Yoodli, an AI-powered communication coaching platform, is thrilled to announce its strategic partnership with Palette Skills, a leader in workforce development. This collaboration combines Yoodli’s cutting-edge AI technology with Palette Skills’ SalesCamp program, offering participants a unique opportunity to sharpen their sales communication skills and enhance their readiness for B2B tech sales roles.
A Blend of Expertise and Technology
By combining Palette Skills’ experience in developing sales talent with Yoodli’s AI-powered coaching platform, this partnership will empower participants to:
Refine Sales Communication: Yoodli’s AI delivers personalized feedback on sales pitches and interview techniques, helping participants sharpen their communication skills and improve how they present themselves to potential employees.
Boost Confidence and Job Readiness: With practice sessions that simulate real-world sales scenarios, participants will build confidence in their ability to pitch effectively and navigate interviews, ensuring they are well-prepared for sales roles.
Drive Higher Hiring Rates: By refining communication skills and enhancing job readiness, the partnership aims to increase hiring rates among Canadian employers, driving tangible outcomes for program participants.
Data-Driven Insights for Improvements: Yoodli’s analytics provide valuable data on participants’ progress, allowing Palette Skills to track individual development and tailor coaching to ensure continuous improvement.
Partnering with Palette Skills is a fantastic opportunity”, said Esha Joshi, President and Co-Founder at Yoodli. They’ve been instrumental in helping people shift into new careers, and we’re excited to support their mission by providing Yoodli’s AI-powered coaching that elevates participants’ communication abilities and sales techniques.
We are very excited to be adding Yoodli’s AI-powered coaching platform to support participants in Palette’s SalesCamp program, said Rhonda Barnet, CEO of Palette Skills. This partnership will give participants the chance to build on the foundational skills SalesCamp teaches, getting them ready for success in the job market.
A Unified Vision for Workforce Development and Sales Excellence
This partnership exemplifies Yoodli and Palette Skills’ shared vision of empowering professionals with the skills and confidence they need to thrive in sales roles. Together, they aim to revolutionize how workforce development programs deliver communication training and job readiness.
About Palette:
Palette Skills runs one of the most ambitious talent initiatives in Canadian history, connecting Canada’s innovative companies with the talent they need to grow. A national nonprofit, Palette Skills partners with employers, national business associations, leading academic institutions, and other nonprofits to develop and deploy rapid upskilling programs. Palette’s SalesCamp program offers sales fundamentals training, which incorporates industry insights from guest speakers, networking opportunities and real-world, applicable activities.
Yoodli, a Seattle-based company, helps individuals improve their communication skills using AI. Users can get in-the-moment coaching during online meetings, or they can practice for an upcoming speech, conversation, or interview with AI. Yoodli will then generate feedback on their content, conciseness, and speaking attributes such as executive presence, reliance on filler words, and pacing. Yoodli has been rolled out in over 150 countries by Toastmasters International, leading business schools, and hundreds of thousands of leaders globally. For more information, visit Yoodli’s website.
Korn Ferry is a leading global organizational consulting firm that works with clients to design optimal organization structures, roles, and responsibilities. They help them hire the right people, focus on the right skills, and advise them on how to reward, engage and motivate their workforce while developing professionals as they navigate and advance their careers. 97% of the Fortune 500 uses Korn Ferry (KF) services in some capacity. As part of the KF Enterprise Coaching solution, clients have the ability to schedule 1:1 sessions with certified coaches and access learning content through the Korn Ferry Talent Suite , their digital platform.
Pain point:
The KF leadership team needed to drive reinforcement after human coaching sessions. This consisted of three parts:
Make practice more scalable: The Talent Suite hosts a repository of digital learning content (best practice videos, documents etc). However, they needed a more applied way of helping clients learn. Generative AI would be the way forward.
Improve the existing communication skills practice flow: The Talent Suite included an existing interview preparation platform. This provided users with basic feedback (eg. filler words) on their communication skills. KF wanted to make the platform more conversational and expand the scope beyond just interview preparation.
