Communication is a fundamental human need â it's how we connect, express emotions, make choices, and participate in the world. But for millions of individuals with complex communication needs, including those with conditions like autism, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, or developmental delays, spoken language is not always accessible. This is where Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) plays a critical role.
AAC encompasses a range of tools and strategies â from gestures and picture boards to sophisticated speech-generating devices â that support or replace spoken communication. For children and adults who are non-speaking or minimally verbal, AAC can be life-changing. It offers them a voice, builds autonomy, and supports cognitive, social, and academic development.
Recognizing this vital need, Avaz AAC was developed as an intuitive, evidence-based AAC app that empowers users to communicate effectively. By combining customizable picture-based vocabulary with text and voice output, Avaz helps users express a wide range of thoughts and emotions. Its focus on accessibility, ease of use, and multilingual support makes it a valuable tool for families, therapists, and educators around the world.
Thought Process Behind the Avaz AAC Elevator Pitch :
When crafting this pitch for Avaz AAC, I made a deliberate choice to lead with emotion and human impact rather than technical features or marketing buzzwords. This is because of the social emotional nature of the audience.
Our target customers are families and individuals navigating life with complex communication needs.
This audience isnât looking for sleek feature lists or productivity hacks.
Theyâre often overwhelmed, emotionally drained, and desperately searching for connection, relief, and hope.
--> Hence chose Resonance over Recall
--> Painting the impact before bringing the tech
Also questioning the "elevator" pitch in our product's case and considering it to be more of an across the table pitch - because itâs about their child so parents are not rushing through the elevator typically here, they are sitting down to listen
Last month, 12 year old Aarav said âI love youâ for the very first time ever⌠His parents couldnât stop crying.
Avaz AAC is an app that turns a tablet or phone into a powerful communication device for people with speech disabilities. Whether itâs a child with autism, a stroke survivor, or someone with cerebral palsy, Avaz helps them express their needs, feelings, jokes, even dreams, through pictures, symbols, or text-to-speech.
Avaz isnât just about technology. Itâs about moments.
Itâs about the smile on a momâs face when her little boy argued over what to wear to school.
Itâs about the teenager who cracked a joke at dinner, and everyone laughed.
Over 200,000 people across 40+ countries use Avaz every day, not just to communicate, but to connect authentically and belong.
Unlike basic communication apps, Avaz is extremely adaptable and intuitive to each individual's unique needs and communication style, making communication feel more personalised and natural.
Download Avaz AAC today because when someone finds their voice, everything changes⌠Their first words might just be a tap away.â
Avaz is used by adults with speech difficulties, therapists and educators working with children with speech disabilities and parents.
For this segment of the project, though user interview calls were conducted for both professionals and parents, I am documenting only parent calls, considering they are our primary target segment, who make the final buying decision.
For gaining diverse perspectives and experiences we have picked parents based on the following criteria for conducting user interviews:
The below User interview call documentation table has basic patterns and observations with respect to certain aspects that will be required for different stages of this project :
Impact of Avaz, Where they spend their time, Sources of information, Motivation / Goal, Pain points, Product Adoption Experience
User Name | Age | Age of child | Parental Role | City | Occupation | Household Income | No. of children | Where they spend their time | Sources of information | Comfort with tech | Motivation / Goal | Pain Points | Impact of Avaz | Early Adoption Experience | Product Adoption Experience | What's missing in Avaz |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pragya | 30 | 3 years | Mother | Chennai | Stay at home Mom | 2 - 2.5 lac / month | 1 | Social Media, Advocating in parent groups, Research, homeschooling child | Research on the internet, social media | Excellent |
|
|
|
|
