How SyncSense is Revolutionizing Content Localization with AI
Q: Can you share some background and information about your company?
A: Sure, we’re working on Fourie, a platform that’s all about making life easier for businesses and creators to make their content available to a larger audience by localizing it in different languages. It’s a multi-modal content localization platform powered by “Gen AI.” The idea is simple but pretty rad: if you have a video in English and you want it dubbed into multiple languages like French, Spanish, or Hindi our platform does it for you automatically.
We’re not just translating words; we’re capturing the emotions and tone of the original content. You know how most AI-generated voices can sound pretty dull and monotonous? That’s what we’re changing. We’re developing voices that can shout, be happy, or even cry. We want to make the dubbed versions as engaging as the original, keeping those emotion levels high. That’s what Fourie is all about.
Why Entrepreneur First
Q: What led you to apply to the Entrepreneur First accelerator?
A: Before jumping into SyncSense, I was part of a growing tech company in Bangalore, India, where I led data science and R&D. I joined as the sixth employee, and over five years, we grew to a team of more than 250 with a $90 million valuation. You could say I got a crash course in how to scale a startup.
I’d always wanted to start something of my own. The timing felt right, but here’s the catch—I firmly believe that going solo in the startup world is tough. Most of my friends were either settled in jobs or had already started their own ventures. That’s where Entrepreneur First came in. The program gave me the chance to find a like-minded co-founder, and that’s how I met Vishal. Finding the right partner to share the journey with was my main reason for joining Entrepreneur First.
Entrepreneur First Application Process
Q: Can you walk us through the application process for Entrepreneur First?
A: It was pretty straightforward for us. You start with an online application that has about 10 to 12 questions. They ask stuff like what you’ve built before, experiences where you’ve turned adversity into opportunity, and other similar themes. It’s all about digging into your background and seeing what you can bring to the table.
If you get through that part—and thankfully, I did—you move on to a couple of 30-minute interview rounds. These are more like deep-dive conversations where they get to know you better. They ask about your background, what you’re passionate about building, and how you think you can make a meaningful impact.
Q: Was the application process tough or straightforward?
A: I’m not a fan of filling out forms, but I get it—it’s the most efficient way for them to sift through applicants. So the form was what you’d expect: questions about achievements, aspirations, inspirations, and all that jazz. Nothing out of the ordinary.
As for the interviews, they were super well-organized. Everything was scheduled in a timely manner, with no hiccups or delays. From a practical standpoint, it was as streamlined as it could get. All in all, I’d say the process was more on the straightforward side of things.
A Glimpse Into the Entrepreneur First Program
Q: Can you describe what the Entrepreneur First program looks like once you’re in?
A: Once you’re through with the application and interviews, and you get that much-anticipated “congrats” email, that’s when things kick off. The first step is proving you’re all in—like, quitting your day job level of commitment. They want to see that you’re putting everything aside to go full throttle on your startup. You submit evidence to show you’re leaving whatever you’re doing and will be committed 24/7 to building your own company. Beyond that, it’s a straightforward process. They make it pretty clear what they expect, and it’s up to you to show you’re up for the challenge.
Q: How did you meet your co-founder through the program?
A: When I joined, our cohort had somewhere between 36 to 44 folks. Coming from a tech background, I was on the lookout for someone with complementary skills, preferably in business. Funny enough, my co-founder was also tech-focused, specializing in artificial intelligence. We both initially thought we needed a business-oriented partner, but that changed as we got to talking.
We bonded over interests like sports, culture, and languages. We realized that technology could play a vital role in making content like sports more accessible to people, especially in places with diverse languages—like India, my home country. We dug into this idea, considering how much of the internet’s content is primarily in English and how other languages are so underrepresented.
Our skills ended up complementing each other perfectly. My experience is in digital signals, which involves audio, and his expertise is in natural language understanding. We both had what the other needed to turn this idea into something real. That’s how we started building our company together.
Q: Did you have access to mentors and training sessions in the program?
A: The program offers a variety of resources to help us grow. One of the key features is access to Entrepreneurs in Residence (EIRs). We have weekly catch-ups with these experienced folks to discuss our ideas and approaches. They act as sounding boards, helping us gauge if we’re on the right track or need to pivot.
