle WT2 Edge Translator Earbuds are the world’s first two-way translation earbuds, meaning you can speak and hear other people’s translations at the same time. The vector noise reduction and bi-directional simultaneous translation make our earbuds different from other existing translators. The WT2 Edge effectively prevents interruption from the external environment and improves translation accuracy significantly to give you a natural and fluent conversation with your friends around the world.

What are you raising funds for? What is the purpose of your campaign? 

It takes years to transform our ideas into a final product. Indiegogo is a global platform for innovative products from all over the world where we can receive feedback from backers around the world. Crowdfunding for the product allows us to continuously update the hardware and improve the software to bring our customers a refined user experience.

What inspired you to make your product? 

Our team was inspired by the Babel fish in The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. The Babel fish is small, yellow, and leech-like, and probably the oddest thing in the universe. When the main character, Arthur Dent, puts it into his ear, it translates the universe’s languages for him and allows him to finish his exploration of the galaxy. 

We wanted to make a real-life Babel fish — something that made communication between people who speak different languages as easy as it was for Arthur Dent. We believe that communication is connection. Translation is about more than words: It’s expression, eye contact, and body language. The WT2 Edge expands on its predecessors to make connections even easier. 

Why did you choose to do crowdfunding? 

Language barriers have divided human beings for thousands of years. For most people, language translation is very expensive. Plus, it’s difficult to find a good interpreter. And learning a new language yourself is time-consuming and hard to do well.

In 2016, artificial intelligence technology was growing fast and neural machine translations were already being used in travel, social networks, business communications, and more. However, very few people were paying attention to the industry back then, and they didn’t realize that this new technology could be turned into a wearable device and bring consumers a cost-effective translation experience. We knew we wanted to launch our Translators through crowdfunding to find our early adopters.

Crowdfunding backers are engaged and supportive. They’re passionate about sharing their ideas for how to optimize products, and passionate about telling their friends and family about a product they backed. Through crowdfunding, we build the Timekttle brand together with our backers.

What have been your biggest challenges so far? 

2020 was an unstable year, and the pandemic has restricted most of our international travel. Timekettle is also a startup, and as a new company, our staff’s time is limited. While some companies were spending 2020 changing directions and putting their efforts into new businesses, our team was working hard to improve our translating system to create an accurate and stable technology that encompasses multi-lingual support. We believe in our mission because of the encouragement, love, and anticipation that we see in our backers all over the world. We made our Translators because we believe that language barriers should be overcome. 

Want to support Timekettle? Check out their campaign page to back their campaign today!

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Written by bizbuildermike · Categorized: Crowdfunding · Tagged: 2020, algorithm, artificial-intelligence, Behind The Scenes, business, Businesses, chat, Chime, china, company, conversations, Crowdfunding, Design, entrepreneur, Environment, Family, four years, Global, hardware, html, human, ideas, intelligence, international, japan, Media, Model, more, other, pandemic, product, Products, said, Shopping, social, Software, startup, story, style, Success Stories, supported, TechCrunch, Technology, The Conversation, travel, United States, us, world

Dec 27 2020

Singer Akon Plans $6 Billion Futuristic City In Senegal

Senegalese-born American singer Akon is planning to build a smart city in Senegal. The project, which is estimated to cost about $6 billion, will be built on a 2,000-acre futuristic metropolis. The smart city, called “Real-Life” Wakanda, will contain an artificial-intelligence data center, a stadium, a hospital, offices, condos, and a luxury resort. Residents in the city will be paying for any service via the singer’s cryptocurrency called Akoin.

The project will be heavily funded by a Kenyan entrepreneur who has had a history of the alleged fraud.

Empowering youths in Africa

While unveiling plans for the project, Akon said when the project is complete, it will empower African youths. Although there have been few details about the project that have been released so far, an architect from Dubai and a Los Angeles construction firm have already been contacted for the Akon City project.

There’s no doubt that Akon has become has reined in the American music industry for years now. But the multiple award-winning singer is now pursuing other things and doesn’t want his legacy to remain only in music.

“One of my biggest fears was just being known for singing and dancing,” Akon told Business Insider during a call.