Time to market and cost: Korn Ferry has the history of integrating with innovative technology providers and saw the ability to do so here.
Solution:
Korn Ferry partnered with Yoodli genAI communication coach to revamp their Talent Suite product. With Yoodli, clients can now practice any conversation – an interview, a difficult manager conversation, upcoming presentation, sales pitch among others – and get instant feedback on their communication skills, all using Korn Ferry’s bespoke intellectual property.
Yoodli drives coaching reinforcement, creates a jaw dropping moment during client pitches, and provides ongoing self-serve communication coaching for all our users. We’re more competitive in RFPs and are seen as effectively leveraging AI to help our clients Be More Than. – Bryan Ackermann, Head of AI Strategy and Transformation at Korn Ferry
Yoodli is now offered to every user on Korn Ferry’s retail (consumer) product and as an add-on/ reinforcement service for their enterprise coaching services.
The Yoodli integration lives within the Talent Suite and has the look and feel of the platform. Given the confidentiality of customer data, it was paramount that any practice sessions be locked down on the platform. Yoodli is SOC 2 Type 2 and GDPR compliant. With Yoodli, data is only accessible to the learner and can be automatically wiped depending on enterprise needs.
The biggest advantage with Yoodli has been the ability to augment human coaching. KF coaches think of Yoodli as the medical report if they are the doctor – it quantifies their coaching and allows them to focus on the higher level aspects of the human-to-human interaction. Almost all Korn Ferry coaches recommend Yoodli as part of their client interactions.
“I pitched Yoodli as part of our offering to the Chief Learning Officer of a Fortune 100 pharma company. Their reaction was priceless – Yoodli’s AI powered roleplays are getting more realistic everyday. Yoodli is now central to every sales pitch we make” – Claudia Solomon, Principal, Korn Ferry.
Impact:
Time to market: Korn Ferry was able to bring AI communication coaching to market in under a month, much faster than what it would have taken to build the platform in-house
Dollars saved: Korn Ferry saved in labor costs, storage, and development in developing this from the ground up
Competitive differentiator: Korn Ferry now includes Yoodli genAI communication coaching in most client offering and RFP proposals as a competitive differentiator
Client & coach feedback: Clients finally enjoy practice and coaches have an AI tool that extends their session. Here’s what one client had to say to the roleplay AI simulation: “Fantastic! Brutal Likes that it pushes questions back at me.Nerve wracking, but gets better with practice”
Clarity Media Group is one of the world’s leading media training and executive communications companies. Collectively,they have provided 60,000+ hours of client coaching across 40+ countries and placed 13,000+ media stories. A large part of the team is former journalists from organizations such as CNN and Bloomberg and have won over 14 Emmys. Clarity’s clients are predominantly C Suite executives at Fortune 500 companies (such as Meta, L’Oreal, Bloomberg, Credit Suisse) preparing for upcoming keynotes or media events.
Problem:
Clarity’s media trainers provide clients highly bespoke training that varies based on their clients’ needs. Driving trainer productivity and a premium client experience are crucial for the Clarity leadership team. They were looking to:
Help trainers save time on the “non-coaching” aspects of the job: As an example, each trainer would spend at least 15 minutes after each training session writing summary notes & uploading recordings to Dropbox, creating a follow up folder for each client. This translates to ~5 hours per week (or 250 hours per year)
Augment trainer’s coaching with quantifiable statistics, especially for highly technical audiences that emphasize measurable outcomes
Solution:
Clarity partnered with Yoodli genAI communication coach to create a custom solution built around Clarity’s branding. Given the white glove service that Clarity provides its clients, ease of customization and emphasis on Clarity branding was critical.
Clarity trainers now use Yoodli during all their coaching sessions. As a result, trainers are able to show clients instant replays of practice roleplay sessions (eg. CNN media interview) as well as statistics on their communication skills (body language, word choice, delivery, and more). Yoodli’s recording tool is as seamless as the former method, while also providing the beneficial features such as the AI-analytics, an instant transcription, and an instant follow up link of the recording and summary that we can provide to the client. This allows trainers to use less applications during and post training, while also providing the client with more robust and quantifiable coaching notes.
