Utrecht University: UU spin-off DialogueTrainer wins CES innovation award 2023

DialogueTrainer, start-up in online conversation training and Utrecht University spin-off, has won the prestigious CES innovation award. This prize is awarded annually to companies that distinguish themselves in the field of design and technology. The Dutch winners were announced today in the Beurs van Berlage. In January, DialogueTrainer will showcase its innovative training at the annual CES event in Las Vegas to a global audience.

CES is a major international technology trade show for innovative companies, ranging from promising start-ups to established brands. The CES Innovation Awards recognize companies that excel in technology and functionality and in aesthetics and design.

Virtual conversation exercises
Michiel Hulsbergen, CEO of DialogueTrainer, explains the added value of the start-up: “The new generation is looking for ways to develop professional conversational skills. We simulate conversational situations to help people feel more confident and comfortable when communicating, especially in the workplace. We have implemented our training platform in several sectors in the Netherlands, such as business and the private sector, healthcare and education. The recognition we received by winning the CES Innovations Award is a great stepping stone for us to be put on the map internationally.”


Professional conversation skills
The company allows users to practice their professional conversation skills with online virtual actors, on any digital device, including VR headsets. These virtual actors may assume various roles, such as customer, colleague, candidate, client or patient. The actor responds to every answer given during the conversation with speech, intonation, emotion, facial expression and body language.

DialogueTrainer measures what the participant is doing and provides instant feedback about the choices made. This makes it clear to an employer or trainer where the learning needs of a group lie, how the individuals in that group develop, and what can still be improved.

Utrecht University spin-off
DialogueTrainer is a spin-off of Utrecht University. The idea behind it originated in 2013. The application was initially developed by Computer Science students and was then further developed and marketed.