GET INSPIRED & LEARN FROM SPEAK's FOUNDER!

JOIN THE DISCOVERY PROGRAM

ABOUT THE PROJECT 

Quick overview

• Creation date: 2014

• Country of origin: PORTUGAL

• Staff: 21 people

What is it about?

SPEAK is an impact venture that connects migrants and refugees with locals living in the same city through community-led online and offline language groups and cultural exchange events.

The safe, friendly and informal environment and methodology used allows participants to learn with each other, while at the same time breaking barriers and creating relationships of trust, loyalty and support in a multicultural community where cultural heritage is cherished.

So far, 87% of members improved their knowledge of the language, 72% made new friends through SPEAK network and 82% increase their sense of belonging to their current city.

​

Right now, SPEAK is in 27 cities, in 12 different countries.

Impact since 2014

40.000+

Members so far

3253+ 

Langugage groups

Business model

SPEAK is 100% social enterprise, generating revenues from both B2C (subscription fees) and B2B (working with corporations).

​

Since 2020, they are running a hybrid model, where the experience can happen online and/or offline according to the public health restrictions in the different SPEAK cities. 

Discover more

A few links you should check out: 

​

• Website HERE

• SPEAK's Youtube Channel HERE

• Video about how you could start your SPEAK Chapter HERE 

ABOUT THE co-FOUNDER

Hugo Menino Aguiar ​

​

Hugo Menino Aguiar, co-founder of SPEAK and CEO, was a Software Engineer at OutSystems and a Product Manager at Google, where he was awarded a Google Golden Award. Hugo left Google to create SPEAK in 2014.

Background & awards

​

• SPEAK was one of the winners of Google Impact Challenge in 2020. 
   

•  In 2019, SPEAK was awarded $200,000 by Chivas Venture.
   

• SPEAK was selected as one of the Top 100 European Digital Pioneers by Financial Times and Google. 
   

• SPEAK won the second prize (€20.000) in the Social Innovation Tournament 2018 powered by the European Investment Bank Institute.
   

• Hugo Menino Aguiar is an Ashoka Fellow since 2018.

WHAT WILL YOU LEARN?

In our Discovery program you will learn in details about: 

​

• SPEAK (Vision, Story, KPI's, Impact, Business model)

​

• Hugo's entrepreneurial path & mindset (First steps, Main learnings, Pivots)

​

• His partnership proposal (Long term vision, Collaboration terms, partner's profile she is looking for)

​

• What it means to replicate the same concept (Daily life, Possible business models, Necessary skills)

MANY SOLUTIONS ARE WORTH SPREADING. DISCOVER THEM BY JOINING OUR PROGRAM