With Yoodli, it takes under 30 seconds and a single click to share recordings with clients. This makes it easy to show value to both the client as well as their buyer on the client side who can see the impact of their training.
“Yoodli is game-changing. We can’t imagine going back to the old manual way of media training. Within seconds, we can show clients a replay of their roleplay and quantifiable metrics on their pacing, exec presence, and word choice. This is the future of media training and the pace of change is exciting”
– Mariko Takahashi (COO, Clarity Media Group)
Clarity is one of the earliest adopters of AI in what’s been a typically slow moving industry. Being able to embed generative AI into their offerings provides an immediate wow factor that differentiates them from their competitors.
Overcoming initial concerns:
Clarity’s team was initially worried about how genAI might integrate into their offerings. Here’s how they overcame their hesitations.
Privacy as crucial: Given their senior client profile, Clarity had to ensure that client recordings would be completely locked down. Yoodli is SOC2 Type 2 and GDPR compliant and ensures that recordings are not accessible to anyone except the speaker. On the enterprise plan, data can be wiped from the system per the user’s requirements.
AI potentially replacing humans: There was skepticism about whether AI feedback would contradict that of Clarity coaches. Yoodli is built by coaches for coaches and provides feedback using Clarity’s custom rubrics. Note that Yoodli cannot replace the work done by highly experienced media trainers. However, it augments coaching to help trainers scale their work. Think of Yoodli to a media trainer as a medical report to a doctor or a power drill to an electrician.
Branding and whitelabel: Clarity did not want to provide customers with an off-the-shelf solution, especially given that their coaching was based on years of specialized training. The Yoodli team worked with Clarity on a custom experience that is tailored to their needs.
Impact metrics:
Time savings: The Clarity team has saved over 250+ hours per year through Yoodli. Trainers can now use this valuable time to source new leads or focus on existing clients.
Usage: The Clarity team has used Yoodli across 200+ coaching sessions and uses the platform at least once a day
Client reactions: At least 5 clients (ranging from insurance to security firms) have reached out asking to get access to genAI communication coaching. Clarity has seen so much positive response on Yoodli that they have now partnered on an affiliate partnership for clients.
The Center for Sales Strategy (CSS), a leading sales performance consulting and training company, and Yoodli, the AI-powered communication coaching platform, are thrilled to launch a strategic partnership. This collaboration brings together Yoodli’s cutting-edge AI technology with The Center for Sales Strategy’s proven expertise in B2B sales training and development to offer a truly unique and powerful solution for sales organizations.
A Powerful Combination of Expertise and Technology
For over 40 years, CSS has been committed to helping B2B sales organizations drive performance. Their approach focuses on turning talent into performance and developing the highest-performing sales professionals. By combining CSS’s expertise in sales talent, training and tactics with Yoodli’s AI-powered coaching platform, this partnership will empower sales teams to:
Enhanced Communication Skills: Yoodli’s AI-powered analysis provides personalized feedback on speech patterns, helping sales professionals refine their communication style and deliver more impactful presentations and pitches.
Improved Sales Performance: CSS’s proven methodologies, coupled with Yoodli’s real-time insights, will empower sales teams to better connect with prospects, build stronger relationships, and close more deals.
Increased Confidence: By practicing and receiving feedback in a safe and private environment, sales professionals can build confidence in their communication abilities, leading to improved performance in real-world situations.
Data-Driven Insights: Yoodli’s analytics provide valuable data on individual and team performance, allowing sales leaders to track progress, identify areas for improvement, and tailor coaching strategies accordingly.
“We are incredibly excited to partner with The Center for Sales Strategy,” says Ajay Jain, Head of Training and Enablement at Yoodli. ”Like top athletes who practice before stepping onto the field, leading sales performance consultants like CSS know that consistent practice is key to reinforcing sales methodologies, and results in great execution.”
