Confident Reading, Guaranteed

Ello coaches your child as they read. Get pre-launch access to the newest beta version in exchange for your feedback.

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Thank you for your interest in our free beta app. Click the link above to get on the waitlist and hear about new releases.
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200 / 200 spots claimed
Thank you for your interest in our free beta app. Click the link above to get on the waitlist and hear about new releases.
Backed by
and a team of leading U.S. and European investors

The world’s first virtual reading coach that works with decodable books

Other apps talk, Ello listens

Other reading apps either teach isolated skills such as letter recognition, or they read to your child. That’s not enough. With Ello, your child reads out loud, just like they would with their teachers or literacy specialists.

First-of-its-kind AI technology

Ello uses patent-pending speech recognition and adaptive learning technology to engage with your child while they develop critical reading skills.

Beautiful, digital books tailored to your child

Ello provides engaging decodable books that are tailored to your child's reading level and facilitate practice without causing frustration.

How the Ello App Works

Ello Listens

Your child reads out loud to Ello, just like they would with their teachers or literacy specialists.

Helps With Tricky Words

When your child encounters a tough word, Ello partners with them to decode and pronounce it.


Advances Together

Ello adapts the book choices, growing alongside your child's expanding reading capabilities.

Rewards For Their Effort

Your child can select digital prizes with the points they earn reading.

Want to get invited to new releases?

200 / 200 spots claimed

Reading is the gateway to learning

Statistics every parent should know

Children are 2x more likely to drop out of high school if they are not a proficient reader by the end of 3rd grade.

Children are 4x more likely to remain a poor reader through 4th grade if they are behind in 1st grade.

Children are exposed to 78k more words each year when they read at least 1 book each day.

Reading skills have stalled during the pandemic. Reading fluency in the U.S. is roughly 30 percent behind what would be expected in a typical year.

Your child’s personal reading tutor

If your child gets stuck or misreads a word, Ello uses proven strategies to help them decode and develop fluency.  Ello keeps them motivated - not frustrated.

Ready to hear "I want to read more!" from your kids?

200 / 200 spots available

Who We Are

We’re a tight-knit team with deep experience in K-12 education, childhood development, and technology, who came together to support parents in creating the best learning environment for their child.
Co-Founder, CEO
Tom Sayer
Co-Founder, CXO
Dr. Elizabeth Adams
Co-Founder, CTO
Catalin Moreno Voss
Advisor
Terry Winograd
Advisor
Michael Auli
Advisor
Nick Haber
Advisor
Timothy Shanahan
Software Engineer
Anish Nag
Senior Curriculum Specialist
Lauren Sittel
Lead Engineer, Backend & Ops
James Mwangi
Software Engineer
Victoria Akeyo
Head of Product
Andrew Li
Advisor
Vishwa Ranjan
Head of People & Partnerships
Jackie Neumann
Software Engineer
Alena Adushkina
QA Manager
Eli Ongaro
Lead Graphic Designer
Sergii Hohlov
Customer Support Specialist
Andrew Chun
Head of Strategic Initiatives
Zac Elder
Senior Fullstack Engineer
Brian Muthomi
Software Engineer, Unity
Phillipe Augusto
Warehouse Team Leader
Derlene Sosa
Executive Assistant
Anna Rizza Laganse
Chief Speech Scientist
Henry Zhou
Operations Associate
Anthony DiPisa
Customer Support Specialist
Jeremi Short
Head of Operations
Apeksha Kothari
Senior Product Manager
Dina Koldeibekova
Curriculum Specialist
Megan Girdler
Curriculum Specialist
Stephanie Darling
Curriculum Specialist
Molly Richards
Technical Program Manager
Andrew Wooler
Business Operations Manager
Aashil Desai
Executive Assistant
Violet Trachtenberg
Head of Engineering
Shivangi Chaudhari
Head of Growth Marketing
Wes Fossile
Executive Assistant
Tali Victory
Senior Software Engineer, Platform
Eutychus Towett
Curriculum Specialist
Sarah Nguyen
Staff Unity Engineer
Tamir Husain
People Operations Admin
Twinx Clutario
Software Engineer, Machine Learning
Peter Maldonado
Senior Unity Engineer
Thiago Leão
Unity Engineer
Micael Brito