Product Adoption Experience |
|
Swathi | 33 | 5 years | Mother | Mumbai | Stay at home Mom | 2.5 - 3 lac / month | 1 | Social Media, Book Clubs, therapies for child | Social media, Therapists / Other professionals | Excellent |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tharunya | 45 | 20 years | Mother | Coimbatore | Stay at home Mom | 1 - 1.5 lac / month | 2 | Whatsapp parent groups, Facebook, taking care of children | Recommendation by known people | Low |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Meghna | 38 | 12 years | Mother | Hyderabad | Stay at home Mom | 2 - 2.5 lac / month | 2 | Whatsapp parent groups, Facebook | Trusted brands, tested and recommended professionals | Adequate |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Primarily considering 3 ICPs for my product which differentiate from each other in the aspects of Child's age, availability of time with the parent
Criteria | ICP 1 | ICP 2 | ICP 3 |
---|---|---|---|
ICP name | Busy Bees | Resource Constrained Pragmatist | Resilient Re trier |
Parent's Age | 28 - 35 | 28 - 35 | 35 - 45 |
Child's Age | 3 - 7 years | 3 - 7 years | 7 - 12 years |
Parent Role | Mother | Mother | Mother |
Location | Tier 1 cities | Tier 1 cities | Tier 1 cities |
Income levels | 1 lac + / month | 2 lac + / month | 1 lac + / month |
Occupation | Stay at home Mom | Working Mom | Stay at home Mom |
Where do they spend their time | Multiple interventions and therapies, Parent groups on Whatsapp and Facebook, Social media | Social media, therapies and interventions for child | Special Education for child / Homeschooling, Parent groups on Whatsapp and Facebook |
Influencers | Other parents, Professionals / Therapists | Professionals / Therapists, Research based practices | Other parents, Professionals / Therapists |
Sources of Information | Social Media, Courses for parents, Parent groups on Whatsapp and Facebook | Social Media, Courses for parents, professionals | Other parents from Whatsapp groups or Facebook group, Professionals |
Pain Points + Emotions |
|
|
|
Current Solution |
|
|
|
Criteria | Adoption Rate | â Appetite to Pay | Frequency of Use Case â | â Distribution Potential | TAM (user/currency) â |
ICP 1 | Moderate | Relatively Low | same | same | 40% TAM |
ICP 2 | Moderate | High | same | same | 20% TAM |
ICP 3 | High | High | same | same | 40% TAM |
ICP 3 and ICP 2 are ideally our first best bets
Problem the product is trying to solve
Product Experience
Standout Features
Indian Market Context for the Product
High Learning Curve - Prerequisite for Product Adoption
Unclear Path to Product Adoption
Blockers for Product Adoption
Catalysts for Product Adoption
"For parents of children with complex communication needs who need a way to understand and talk to their children in the absence of verbal speech, our product is an Augmentative and Alternative Communication that gives children a voice by generating speech for them, which empowers them to express themselves independently, reducing daily frustration, and fostering deeper emotional connection with the people around them."
Some mention worthy trends from the past 5 years directly related to the market we are addressing as well as willingness to address the challenges faced by the market :
1. Rising Prevalence and Diagnosis Rates
The prevalence of Autism in India has been steadily increasing. According to a 2021 study published in the Indian Journal of Pediatrics, the estimated prevalence of Autism in India is around 1 in 68 children.
2. Increasing Public Awareness
Awareness of speech and communication disorders has grown, particularly regarding autism. This rise is attributed to media coverage, educational initiatives, and advocacy efforts. However, challenges persist, especially in rural areas where awareness remains limited.
3. Enhanced Willingness to Seek Intervention
There is a notable shift in parents' and caregivers' attitudes, with increased proactive engagement in seeking assessments and therapies for children with communication challenges. This change is driven by reduced stigma and better access to information.
4. Emergence of Specialized Services and Market Growth
The demand for speech therapy and related services has led to the expansion of specialized clinics, teletherapy platforms, and educational programs. This growth is evident in both urban and semi-urban areas.
5. Challenges in Diagnosing Apraxia of Speech
Apraxia of speech remains underdiagnosed in India, often misidentified as other speech or neurological disorders. This misdiagnosis is due to limited awareness among healthcare providers and the complexity of accurate assessment.