Although the singer’s songs may no longer be the anthem as they used to be, Akon has not been idle. He has been very active in other projects and has now become a tech entrepreneur in Africa.

He started with a solar power company before buying a diamond mine in South Africa. Akon has also launched his Akoin cryptocurrency, which will be the sole transaction enabler when Akon city goes live. The 2,000-acre futuristic city will be designed to serve as a business hub and will be filled with gleaming palm trees and skyscrapers. The plan will allow residents to pay for taxes, business licenses, as well as basic utilities using the Akoin cryptocurrency.

Akon said he’s not going to stop just with this smart city, as there is a plan to build similar smart cities in other parts of Africa.

The cost of the project clearly shows that Akon alone is not providing the entire financial outlay for the project. According to an estimate by the BBC in 2018, Akon’s net worth is around $80 million. The bulk of the funds will be coming from the Kenyan investor, while Akon will make his Akoin cryptocurrency the sole medium of exchange.

Singer Akon Plans $6 Billion Futuristic City In Senegal

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Written by bizbuildermike · Categorized: cryptocurrency · Tagged: africa, Akoin, Akon, american, artificial-intelligence, bbc, business, Cities, company, construction, crypto, cryptocurrency, data, entrepreneur, exchange, fraud, going, investor, Los Angeles, Luxury, market, music, other, said, smart cities, South Africa, Taxes, tech, trading, transaction

Dec 14 2020

European Commission Agrees on €7.5 Billion Budget for Digital Europe: Goal is to improve Europe’s Competitiveness in the Global Digital Economy

The European Commission (EC) has come to an agreement on the €7.5 billion budget for the Digital Europe program. The goal is to “improve Europe’s competitiveness in the global digital economy and achieve technological sovereignty.” The EC said it seeks to support the digital transformation that will “guarantee high-quality public services benefiting citizens and businesses.”

The political agreement was reached today (December 14, 2020) with formal approval by the European Parliament and Council anticipated to take place soon with the program starting in January 2021. The budget will span a time period from 2021 to 2o27.

The plan is wide-ranging touching many different sectors of the European economy. A draft “Orientation” for 2021-2022 was previously published outlining potential goals:

  • Making Europe a top supercomputing region globally through the acquisition of at least one exascale supercomputer by the end of 2021, upgrading existing supercomputers and extending the use of advanced computing to industry, including SMEs;
  • Setting up and making accessible Europe-wide data spaces and testing and experimentation facilities for artificial intelligence in the areas of health, environment/climate, mobility, manufacturing and energy;
  • Enhancing cybersecurity by deploying a pan-European quantum communication infrastructure and supporting the set-up of a certification scheme for cybersecurity products;
  • Addressing the shortages of digital experts in the EU through dedicated Master’s programmes for artificial intelligence, advanced computing and cybersecurity;
  • Providing SMEs and public administrations access to the latest digital technologies by setting up a network of Digital Innovation Hubs;
  • Ensuring a successful digital transformation of health and care services with the EU-wide deployment of innovative and cost-effective data-driven tools and services based on technologies like AI and data analytics;
  • Making ICT products and services sustainable, by prioritising their energy efficiency as well as climate neutrality, reparability, lifespan and recycling;
  • Deploying open, interoperable, trustworthy urban digital platforms tailored to communities’ needs, offering easy standardised access to new datasets, and the large scale roll-out of AI- driven services in Smart Energy, Smart Mobility, waste and secondary resource management, industry and (re)manufacturing, healthcare and e-government.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) impacts most sectors of industry including financial services. Other areas of focus overlap with the Fintech realm.

Blockchain is frequently mentioned in the draft. For example:

“Blockchain and distributed ledger technologies (DLT) should be seen as a crosscutting enabling technology that can support the validation of transactions, the development of data spaces and empowerment of citizens, public services and businesses to control and share access to data in a trusted, distributed, secure, transparent and verifiable way.”

The allocation of the budget has been segregated as follows:

  • €2.2 billion – Super computing
  • €2.1 billion – Artificial Intelligence (AI)
  • €1.7 billion – Cybersecurity
  • €580 million – Advanced Digital Skills
  • €1.1 billion – Ensuring wide use of digital tech.

The info sheet may be downloaded or viewed below.