Who We Are

We’re a tight-knit team with deep experience in K-12 education, childhood development, and technology, who came together to support parents in creating the best learning environment for their child.
Co-Founder, CEO
Tom Sayer
Co-Founder, CXO
Dr. Elizabeth Adams
Co-Founder, CTO
Catalin Moreno Voss
Advisor
Terry Winograd
Advisor
Michael Auli
Advisor
Nick Haber
Advisor
Timothy Shanahan
Software Engineer
Anish Nag
Senior Curriculum Specialist
Lauren Sittel
Lead Engineer, Backend & Ops
James Mwangi
Software Engineer
Victoria Akeyo
Head of Product
Andrew Li
Advisor
Vishwa Ranjan
Head of People & Partnerships
Jackie Neumann
Software Engineer
Alena Adushkina
QA Manager
Eli Ongaro
Lead Graphic Designer
Sergii Hohlov
Customer Support Specialist
Andrew Chun
Head of Strategic Initiatives
Zac Elder
Senior Fullstack Engineer
Brian Muthomi
Software Engineer, Unity
Phillipe Augusto
Warehouse Team Leader
Derlene Sosa
Executive Assistant
Anna Rizza Laganse
Chief Speech Scientist
Henry Zhou
Operations Associate
Anthony DiPisa
Customer Support Specialist
Jeremi Short
Head of Operations
Apeksha Kothari
Senior Product Manager
Dina Koldeibekova
Curriculum Specialist
Megan Girdler
Curriculum Specialist
Stephanie Darling
Curriculum Specialist
Molly Richards
Technical Program Manager
Andrew Wooler
Business Operations Manager
Aashil Desai

Frequently Asked Questions

How much is Ello?

As a beta tester, Ello is entirely free! We ask that in exchange for free access to the app as a beta tester, you provide us feedback. We will send you surveys and ask for a one-time 20-minute phone call. 

What age range is Ello designed for?

Our beta app is best suited for children at the Kindergarten reading level. 

Other questions?
Email support@ello.com or text (415) 214 8119
How does the Ello app work?

Ello helps early readers break down the barriers of learning by combining artificial intelligence and speech recognition technology to make Ello come to life. Ello is a revolutionary, state-of-the-art interactive reading buddy who listens to your child read out loud. Ello provides support when your child needs help reading, gentle corrections when they make errors, and motivation to keep your child engaged. 

How does my child use Ello?

When you download the Ello app, your child will have access to the Ello reading program.. The app will contain digital books specifically selected for your child. Once your child opens the Ello app, Ello will guide them in their reading journey, using speech recognition technology to know when they need help, and provide motivation to keep them reading! 

How does Ello keep my child engaged?

As your child reads, Ello brings the story to life, provides words of encouragement, and helps them if they get stuck so they don't get frustrated.

We use behavioral psychology and a growth mindset paradigm to keep your child encouraged, help their confidence soar, and build a love of reading. 


Ello offers a reward system as well, in which children collect stars and badges, and earn fun digital rewards. 

What literacy strategies do you use to support my child?

Ello uses proven, phonics-based reading strategies to help your child decode words and develop fluency. 

How do you determine my child's reading level?

We make it easy! We’ll take you through a short series of questions in our onboarding process. We use your answers to determine your child’s estimated reading level and reach out if we have any questions. 


As your child completes a level, the books of the next level will automatically increase in difficulty, so Ello grows along with your child. If you find that the books are too difficult or easy for your child, you can reach out to us to make adjustments via email at support@helloello.com or text us at (415) 214 8119.

What does it mean that a book is ‘just right’ for my child?

It means that it is challenging enough so that they develop their reading skills, but not so challenging that they get frustrated. Struggling with 3-10 words per book is about right. Any more than that and we know the books are too hard. If they are breezing through with no complications, that would mean the books are too easy.

By answering a few short questions, we can help determine your child’s appropriate developmental reading level. We are also happy to set the reading level to whatever they are reading at school, as determined by their teacher. 

Other questions?
Email support@ello.com or text (415) 214 8119
What data do you collect?

It’s up to you.

If you choose to allow it, we process the audio of your child reading so that Ello can provide real-time support and motivation, and so your child can access certain features of the app, such as listening to themselves read. Separately, you can opt-in to give us access to this data so that we can improve Ello.

We also collect data of your child's progress to provide the service (for example the rewards.)

Finally, we collect anonymous and aggregated usage data. See our privacy policy for full details.

What do you do with the data you collect?

It is up to you if we collect any data - it is optional. You will be asked if you would like to opt-in to data collection after downloading the app.

All data is anonymous and aggregated and used to improve the product.

How secure is the data you collect?

It's very secure. We use industry-leading encryption and security.

Other questions?
Email support@ello.com or text (415) 214 8119
How do I withdraw from the beta program?

Canceling is easy. You can cancel in the parent portal accessible through the website, or contact Customer Support through text Or you can email us at support@helloello.com at any time.

Will I be charged for anything?

No, as a beta tester, Ello is completely free. 

Other questions?
Email support@ello.com or text (415) 214 8119