Company dedicated to improving speech enabled devices and applications with AI
COLUMBIA, Md., (November 25, 2025) — TEDCO, Maryland’s economic engine for technology companies, announced a recent $500,000 Pre-Seed Builder Fund investment in OmniSpeech. Under the umbrella of TEDCO’s Social Impact Funds, the Pre-Seed Builder Fund invests in and provides support to Maryland-based technology companies led by founders from economically underserved backgrounds.
“We have made tremendous strides in improving the quality of hearing devices for consumer and enterprise applications,” said Carol Espy-Wilson, PhD., Founder & CTO of OmniSpeech. “With this follow-on investment from TEDCO, we are excited to take our AI speech technology even further by joining the fight against one of the biggest AI threats - deepfake audio used to perpetuate consumer and enterprise fraud.”
OmniSpeech, based in College Park, Md., aims to enhance speech-enabled applications and devices using artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML). Its AI noise suppression technology works to remove background noise and boost voice clarity in leading consumer and enterprise headphones. Building on deep expertise in audio, AI and speech science, OmniSpeech’s newest technology, AI Detect™, is a zero-shot deepfake detection tool that aims to launch later this year through a Zoom integration and as an API. AI Detect™ builds on OmniSpeech momentum after winning the Federal Trade Commission’s Voice Cloning Challenge in 2024.
“At TEDCO, we are excited to support the continued growth of our innovation ecosystem by offering opportunities like the Social Impact Funds that target SEDI (Socially and Economically Disadvantaged Individuals), allowing continued economic development across the state,” said Jean-Luc Park, deputy chief investment officer & senior director of TEDCO’s Social Impact Funds. “OmniSpeech’s innovative technology has the potential to not only support Maryland’s growth and development, but to push innovative thinkers across borders to continue moving forward.”
The Social Impact Funds were created to support underrepresented entrepreneurs throughout Maryland. For information about TEDCO’s Social Impact Funds, visit https://www.tedcomd.com/funding/social-impact-funds.
“The Baltimore/Washington D.C. metro continues to grow as a hub for AI innovation; in fact, we have AI initiatives aimed to support and grow a talented workforce that will uplift the industry and promote growth across several academic institutions,” said TEDCO CEO, Troy LeMaile-Stovall. “Entrepreneurial spirits looking to start or expand an AI-based business should strongly consider taking advantage of the growing AI hub and making Maryland their headquarters.
For more information, visit our page at https://www.tedcomd.com/funding.