“The CSS Practice Coach is a game-changer for sales teams,” said Matt Sunshine, CEO of The Center for Sales Strategy. “It empowers salespeople to practice and improve at their own pace, and receive immediate coaching and feedback, which is crucial for their development and success.”
A Shared Vision for Sales Excellence
Both Yoodli and CSS share a passion for empowering sales professionals to reach their full potential. This partnership represents a significant step forward in providing sales organizations with innovative solutions that drive results.
Braintrust, a leader in neuroscience-backed sales training and leadership development, and Yoodli, an AI-powered communication coaching platform, are thrilled to announce a strategic partnership.
This collaboration aims to integrate Yoodli’s advanced AI technology into Braintrust’s elite sales training and coaching services, offering real-time, personalized feedback to accelerate sales teams’ development and boost their overall performance.
Braintrust has a proven track record of success, partnering with over 100 industry-leading companies and delivering programs rooted in neuroscience and behavioral psychology-backed communication & sales techniques.
Yoodli’s AI coach will seamlessly integrate into Braintrust’s existing sales programs by providing real-time analysis and personalized recommendations, the platform will enable Braintrust’s clients to practice and refine their communication skills in a judgment-free environment.
“Sales leaders are telling us that in 2024 they can no longer afford to have their sales reps practicing on their valuable live leads. We’re thrilled to partner with Braintrust, a company that shares our commitment to helping professionals reach their full potential,” said Ajay Jain, Head of Training and Enablement at Yoodli.
“This new AI partnership, combined with our already existing neuroscience-backed sales methodology will revolutionize the way sales professionals and leaders develop their communication skills.”, says Jeff Bloomfield, CEO of Braintrust.
By integrating Yoodli’s AI technology, Braintrust will further enhance its coaching services, providing their sales clients with the tools and insights they need to succeed in today’s competitive landscape.
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Yoodli, a Seattle-based company, helps individuals improve their communication skills using AI. Users can get in-the-moment coaching during online meetings, or they can practice for an upcoming speech, conversation, or interview with AI. Yoodli will then generate feedback on their content, conciseness, and speaking attributes such as executive presence, reliance on filler words, and pacing. Yoodli has been rolled out in over 150 countries by Toastmasters International, leading business schools, and hundreds of thousands of leaders globally. For more information, visit Yoodli’s website.
Lead qualification isn’t always easy, but tapping into a framework like the MEDDPICC sales methodology can facilitate the process.
In our how-to guide, we’ll detail everything reps need to know about MEDDPICC, including its criteria, how it differs frmo MEDDIC, its benefits and drawbacks, and how sales leaders can implement it at-scale across their organizaitons.
What Is the MEDDPICC Sales Methodology?
The MEDDPICC sales methodology is a framework reps can use for lead qualification. MEDDPICC itself is an acronym of specific criteria folks can use to prioritize potential buyers. It’s especially useful for navigating complex sales processes, and some of the best sales training companies rely on this framework.
What does MEDDPICC stand for?
MEDDPICC is an acronym that stands for metrics, economic buyer, decision criteria, decision process, paper process, identify pain, champion, and competition. Whenreps follow the MEDDPICC sales methodology, the metrics they consider include:
Metrics, or data that quantifies success like key performance indicators (KPIs)
Economic buyer, AKA, the person with the power to make purchase decisions
Decision criteria, or the elements a potential buyer will use to make a decision
Decision process, or the relevant steps a buyer might use during the decision-making process
Paper process, AKA, all the paperwork, documentation, and administrative processes needed when leads become buyers
Identify pain, or the pain points a potential customer experiences (this can also include the implication of pain, or the negative results of not acknowledging the buyer’s needs)
Champion, or the person who advocates for the sale within the potential buyer’s organization
Competition, AKA, all the other products or services the prospect is considering
Salespeople who stick to this criteria can facilitate lead qualification and better prioritize potential buyers.