ABA | Conventional Speech Therapy | PECS | Jellow | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Pricing | 10k - 25k / month | 800 - 1500 / session | 15k - 25k one time purchase | |
Type of intervention | Behavioural therapy | Speech therapy and Language learning | Expressive Communication | Communication and Language |
Delivery Mode | In-person, digital, hybrid, therapist-led | In-person, digital, hybrid, therapist-led | In-person, digital, hybrid, parent-led, therapist-led | Digital, parent-led, therapist-led |
Target Age Group | 2 to 18 years | 1.5 years - adulthood | early childhood (2 to 7) | 3 to 12 years |
Target Audience for Marketing | Parents, Doctors | Parents, Doctors, Therapists | Parents, Therapists | Parents, Schools, Therapists |
Availability in regional languages | depending on therapists known languages | depending on therapists known languages | NA | Yes |
Parent / Therapist training complexity | High | Moderate | Moderate | Low |
Proven outcome | communication, social skills, academic performance, and adaptive behavior | speech clarity, language comprehension, social communication, and articulation | Spontaneous expressive communication | expressive communication, emotional literacy |
Scientific Backing | Strong empirical evidence | Extensively researched and widely accepted | Backed by studies | human-centered design research, limited peer-reviewed, independent clinical trials |
Messaging focus |
|
|
|
|
India's population (in Millions) = 1428
The census on Prevalence / Occurrence of Neurological Disorders is still not accurate and available in most countries. But based on a study done in the UK, we have some % indicators of what is the prevalence of Autism, who need AAC (non verbal autism), which is a high potential market for us to serve and also contribute to the largest portion of our current customer base.
To make this percentage more up to date, we have considered more recent data from WHO on occurence of Autism and the NCBI website on need for AAC and adjusted the "Estimated population who would benefit from AAC".
This means,
Autism AAC Needs for India = (300/100,000) X 1428 (in Millions) = 4.284 Million
Now, further considering that we are serving a specific age range of users (0 - 29 years) we have fine tuned our TAM as 52.87% out of the total based on Age wise% available on Wikipedia.
Autism AAC Needs for the age range (0-29)years in India = 52.87% x 4.284 Million = 2.265 Million
Hence, based on the
As our product is used for Intervention and has dependency on availability of professionals, we are able to serve the Urban population alone (where most of the professionals reside). This is crucial as awareness and assessment of these disabilities is also of huge importance for our product.
SAM based on Urban population = 36% X 2.265 Millions = 0.815 Mn
Further, to filter out the percentage of people in Urban India who can afford a Smart Phone or a Tablet (on which our product works), we have assumed a 50% of the entire urban population.
Hence,
SAM = 50% X 0.815 Mn = 0.4077 Mn
Based on the competitor analysis done in the start of this section, we have more deep routed or accepted traditional intervention methods like Speech therapy and ABA. Additionally we are fighting a base mindset of using Technology for children. Accounting to these, an initial target of 25% of our SAM seems practically achievable. Once, we have achieved PMF and are in Early Scaling, we can look at expanding our SOM to a higher percentage.
Channel Name | Cost | Flexibility | Effort | Speed | Scale |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Organic | âLow | High | High | Slow | Easy / Good |
Paid Ads | |||||
Referral Program | Very low | Medium | Low | Medium | Difficult to scale down |
Product Integration | |||||
Content Loops | Low | High | Low | Fast | Easy to scale (up & dn) |
Considering, the stage being in pre PMF
Hence
Organic Search, Content loops and Referral program are the most apt
Through resource content or information blogs, Organic search holds huge potential because AAC is a niche market and professionals as well as parents are constantly looking for insightful information. Due to the unavailability of centralised systems for parents of children with disabilities, they definitely resort to search engines or online blogs for solutions. Organic search optimisation thru some of these mediums will also help raise brand awareness and trust.
Cost : Low
For Avaz, listing on AAC forums, autism blogs, parent networks, and app stores is free but high-leverage.
Flexibility : High
As we can easily test out different messages or keyword strategies without any dependencies.
Effort : Medium
Will take sustained effort: keyword research, content writing, SEO optimization, and community engagement.
Speed : Slow
Organic traction takes time - search indexing or virality will not happen overnight.
Scale : Easy / Good
Once established, organic channels can scale well â a single well-optimized page or post can drive continuous traffic. App store discovery can compound over time.
