Voice Friend is an AI-powered therapy developed by a team of young innovative entrepreneurs to give every child a voice, according to its developers.
In early 2023, Fonyuy Eldad Gaih and his team embarked on a mission to develop Voice Friend, an AI-powered therapy tool designed to help non-verbal children express their needs and emotions. Born out of personal experience, the idea emerged after Fonyuy spent three years working closely with children with disabilities. Witnessing their frustration and the struggles of their parents, he recognized an urgent need for a solution that could bridge this communication gap. Based in Yaoundé, Cameroon, Fonyuy Eldad is a self-taught programmer and software developer with a bachelor’s degree in Banking and Finance.
Alongside his team Jiku Godwill, lead software engineer, and Ateh Yannick, design specialist and developer, he transformed the concept into a functional prototype. Despite lacking formal training in tech, Fonyuy’s passion for leveraging technology to solve real-world problems drove the project forward. His additional certifications in AI, design, and digital marketing further equipped him to bring Voice Friend to life. “The journey has not been without challenges. As a self-funded initiative, resource constraints slowed initial progress. Additionally, refining the AI’s natural language processing capabilities required persistent iteration to ensure accurate interpretation of children’s inputs,” Fonyuy explains.
Yet, the team remained motivated by the tool’s potential to transform lives. Today, Voice Friend is making a tangible difference. In partnership with the Inclusive Development Network, INDEV in Buea, the app is being used by 27 children under the guidance of Behavioral Analyst Betty Nancy. Early feedback shows improved communication and reduced frustration among users, validating the tool’s effectiveness. For Fonyuy, Voice Friend is more than a business it is a mission to empower non-verbal children and ease the burden on their families.
His advice to aspiring entrepreneurs is simple: identify a pressing problem, stay committed, and let purpose guide innovation. With Voice Friend, his goal remains clear to give every child a voice.