MEDDPICC vs. MEDDIC
MEDDPICC and MEDDIC are similar in that they’re both used to better qualify leads. The original MEDDIC methodology eventually led to MEDDPICC, an iteration of the original. The main difference between the two frameworks is that the MEDDPICC sales methodology includes two additional components to the acronym: paper process and competition.
The sales landscape is constantly evolving, and the MEDDPICC sales methodology reflects just how complex these environments can be. Folks working in sales should always be ready to grow and adapt to such a dynamic marketplace.
How to Apply the MEDDPICC Sales Methodology
Because the MEDDPICC sales methodology is straightforward and well-defined, in theory, it’s easy to learn and apply. The challenging part comes when sales leaders are facing at-scale implementation for their teams and organizations as a whole.
If you’re unfamiliar with this framework, here’s how you can get started applying MEDDPICC for sales processes.
1. Get ready to do some research.
The first step for the MEDDPICC sales methodology is information gathering. Reps will end up gathering lots of information and data throughout the process, but the first two key pieces of information should be about the lead and any key stakeholders.
For example, a sales rep might kick things off by getting information about who the lead is, including their industry and employer. It’s also a great time to pinpoint who the main stakeholders are. Most reps narrow in on the person who has the authority to make decisions, which is great. However, don’t forget other stakeholders who might have a strong influence, too.
2. Understand the potential buyer’s metrics.
Metrics are essential when it comes to a framework like MEDDPICC, so reps need to be ready to break down the potential buyer’s metrics. This step involves getting a clearer idea of the client’s objectives and goals (and how the customer quantifies those).
A rep’s job is to offer solutions, so getting a solid understanding of these metrics can help reps better position their solution to help a buyer meet said metrics.
3. Figure out your economic buyer is.
The economic buyer is another key component of MEDDPICC. Remember, this will be the person who has the financial authority to make decisions regarding the purchasing process. For example, common culprits when it comes to the economic buyer include executives like a CFO or CEO. However, it doesn’t have to be.
4. Get familiar with the buyer’s decision criteria.
There’s a reason MEDDPICC includes decision criteria: It allows reps to better understand what factors a potential customer will use when making a purchasing decision. Some of these criteria might be more obvious than others. For example, the client’s budget will often determine — at least, in part — whether or not a purchase is possible.
Other decision criteria buyers might use to make a decision include things like any benefits or special features the solution offers. A brand’s reputation can also be reflected in their decision criteria. Knowing these criteria will help reps tailor their approach to the buyer.
5. Understand what the decision process will look like.
Although knowing the buyer’s decision criteria is a must, it’s just as important for reps to understand the steps of the decision process. Reps should have a clear roadmap that outlines the steps involved.
Taking the time and effort to outline the process might sound intensive, but it’s essential for the success of a framework like MEDDPICC. It allows reps to plan for and pinpoint potential setbacks, barriers, and key decision points.
6. Identify the buyer’s pain points.
Just like in an approach like SPIN selling, pinpointing the potential customer’s pain points isn’t a step you’ll want to skip. What are the needs, frustrations, and pain points of the client? The end goal is to appropriately address their needs without promising more than what’s realistically available in terms of deliverables.
This is also a great time to think about the negative effects of not acknowledging the client’s pain points and needs. Reps can even quantify this through aspects like lost opportunities and possible costs.
7. Unearth your champion.
One of the final criteria of MEDDPICC is the champion, AKA, the person who has the authority and power to make purchase decisions. This will be someone in the client’s company or organization who advocates for the solution, be it a product or service.
The goal here with unearthing the champion is to form a relationship with them, build rapport, and then lean on their support. This can make the sales process much easier when it comes down to it.
8. Evaluate the competition.
Finally, reps should get a good idea of the competition. Where does your solution, whatever your product or service may be, compare to the top alternatives? This component of MEDDPICC emphasizes the importance of finding your unique selling proposition (USP) and demonstrating how you and your solution stand out from the crowd.
Once you’re familiar with the various steps to implementing the MEDDPICC sales methodology, you’re ready to practice.
