About VirtualSpeech
We build AI-powered soft skills training for organizations - practice-based learning for the conversations that decide deals, retention and promotions.
Since 2016 we've worked with L&D teams and universities in over 130 countries, from Deloitte and Deutsche Telekom to Bayer, Swisscom and IE Business School. Our work has been covered by The New York Times, the BBC, Forbes and the Wall Street Journal.
We're an independent company based in the UK.
Our Story
VirtualSpeech was founded in 2016 to solve a problem our founders had themselves: there was nowhere to practice a high-stakes conversation before having it for real. Rehearsing in front of a mirror or a colleague didn't prepare anyone for the room.
The first version used virtual reality to put people in front of a realistic audience, so they could practice public speaking with the same nerves and the same distractions they'd face on the day.
Since then, VirtualSpeech has expanded to become an AI practice platform where teams rehearse real conversations, get scored feedback in seconds, and where L&D can show what changed. Practice is still at the centre of everything, in the browser, on a tablet or in a headset.
Press, media coverage, and conferences
The New York Times
BBC
Forbes
The Wall Street Journal
The Times
The Huffington Post
The Next Web
Lifehacker
New Scientist
VentureBeat
eLearning Industry
We've been interviewed on TV for the BBC, featured in national press, and spoken at conferences including AWE on training design with XR.
Recognized as a leading training provider
Independent recognition from the learning and development industry, for the people who need to justify the choice internally.
Brandon Hall Group
Excellence Award, Gold
Learning and Development Excellence
Training Industry, 2026
Top 20
AI Coaching & Learner Support Tools Companies
LPI Learning Awards
Learning Provider of the Year
Start-Up category, winner
German Design Awards
Excellence in Communications Design
Winner
VR Awards
Best Use of VR in Education and Training
Winner
Gartner
Market Guide for Corporate Learning
Featured training provider for training solutions
CPD
First CPD-accredited VR training provider
Of its kind, per Training Industry
Training Industry, 2026
Watchlist
Experiential Learning Technologies Companies
completed practice sessions
About Us
Meet the Team
Sophie Thompson
CEO & Co-Founder
Dom Barnard
Co-Founder
Chris Gunby
Head of Commercial
Charlie Christodoulou
Account Executive
Tareek Lamhaouli
Account Executive
Myles Greyson
Customer Success Manager
Matt French
Customer Success Manager
Verity Healy
Daniel O'Dowd
Helen Hooper
Head of Learning Design
Hannah Britt
Learning Product Designer
Rasool Somji
Tech Guru & Fun Officer
Isaac Wolf
Full Stack Engineer
John Steward
Junior Software Engineer
Sam Cole
Drew Scrimshaw
Cristina Rius
Mid-Weight Unity Developer
Scott Murphy
Will Reed
Cal Thorndyke
Meet the AI Team
Hugh Mann
Our resident coach. Friendly, grounded, and encouraging. Hugh puts people at ease, especially when practising feedback or reflective conversations.
Cynthia
Polished, clear, and always professional. Cynthia’s perfect when structure and tone matter, like in formal conversations or explaining complex ideas.
Rob
Thoughtful and self-assured, Rob gives off mentor energy. Calm under pressure, he’s ideal for leadership, coaching, or confidence-building scenarios.
Keyla
Bright, expressive, and easy to talk to. Keyla lifts the tone of any conversation. Great for scenarios needing connection, or persuasive communication.
Lin
Gentle, thoughtful, and softly spoken, Lin creates space to reflect. A great choice when empathy, patience, and emotional insight are needed.
Ed
Straight-talking and reliable. Eduardo keeps things clear and on track. Ideal for focused, honest chats without the fluff.
Ken
Articulate and grounded, Ken brings a calm, steady presence to conversations. He also represents visible disability to support inclusive, real-world training.
Andy
Clear, composed, and reassuring. Andy’s someone you’d want in your corner during tricky conversations like performance reviews, sensitive chats, or anything needing a steady hand.
Jada
Poised, empathetic, and emotionally attuned. Jada’s voice helps people feel heard. Ideal for trust-building, feedback, or sensitive conversations.
Fatima
Fatima’s voice carries warmth and rhythm, making her perfect for conversations that benefit from empathy, calm clarity, and cultural awareness.
Aiden
Upbeat, relatable, and honest. Aiden’s our youngest avatar, great for casual chats, youth-focused scenarios, or mentoring-style conversations.