Avaz is a trusted brand in India and has been in the market for around 10+ years. In the India market segment, Avaz has never in the past invested in any structured referral program or paid campaigning. Yet, we have the highest number of organic downloads purely because of WOM from Speech therapists, Special Educators, Other parents. Hence, the referral system already exists and is significantly strong. It makes a lot of sense in nurturing the current WOM ecosystem with platform currency.
Cost : Low
Referrals are near-zero-cost, especially if informal. Even structured programs (e.g., personalised / high priority support as platform currency) will have low CAC compared to paid ads.
Flexibility : Medium
Slightly rigid. Once a program is out there, it's harder to tweak without confusing users, especially considering its a emotionally vulnerable segment.
Effort : Medium
Like mentioned, Avaz is already being championed by professionals as well as other parents. Due to the brand presence over so many years, we have already gained trust of the audience. Hence, the effort will be more towards structuring and providing platform currency.
Speed : Slow
In an app like AAC, aha moments or moment of realising value prop takes time. This impacts the pace of a referral cycle.
Scale : Medium
Referral system can be difficult to scale down in a community rich customer segment. Also scaling the incentives meaningfully after a certain point can be effort and cost intensive
In the disability sector in India, parents highly rely on parent support groups and communities for support, motivation and troubleshooting. Given this state, it makes Content Loops a very powerful channel for acquisition.
Cost : Very Low
Content loops are extremely cost-efficient when seeded with reusable templates. For Avaz, social stories, communication boards, or vocabulary sets shared by users can become viral with minimal initial investment.
Flexibility : High
You can experiment with different content types (e.g., success stories, therapy tips, symbol boards) and tweak easily based on traction.
Effort : Low - Medium
Initial setup (templates, examples) takes some thought, but once seeded, the community drives the sharing. Tapping into teachers, therapists, and parent groups makes this efficient.
Speed : Fast
If well-targeted, content loops can yield fast traction via shares on WhatsApp groups, Facebook communities, or Reddit. Especially in tight-knit special needs communities.
Scale : Very High
Content loops grow exponentially with engagement. For instance, one parentâs story can inspire five others, creating a multiplier effect. This is especially true in mission-driven niches like AAC.
The organic channel refers to the traffic that comes to Avaz through unpaid search results, content discovery, and natural online visibility. For a pre-PMF product like Avaz AAC, this channel is especially valuable because it allows us to attract potential users â particularly parents, educators, and therapists â who are actively searching for solutions around communication delays, autism, and speech therapy.
By investing in search engine optimization (SEO) and high-intent content (like blogs, parent guides, and therapy explainers), Avaz can tap into the real questions and needs of its audience. Given our brand strength and low competition in the AAC space in India, organic acquisition offers a low-cost, scalable, and feedback-rich pathway to build trust and drive meaningful engagement.
Our Ideal Customer Profiles (ICPs) include:
These users often search around use cases rather than specific AAC brands. Based on common user journeys, searches fall into two stages:
Awareness Stage
Keywords reflect broad concerns:
Information Search Stage
At this point, users are aware and looking for solutions:
Because Avaz is strongly associated with AAC in India, branded searches perform well already. The gap lies in non-branded, use-case-oriented keywords, such as speech therapy or communication support.
High-Volume, Relevant Keywords:
Use Case Keyword | Volume | SEO Difficulty | CPC |
---|---|---|---|
Communication | 246K | 66 | $0.38 |
Autism | 201K | 85 | $0.76 |
Speech therapy | 27.1K | 63 | $0.63 |
ABA | 18.1K | 77 | $0.77 |
OT for autism | 9.9K | 38 | $0.33 |
These keywords show high search interest but moderate-to-high difficulty. They are valuable because they align with the parent's journey from diagnosis to intervention.
Focus Areas:
Immediate Priorities:
The core audience for Avaz AACâparents of children with disabilitiesâprimarily engages in tight-knit digital communities like WhatsApp groups and Facebook groups. These platforms serve as emotional and informational lifelines, where three core needs drive their participation:
These groups function as "transactional communities" where parents actively:
This creates a natural ecosystem for a content loop because :
Our content loop strategy leverages the natural sharing behavior within disability parent communities by transforming app usage analytics into celebratory, shareable milestone moments.