Using Yoodli for MEDDPICC Sales Training
At its core, MEDDPICC is meant to be a simple, straightforward methodology for reps to follow. Its clear-cut criteria facilitate lead qualification across the board. However, if you work within a large or even a medium-sized organization, implementing at-scale MEDDPICC training can be a significant challenge. But thanks to Yoodli, it doesn’t have to be.
Yoodli is an intelligent virtual sales coach that uses AI technology to help sales leaders train their reps at scale, no matter how large the organization. Practicing the MEDDPICC sales methodology in a safe, risk-free environment is an absolute must, especially for reps who are unfamiliar with the framework. Instead of having reps practice during real calls with leads, they can practice in realistic, simulated sales roleplays via Yoodli.
This gives reps a chance to get comfortable with the methodology and sharpen their existing skills to make qualifying leads that much easier.
Reps can practice implementing the MEDDPICC sales methodology with Yoodli.
Organization leaders can have their sales team implement MEDDPICC in simulated cold calls or inbound and outbound discovery to get data-backed sales coaching feedback. By implementing this feedback, sales teams can grow exponentially and sharpen their skills — both new and existing skill sets — in a risk-free environment.
Not only that, but Yoodli has a proven track record for at-scale training and implementation. Well-known brands have already used Yoodli for increased seller attainment and decreased ramp, namely orgs like Dale Carnegie, Korn Ferry, and even Google.
Practicing implementing MEDDPICC with Yoodli’s realistic roleplays.
Recently, Google Cloud leveraged Yoodli to get over 15,000 reps up on the same page through at-scale training and implementation. The results of the case study were so positive, that Google ended up using Yoodli in other programs, too.
Learn how you and your sales team can use Yoodli to implement the MEDDPICC sales methodology (or any other sales framework, for that matter) at https://yoodli.ai/.
MEDDPICC Benefits and Drawbacks
Although MEDDPICC is commonly used, it has its benefits and disadvantages, just like any other sales framework. If you’re interested in implementing MEDDPICC to improve lead qualification, here are the benefits and drawbacks to be aware of.
MEDDPICC benefits
The MEDDPICC sales methodology has a handful of worthwhile benefits reps should know. One of the more obvious benefits to MEDDPICC is that it’s a comprehensive, easy-to-understand methodology. The criteria is straightforward and clear-cut. Having such a structured approach for a nuanced process like lead qualification is a huge plus.
In fact, this framework’s criteria offers another advantage: providing specific insight into the buyer’s process for decision makers. For sales reps, that means MEDDPICC allows for more personalized approaches to sales as opposed to a more general approach like with other sales methodologies.
For example, having reps pinpoint the key stakeholders through the MEDDPICC criteria helps provide a clearer picture of who has the purchasing power and specifically, who the economic buyer is.
Because this framework has a dedicated criteria for metrics, there’s an added level of importance to being able to measure and quantify success. This is critical, especially when it comes to other aspects beyond the sale, such as GTM alignment. Your go-to-market team can get on the same page and align their efforts to achieve whatever organizational goals have already been laid out.
Drawbacks of the MEDDPICC sales methodology
No framework is perfect, and the MEDDPICC sales methodology isn’t an exception to this rule.
Sometimes methodologies can tiptoe around the line between beneficial and detrimental. For example, the complexity of MEDDPICC is often celebrated, but other sales leaders consider it to be a significant drawback. All the various criteria within this methodology make it more complex than other frameworks (like MEDDIC, for example). It can also make it a more time-consuming process, especially when considering at-scale implementation for large companies.
Similarly, the emphasis on data and metrics can also be considered a drawback. It can take reps a long time to gather all the essential data needed to fit the criteria (and, according to some reps, it can be a major pain).
One of the other disadvantages to MEDDPICC is the tendency for sales reps to depend on the framework too heavily. For example, some reps follow the criteria to a T, but end up with a more uncompromising approach. This can inevitably lead to lost leads and less closed deals.
It’s also important to keep in mind that the MEDDPICC sales methodology isn’t guaranteed to get at every single nuance a potential buyer faces during their decision-making process.