Digital Europe Program factsheet 2020 12 14


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Written by bizbuildermike · Categorized: Crowdfunding · Tagged: acquisition, AI, artificial-intelligence, Businesses, Computing, cybersecurity, data, digital, digital europe program, digital transformation, dlt, economy, energy, europan commission, Europe, European Union, financial services, fintech, General News, Global, health, healthcare, Infrastructure, innovation, intelligence, Ledger, other, platforms, Politics, Legal & Regulation, Products, quantum, SMEs, tech, Technology, urban

Dec 11 2020

Vouched Announces $3M Funding Round to Accelerate AI-Based Identity Verification Platform

Vouched, a developer of proprietary artificial intelligence and computer vision for end-to-end identity verification and real-time fraud detection, announced on Thursday it has raised  $3 million through its latest funding round, which was led by Flying Fish Partners.

Founded in 2018, Vouched describes itself as a proprietary AI/CV/ML that powers real-time visual ID verification to onboard customers and drive revenue for customers across town or around the world. The company noted it accelerates revenue growth and provides a “seamless” user experience by rapidly and securely verifying and onboarding end users through a sophisticated, end-to-end visual ID verification and fraud detection solution.

“Vouched serves disruptive startups, fast-growing unicorns, and the Fortune 1000 enterprise. Focused on regulated and security sensitive industries, more than 50 companies in banking and financial services; healthcare and telemedicine; and gig and sharing economy companies rely on Vouched for identity verification.”

While sharing more details about the company, Vouched Co-founder and CEO, John Baird, stated:

“The ability to see a person and verify their identity online is required for complex regulated activities such as Know Your Customer (KYC) in banking and the rise of Know Your Patient (KYP) in healthcare and telemedicine. Increasingly, security-sensitive transactions such as peer-to-peer sharing of expensive goods like motorcycles, cars and RVs also depend on identity verification. We are helping to meet those growing needs.”

Vouched went on to add that it’ll use the investment round’s funds will further accelerate the growth of its identity proofing platform across the banking, fintech, and healthcare verticals.

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Written by bizbuildermike · Categorized: Crowdfunding · Tagged: AI, artificial-intelligence, Banking, cars, ceo, Co-founder, company, economy, end-to-end, Enterprise, financial services, fintech, fraud, funding, healthcare, identity, identity verification, intelligence, investment, KYC, revenue, security, sharing-economy, startups, unicorns, verification, vouched, world

Dec 11 2020

AI-Powered Debt Trading Platform Metechi Raises $5 Million Through Latest Investment Round

Metechi, a U.S.-based AI-powered debt trading platform, announced on Friday it secured $5 million through its latest investment round.

Founded in 2017, Metechi claims it empowers banks and Institutional Investors to better serve their clients, compete with larger institutions for business, and observe regulatory balance sheet constraints. The company also noted that its network of more than 1,000 U.S. banks, institutional investors, and brokers is expanding faster than ever and its funding facilitates our growing success as it leverages the challenges of today’s market.

“The pandemic has catalyzed a wave of distressed debt opportunities, particularly for distressed commercial real estate. While the largest institutions enjoy the benefits of economies of scale, we level the playing field by using technology to streamline deal flows for banks, brokers, and financial institutions. This round of funding is a game-changer for us. This is why we can reduce our buyers’ fees from an industry-rate of 5% to only 2% while remaining free for brokers and sellers. With increasing loan delinquencies, we’re meeting the rapidly growing demand for a technology-driven commercial lenders marketplace.”

Metechi Co-Founder and COO, Keren Goshen, spoke about the investment round by stating:

“With our proprietary technology, we empower brokers to sell more NPLs with much less effort. This is why we can reduce our buyers’ fees from an industry-rate of 5% to only 2% while remaining free for brokers and sellers.”

The investment rounds funds will be used to continue the development of the Metechi platform.

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Written by bizbuildermike · Categorized: Crowdfunding · Tagged: $5 million, 2017, AI, artificial-intelligence, Banks, business, Co-founder, commercial, company, debt, debt trading, fintech, funding, html, institutional investors, investment, investment round, market, metechi, pandemic, Real Estate, Technology, trading, u.s., us, Yahoo

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