About the Company

Emoface is a research-based spin-off based in Grenoble, France, founded in January 2020. It focuses on creating tools that assist individuals with autism and other socio-emotional challenges in better expressing, recognizing, and managing emotions. With a team of three employees, the company offers innovative solutions like 3D emotional avatars designed for therapists, educators, and families. The product suite is grounded in participatory design and aims to fill a gap in customizable training tools, emphasizing neurodiversity and accessibility.

Their flagship app, Emoface Play&Learn Emotions, provides interactive training tailored to the sensory needs of autistic children. The company is also developing AI-driven tools to help professionals generate dynamic, adaptive emotional content.

Idea Behind Company

Adela's journey began during her Ph.D. in Affective Computing in 2013, where she studied how gestures and speech convey emotions. Inspired by Simon Baron-Cohen’s research on training emotion recognition in autistic adults, she realized the potential of using controllable 3D visuals for socio-emotional skill training. Her personal interest in computer vision and a deep empathy for those with social difficulties further fueled her passion.

Despite having no entrepreneurial experience, Adela pursued her vision, securing support from an incubator to develop her skills and validate her idea. Meeting co-founder Mayra, whose personal experience with autism complemented Adela's technical expertise, solidified their shared goal of creating impactful tools for social inclusion. The duo began prototyping, receiving validation through conferences and early user feedback.

Creating the Company

The development process for Emoface’s initial product involved extensive collaboration with clinical professionals and researchers. More than 100 observation sessions were conducted, and 600 beta users tested prototypes, ensuring user-specific design. This meticulous approach addressed the sensory and perceptual needs of autistic children, refining details like avatar expressivity and UI design.

Challenges included evaluating socio-emotional skills, particularly for non-verbal users, and balancing the visual appeal for children with usability for caregivers. Feedback from autistic adults proved instrumental in shaping the user experience. To ensure long-term effectiveness, the team planned a clinical study to assess the app's sustained impact over two months.

Strategic decisions, such as whether to market the app as an educational tool or a medical device, remain critical for the company’s direction, with implications for certifications and business models.

Launching the Business

Building a community of users and validating needs was central to Emoface’s strategy. Adela overcame initial challenges, including conducting client interviews in a non-native language, by collaborating with a growth hacker to develop a structured outreach plan. Early partnerships with schools, associations, and professionals provided essential insights and long-term support.

Promotional efforts included leveraging media coverage, conferences, and a beta launch during France’s lockdown, which boosted adoption among home users. Organic growth was driven by recommendations, social media, and partnerships, with minimal reliance on paid ads or SEO. As the business evolved, Emoface worked on refining its digital and commercial strategies, aiming to secure 2,000 new users and finalize its business model.

Earnings

Emoface initially relied on funding from innovation contests, incubators, and R&D subsidies. Plans for a bank loan and fundraising aim to expand R&D, marketing, and international scaling. The company’s strategy prioritizes sustainable growth through strategic investments in recruitment, digital tools, and clinical evaluations.

Adela’s entrepreneurial journey highlighted the importance of networking, mentorship, and communication. Despite challenges like multitasking and strategizing, Emoface continues to grow, with future projects focusing on advanced emotional training tools and global expansion.