Case Study: Sign-Speak

Yamillet Payano, co-founder and CEO of Sign-Speak — a platform for real-time translation between spoken English and ASL — was an early-stage founder who needed funding and strategic connections. After participating in TechStars in 2022, co-founders relocated to Rochester to be near RIT.

How UVC Helped

UVC connected Sign-Speak with three key stakeholders:

1. Launch NY — venture development, seed capital, and mentorship
2. New York Ventures — state-backed investment fund
3. Tech Garden — CNY-based incubator

Results

UVC’s referrals helped Sign-Speak secure seed round funding, scale product development, and expand industry reach in tech and accessibility sectors.

“UVC’s introductions to investors helped me fill out half my seed round, and changed the trajectory of Sign-Speak.”

— Yamillet Payano, CEO & Co-founder, Sign-Speak