By the Community
For the Community
Our Story
In 2021, Niko made a bold move—leaving his MBA program to build something that would transform how he and millions of others access information. He joined forces with two uniquely talented partners who believed in the mission just as deeply. Nicholas Wilkins, a machine learning expert and interpreter, brought a rare blend of technical expertise and human insight. He left a high-paying position at Google to help turn the vision into reality.
Yamillet "Yami" Payano, a lifelong language enthusiast fluent in Spanish, English, Chinese, and ASL, brought a sharp eye for business, systems, and storytelling. She stepped away from a full-time role at a major financial firm and turned down a fully funded master's program to join the founding team.-
Together, they created Sign-Speak—a platform that can translate American Sign Language into English and vice versa. Built by people who understand communication from every angle,
Sign-Speak isn’t just a product—it’s a leap forward in how we connect.