The Mechanism: When a child achieves specific usage milestones on Avaz (such as tapping 5 unique words), the app automatically generates a personalized postcard-style achievement insight. These postcards don't just present raw data - they translate what "5 unique word taps" actually means for the child's communication development journey, contextualizing the progress in meaningful terms that parents can understand and feel proud of.
Dual Recognition: Each postcard simultaneously celebrates the child's achievement while acknowledging the parent's dedication and effort that made this progress possible. This dual recognition addresses the often-overlooked emotional needs of parents who rarely receive validation for their intensive support work.
Scalable Personalization: The system utilizes pre-created templates mapped to specific usage analytics we're tracking, allowing for immediate personalization without manual intervention. As usage patterns emerge, new templates can be developed to capture different types of progress milestones.
The idea is deep empathy, rooted in real behavior. Weâre not just creating a content loop, we're designing a self-reinforcing emotional engine around Avaz AAC, built on user joy, pride, and visibility.
Step | Element | Description |
---|---|---|
đŻ Trigger | Childâs app usage milestone (e.g., 5 unique word taps) | Insight pulled from real in-app behavior |
đ Celebrate | Personalized digital postcard ("Achievement Card") | Auto-generated with milestone + parent appreciation |
đ˛ Share | One-click share on WhatsApp/Facebook/Instagram | Comes with branded hashtag & templated caption |
đ Discover | Other parents see the card, click to learn more / engage | Curiosity, motivation, validation |
đŹ Re-engage | Older users return to app to âearnâ their own cards | Even low-engagement users get triggered by peers |
đ Repeat | New usage generates new milestone and card | Loop continues, growing community pride |
Headline :
âDear Parent, Youâre Crushing It.â
Tagline:
Not all heroes wear capes. Some carry iPads and never give up.
Your childâs progress is real, and youâve made that happen. one tap at a time.
Avaz sees you.
Headline:
âFrom One AAC User to Another: Keep Going!â
Tagline (from real or curated voice):
âUsing a communication app helped me speak my truth. Your child is on that journey now. It works. It gets better.â
â An AAC User & Community Advocate
One of the biggest challenges we have been facing with retention is experiencing the Aha moment or experiencing the core value proposition of the product.
Why?
The core value proposition :
"For parents of children with complex communication needs who need a way to understand and talk to their children in the absence of verbal speech, our product is an Augmentative and Alternative Communication that gives children a voice by generating speech for them, which empowers them to express themselves independently, reducing daily frustration, and fostering deeper emotional connection with the people around them."
Hence, for us to mark customer acquisition or even have an "aha moment", we will need to explicitly spell it out for the parent.
Proposal for tracking customer touch points :
The most ideal motivation to use an AAC app would be achieving another milestone. Much higher or much faster.
Exclusive Content Packs
Parent Implementation Toolkit
Let them earn influence or credibility in their circles:
Trigger:
Celebration Pop-Up :
âAarav just hit a huge milestone â and your support made it happen!â
This moment is worth celebration!".
Screen :
CTA at bottom:
Yes, Iâm so happy!
/ Not now
Overlay prompt:
âWe love that this brought you joy!
Want to help another parent feel the same?â
Glance of Platform Currency
CTA Button:
Refer Now
Tapping opens:
After first referral is shared:
Track My Referrals
Referral Tracker Page
Also includes:
âWant to refer more?" Celebrate another moment or invite a friend anytime!â
Brand focused courses
Great brands aren't built on clicks. They're built on trust. Craft narratives that resonate, campaigns that stand out, and brands that last.
All courses
Master every lever of growth â from acquisition to retention, data to events. Pick a course, go deep, and apply it to your business right away.
Explore foundations by GrowthX
Built by Leaders From Amazon, CRED, Zepto, Hindustan Unilever, Flipkart, paytm & more
Crack a new job or a promotion with the Career Centre
Designed for mid-senior & leadership roles across growth, product, marketing, strategy & business
Learning Resources
Browse 500+ case studies, articles & resources the learning resources that you won't find on the internet.
Patienceâyouâre about to be impressed.