What is the name of your organization?
Scholars Network Ltd
What is the name of your solution?
Connect Coach
Provide a one-line summary or tagline for your solution.
AI‑powered “safe‑space” platform that lets learners practice networking, pitching, and negotiation skills with real‑time, computer‑vision feedback.
In what city, town, or region is your solution team headquartered?
Sydney NSW, Australia
In what country is your solution team headquartered?
Australia
What type of organization is your solution team?
Nonprofit
Film your elevator pitch.
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What specific problem are you solving?
Globally, 70 % of employers now cite soft‑skill gaps (i.e. communication, persuasion, collaboration) as their #1 hiring barrier. Recent World Economic Forum data show “social influence and public speaking” are the fastest‑growing skills needed to thrive by 2030, yet half of graduates underperform in them and risk under‑employment. The gap is widest for young adults from low‑income, conflict‑affected, or remote communities who lack mentors, safe rehearsal spaces, and affordable coaching. Traditional training (e.g. workshops, private tutors) costs $500–$2,000 and requires stable internet or in‑person attendance, excluding millions of job‑seekers and displaced youth. Without scalable, engaging practice environments, these learners miss out on employment, higher wages, and civic participation.
What is your solution?
Connect Coach is a lightweight web‑and‑mobile platform that turns any camera‑enabled device (incl. smartphone, low‑cost tablet, or offline‑first laptop) into a personal soft‑skills studio:
1. Scenario Library: bite‑sized, culturally localised modules (pitching, small‑talk, conflict resolution).
2. AI Practice Partner: computer‑vision + speech‑to‑text models analyse posture, eye‑contact, tone, filler‑words, and negotiation tactics in real time - no external sensors needed.
3. Actionable Micro‑Feedback: learners get a skill scorecard, heat‑map of gaze, suggested phrasing, and 60‑second replay clips.
4. Low‑Bandwidth Mode: on‑device inference compresses models to <50 MB; results sync when connectivity returns, meeting the needs of conflict and rural zones.
5. Community + Mentors: peer review and volunteer / sponsored coaches from industry. Matching is done via a lightweight AI recommender.
A prototype built in TensorFlow Lite and MediaPipe runs on entry‑level Android phones (US$40). Pilot users in NY and rural Queensland reported 37 % median improvement in confidence after three sessions (n = 38).
Who does your solution serve, and in what ways will the solution impact their lives?
Primary users:
• 16–30 year‑olds in low‑income, conflict‑affected, or displaced settings who have smartphone access but no affordable soft‑skills training.
• Educators and workforce‑NGOs that integrate the tool into curricula.
Underserved gaps: learners face language barriers, social anxiety, and cost that keep them from live coaching. Women and persons with disabilities often lack safe rehearsal spaces.
How ConnectAI Coach helps:
• Access: works fully offline; modules downloadable via SD card or local mesh network.
• Personalisation: adaptive prompts match reading level, neurodiversity preferences (e.g., reduced visual clutter, captioned feedback).
• Economic Mobility: better interview & negotiation skills → higher job placement; partnering NGOs will track income change at 6‑ and 12‑month intervals.
Year‑1 targets: 5,000 active learners across Australia and USA, particularly remote and rural regions; ≥ 60 % show skill‑score gain ≥ 25 % and report increased employment or earnings.
