A large number of Filipinos today live with a disability: it’s estimated that over 2 million are blind or suffering from poor vision while nearly 15% of the population has moderate or worse hearing loss. Despite their presence however, there is still an obvious lack of resources helping persons with disabilities (PWDs). Over half of local government units in the Philippines, for example, have no PWD office catering to their needs and issues.
In an environment that so often overlooks the needs of PWDs, fortunately many purpose-driven startups work to fill the gap. One of these is Wika Media (also known as Wika and Vernocular abroad), which creates tech-based solutions augmenting reality for the disabled.
Recently, Wika received a P1 million financial grant from the StartUp QC program. The program is the Quezon City government’s initiative to accelerate startups that are innovative, creative, sustainable, and socially relevant.
Wika has a strong case for hitting all of StartUp QC’s criteria. Co-founded in 2018 by Roland Benzon, Vic Icasas, and Cynthia Dayco, Wika got its start as a language enabler, offering the ability to watch content in any language of choice, including sign language. Particularly noteworthy is Wika’s work providing content in Filipino Sign Language, the first language of many deaf Filipinos.
Wika’s a11y platform allows anyone to upload their sign language videos, their own captions, and their own audio descriptions to help deaf and visually impaired people enjoy more content. With Wika having built up a substantial database of sign language videos, a11y functions similarly to YouTube but content is exclusively accessible through their app and devices.
Wika has also produced patented enabling technology such as its augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) headsets. These devices enable the startup’s three unique solutions: GlassSign, which overlays sign language onto content; DubHub that syncs available foreign dialogue dubs in perfect sync with video; and SubHub that overlays captions onto content in a wide variety of languages.
Real needs, real solutions
According to Benzon, Wika’s solutions strive to address the fundamental needs of individuals with disabilities, particularly the deaf community. “Everyone thinks making content accessible to the deaf means just putting captions. But that’s a hearing person’s problem to a deaf solution,” Benzon explained. “Not everyone can read so quickly, especially deaf children. We want to make solutions that are truly for everyone.”
Benzon points out that less than 2% of the 34 million deaf children worldwide receive early childhood exposure to a signed language. Of this number, many do not have access because they live in a far-flung area or simply do not have the resources to afford formal schooling.
As such, Wika’s number one priority was always the democratization of access. The most obvious way this manifests is how freely anyone can upload their own accessibility content on a11y. Yet content contributors also get a revenue share, with 70% of sign language interpreters on the platform being women.
Co-founder Cynthia Dayco even has a more personal stake in advocating for accessibility, having a deaf relative herself. Her and her deaf relative’s experiences partly inspired and informed Wika’s product designs.
Deaf people also play a part in Wika’s day-to-day operations. When the company gets a commission from another company needing their content to be deaf-friendly, deaf editors review and sign off on the content. There are even deaf developers on Wika’s team.
“We really do everything thinking about our end user in mind,” emphasized Benzon.
The business of inclusivity
Apart from the advocacy however, the Wika team is also finely attuned to the business side of things.
Wika’s recurring revenue streams can be split three ways: first is the Content Delivery stream, which involves the streaming of sign language videos and captions. Within this stream, there are several subcategories. One is the Sponsored or “Commissioned” content, where B2B clients, such as content owners, advertisers, schools, and government agencies, pay for the creation of sign language videos.
Additionally, there is an end-user paid segment, where revenue is generated through subscriptions, similar to platforms like Spotify or Netflix, or through pay-per-view models for sign language video and caption delivery. Finally, there is the licensing category, which involves delivering assistive content to partner apps and websites, such as Netflix and Disney+. These revenue streams collectively contribute to the company’s financial stability and growth.
For non-recurring revenue, there’s the sale of enabling products, which includes revenue generated from the sale of products like its AR/VR headsets. Second, the content production category, although non-core to the business, involves B2B and corporate clients occasionally outsourcing services such as captioning and sign language interpretation.
For Benzon, all of Wika’s work so far is only the tip of the iceberg. He points to the General Appropriations Act that mandates that at least 1% of the total budget of national government agencies be allocated to PWDs.
“That 1% can open up a world of opportunities,” Benzon said. “You can’t help but think of new ways that can be used given that PWDs are such a substantial population yet still remain underserved.”
Wika has already collaborated in the past with Globe Telecom to implement the startup’s solutions at the Philippine School for the Deaf, providing benefits to both teachers and students. Wika also previously established a partnership with a prominent television network to enhance the accessibility of their content for the Deaf community.
Wika’s work has also attracted foreign investors. Earlier this year, Wika received a pre-seed investment from a Maryland-based venture capital firm. This is on top of previous investments from Singapore’s Mediacorp and even Wika’s placing in several startup pitch competitions like the Alipay-NUS Enterprise Social Innovation Challenge.
Quezon City Local Economic Investment Promotions Office Head Jay Gatmaitan adds that Wika’s mission helped them stand out during the StartUp QC program. “WIKA’s commitment to break down barriers and create a more inclusive environment is a reflection of the City’s shared values and principles. Their innovative solution to help people with disabilities, particularly the deaf community, deserves to be recognized,” Gatmaitan said. “WIKA is undeniable proof that entrepreneurship and technology can make a positive difference in promoting diversity and inclusion.”
Making a positive impact
Despite recent successes in funding, Wika is still raising funds—a sensible decision considering its high ambitions.
For one, the startup refuses to rest on its laurels. Wika keeps tabs on the latest technological developments, with the team currently looking to train AI on its large content database. It also hopes to one day publish its application programming interface to its partners, hoping for the day that sign language becomes a ready option on major streaming services. Finally, the startup has also not closed the door on selling its solutions to the international market.
Yet more than anything else, the Wika team aims to shape people’s lives for the better. “I want to say we’ll have impacted a billion lives,” said Benzon.
The prioritization of leaving a positive impact becomes especially apparent when considering what Wika deems its most significant feedback. It is also what made Benzon put more focus and priority on developing this technology above everything else they were doing.
“The first time I ever demoed our GlassSign was to a deaf kid,” Benzon recalled. “When he put on the glasses, he immediately saw the sign language augmenting what was going on in the movie. The kid’s eyes went HUGE and he smiled the widest smile you’ve ever seen.”
“For the first time ever in his life, he was actually watching a movie in sign language—his mother tongue. That, to me, was the sign we were doing something right.”