On top of that, we also have what’s called VP catch-ups. These are with VC investors who’ve been founders themselves and have moved up the ladder. They’re doing some awesome work in the investment scene. The cool part about these catch-ups is they aren’t just one-way streets. We get to throw ideas their way too—even the not-so-great ones—and they give us constructive feedback. So, it’s a well-rounded support network that guides us in the right direction.
Q: Did your startup receive any funding from the program?
A: We did get financial support from the program. Our cohort had about 10 teams, and we were one of the five or six that secured funding. The amount is public info, so I have no problem sharing it—it’s around $55,000.
Non-Financial Benefits of the Program
Q: What were the biggest benefits you got from the program apart from the money?
A: While the financial support is great, there are other reasons for joining the program. The biggest win for us was finding a co-founder. That’s an invaluable asset especially when you’re trying to build something from the ground up. So that’s definitely numero uno on the list of benefits for us.
But it’s not just about the co-founder. We’ve built a strong network and made some really good friends along the way, and those connections are to be considered. So it’s a multifaceted gain, if you ask me. The social capital we’ve built is every bit as important as the financial capital.
Q: Did you have any aha moments during the program?
A: Well, as a techie, we sometimes fall into the trap of thinking that we’re the center of the innovation universe. But let me tell you, there was this moment where it hit me square in the face: it’s not just about the tech, it’s about the business need and the market demand.
I’d say it was more of a reaffirmation than a brand-new revelation. I mean, you can build the fanciest piece of tech ever, but if the market doesn’t need it, what’s the point, right? At best, you get some accolades for an invention nobody uses. It was a real wake-up call about the integral role that business plays in driving innovation.
The Current State and Future Developments
Q: What’s the status of the company today?
A: We spent our first 6 to 8 months focusing on research and development. We built a voice cloning tech that can handle lots of languages. Then on August 2nd, we launched our platform globally and were ranked 10 on Product Hunt on the 9th of August (our launch day on Product Hunt).
Since then, we’ve had more than 500 people sign up. We’re also in talks with some big potential clients. While I can’t say much, things are looking up for our monthly revenue. We’re backed by both the Karnataka government and IISc Bengaluru, a top school in India. Right now, we’re aiming to work with educational companies and those in marketing.
Our platform already supports over 40 languages and has more than 750 AI voices available. But we’re not stopping there. We’ve got new features in the works, like voices that can express different emotions. We’ve filed a patent for it and are excited to release it soon. So we’re up and running, but there’s more to come.
Q: Have you tried any growth channels?
A: We’re exploring all avenues to make some noise. LinkedIn Navigator has been a great resource for understanding market dynamics and what folks are really after. Launching on Product Hunt also put us on the map; that was a game-changer. Up next, we’ve got our sights set on AppSumo, and we’re stoked to be part of their select program. Our big launch was on 2nd October.
As of now, the playbook for scoring our early customers is a mix of LinkedIn, personal networks, and good old event hustling. Speaking of events, we’ve hit the startup scene hard. Case in point: we set up a booth at the G20 startup expo in Bengaluru. That’s been a hotbed for meeting potential stakeholders and stirring up interest. So yeah, we’re all about leveraging multiple channels to make things happen.
Q: How many people are you currently on the team?
A: At the moment, we’re lean but mean. Just four full-timers, including me and Vishal, my co-founder. We’ve also got a couple of devs and two interns, so it’s all hands on deck. But, let’s be real, we’re gearing up to expand. We just kicked off our seed round, and the game plan is to shift into growth mode within the next quarter.
Final Thoughts
Q: Do you have any final tips to share with founders who are thinking of applying to Entrepreneur First?
A: If you’re contemplating jumping into Entrepreneur First, here’s the deal: Keep your mind open to diverse ideas, but don’t lose sight of your core vision. That’s gold. And to all my techie compatriots out there, let me drop a truth bomb—tech isn’t the end-all, be-all of innovation. Nope, it’s the market and business landscape that steer the ship. So, tune into that, and you’re already halfway there.