Koda, the third-place winner of this year’s InnovateAble Showcase, is an AI-powered accessibility platform transforming live events, travel, and public spaces by providing real-time captions and translations for the deaf, hard of hearing, non-native speakers, and anyone navigating noisy environments.

When Saida Florexil set out to create better communication tools for the deaf and hard of hearing, she was motivated by lived experience. Born deaf, she wanted technology that could support her daily interactions as a college student. At the same time, co-founder Aakriti was watching her grandfather transition to hard of hearing and saw how isolating and frustrating everyday conversations became for him.

Together, they developed Comunify, an early version of their accessibility tool designed to make everyday conversations more inclusive.

“As users began adopting Comunify at events and providing feedback, including event organizers who saw the value, it became clear that the technology could have a much broader impact,” Florexil recalls.

In the summer of 2023, the project relaunched and rebranded as Koda, shifting focus toward making live events, travel, and transportation more accessible and inclusive for all.

The Problem: Missing Out on Key Moments

Communication access in public spaces is often inconsistent or nonexistent. For the deaf and hard of hearing community, as well as non-native speakers or even people struggling to hear in noisy environments, critical information can easily be missed.

Florexil explains. “Whether it is someone who is deaf, hard of hearing, a non-native speaker, or simply struggling to catch announcements in a noisy environment, people are often excluded from key moments of information and engagement.”

The result can be anything from minor inconveniences—like missing a punchline—to serious challenges, such as misunderstanding flight announcements or safety information.

The Koda Solution: Real-Time, AI-Powered Accessibility

Koda is designed to bridge those gaps with live, scalable, AI-powered accessibility.

• Conferences and Festivals: Real-time captions and translations help attendees follow along, network effectively, and stay engaged.
  
• Sports Arenas and Public Transit: Travelers and fans never miss critical announcements, regardless of disability, language barriers, or the noise of the venue.
  
• Entertainment Settings: From comedy shows to theater productions, Koda ensures audiences don’t miss a word, joke, or performance cue.
  

By providing instant communication access, Koda not only improves accessibility but also enhances engagement for all audiences.

Pricing Model

Koda’s pricing is designed to be flexible based on scale and event type.

• Base rate: $50 per hour
  
• Additional daily costs: Applied for remote support depending on event needs
  

This makes Koda accessible to a wide range of organizations, from small community events to large-scale festivals and conferences.

Building a More Inclusive Future

Koda may have started as a personal solution, but it is rapidly becoming a platform with global potential. By focusing on accessibility first, Florexil and her team are showing how inclusive technology can create better experiences for everyone.