New Delhi : SpeakX.ai, India’s largest Generative AI-powered English-speaking platform, has announced a comprehensive and forward-looking ESOP program designed to reward performance, deepen long-term commitment, and broaden wealth creation across the organisation. As part of this initiative, SpeakX has completed a $1 million ESOP buyback benefiting 15 employees, reinforcing its commitment to early wealth creation and transparent ownership. The program includes performance- and tenure-based ESOP grants, a structured buyback plan, and an inclusive ownership framework that sets a new benchmark in the Indian startup ecosystem.
ESOPs at SpeakX are awarded based on measurable performance and sustained contribution, and the program extends across all teams rather than being restricted to senior roles. Employees who complete two years with the company receive ESOPs with a 10-year validity period, giving them long-term flexibility to participate in the company’s growth. SpeakX has also introduced a structured, merit-driven ESOP buyback mechanism, with the latest $1 million buyback for 15 team members marking one of the earliest liquidity events in the sector, allowing high-performing individuals to realise financial gains far earlier than the industry typically offers, addressing the common gap where ESOPs remain aspirational until late-stage funding or exit events. Today, the 20-member team collectively holds 6% of SpeakX’s equity, underscoring a transparent and inclusive ownership model that is rare in early-stage startups.
Announcing the initiative, Arpit Mittal, Founder of SpeakX.ai, said, “ESOPs are the true wealth creation lever in an early-stage startup. While salary matters, the real financial upside comes from the equity you build and eventually liquidate. We’ve all seen how IPO-bound startups have changed the lives of their teams. As founders, our responsibility is to solve for the people who solve for the business. Performance is key, but so are attitude, teamwork, and commitment, these are the qualities we consider while allocating ESOPs and executing buybacks. At SpeakX, we want to create a system where value is shared fairly and early, not just at the time of a big funding round.”
Mittal added that the company’s structured ESOP buyback plan will continue in future cycles, and the ESOP pool will expand as SpeakX scales and raises new rounds of capital. The initiative positions SpeakX strongly in the talent market at a time when the EdTech and AI sectors are competing heavily for skilled professionals. By enabling early liquidity and linking ownership directly to contribution, SpeakX aims to attract and retain top talent that seeks both meaningful work and meaningful wealth creation.
This progressive ESOP philosophy complements SpeakX’s rapid business growth. Built as a GenAI-first platform, SpeakX.ai offers an AI tutor that simulates real-world conversations such as job interviews and workplace interactions, delivering real-time speech correction, adaptive difficulty, vernacular-to-English support, and practical vocabulary coaching. Learners spend an average of 15 minutes per session, engaging in conversational practice that is natural, relevant, and confidence-building. The platform’s focus on usability and real-life application has driven strong adoption among job seekers and students.
It is also noteworthy to mention that SpeakX has demonstrated exceptional financial and operational efficiency, with customer acquisition cost (CAC) payback in one day, a 3.7x LTV/CAC within six months, and 35% retention at Month 3. These metrics indicate strong product-market fit and profitable, sustainable growth. The company, which recently secured $16 million in Pre-Series B funding, is targeting $100 crore (~$12 million) in annual EBITDA by 2026 and aims to build a $300–400 million business in India within the next 2–3 years.