The Main Takeaway
When it comes to lead qualification, MEDDPICC is an excellent framework to explore. Prioritizing potential buyers is much easier when you follow a straightforward criteria to better sell your solution to said buyer. Even though it can be complicated to implement across a large organization, tapping into a sales enablement tool like Yoodli can revolutionize the process.
The inspiration for Yoodli came from my experiences as an immigrant coming to the U.S. from India. Growing up, I had a bit of a lisp, which made me self-conscious about speaking up, especially when there were more confident people in the room who could talk non-stop in their native language. I was one of the lucky ones. I landed a great job with Google, where I got to work on incredible projects, and I also spent over a year working directly with Sergey Brin, one of Google’s founders.
As fortunate as I was, I recognize that most people don’t get access to the opportunities they deserve — for every version of me that lands their dream job, there’s a kid in India who deserves the role just as much but doesn’t have the confidence and communication skills to succeed. There are immigrants, non-native English speakers, and introverts who miss out on their dreams because someone else does the talking and gets the credit.
We designed Yoodli to help people get the opportunities they deserve. It is an AI-powered communication coach that helps improve public speaking skills by analyzing your voice and content, and providing feedback on areas where you can improve.
My co-founder, Esha Joshi, feels just as passionately about this and wants to use technology to help women be heard even more in the workplace. Here’s my TEDx talk about our mission.
With Yoodli, you can record yourself speaking or upload a pre-recorded audio or video file. Yoodli will analyze your conciseness, filler words, pacing, and non-inclusive language. It will also score your body language, including making eye contact and using gestures and facial expressions to engage with others. It can even give you real-time feedback on your delivery to make sure you sound confident and engaging in a live meeting.
The app is free and works with the most widely used video platforms, including Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, and Zoom. Best of all, the feedback is completely private and only shows up on your screen, gently reminding you to adjust your speaking pace or include an important talking point.
The reactions have been positive since Esha and I founded the business 18 months ago. We’ve raised more than seven million dollars from a few strategic investors, such as Madrona and the Allen Institute for AI, and our team has grown to 10 people. But the most exciting news is that Yoodli now has users in 150 countries, including some of the world’s top business schools and Fortune 50 companies. It’s also been rolled out to 300,000 members by Toastmasters International, a global community that helps people with their communication and presentation skills.
Google Cloud: Taking the pressure off busy founders
Launching a business puts huge demands on your time and that of your colleagues. That’s why we run our full technology stack on Google Cloud — it gives us access to integrated software that powers the entire business. We use Cloud Storage for storing and accessing data, BigQuery as our cloud data warehouse, Google Analytics to manage website traffic, and Google Workspace for our productivity tools.
In particular, Cloud Storage is especially important for running Yoodli. We don’t have a big budget for video processing and storage, but Google Cloud makes it highly affordable. We also need fail-safe security, especially as we give feedback on conversations that might include salary negotiations or an unreleased product keynote. Working with Google gives me the confidence that our infrastructure is completely locked down.
We’re also big fans of the Google for Startups Cloud Program, which offers extensive support all the way from VP-level for strategic issues to an account manager for day-to-day questions. We feel lucky that Google can prioritize a startup as small and early stage as us. It makes me confident that we’ll continue to be part of the Google ecosystem as we grow.
First steps for founders
Thanks to Google Cloud, it’s been an exciting journey giving me plenty of insights into what it takes to found a business. First, you must be brave and prepared to jump into your idea. You might think you need to survey 20 founders or wait until you have the perfect proposal, but if you’re really motivated to change things for the better — you just have to go for it. Even though it can be a rollercoaster, the opportunity to do your best for other people will keep you going.
The results make it worth it. Every day when I wake up, I have emails from people saying, “Oh my God, I landed my dream job. Thank you so much.” Or, we hear from people using Yoodli to learn English because they are too nervous to practice with a friend or a teacher. Whatever the ups and downs of being a founder, it always makes my day anytime I read messages from our users.
As for the future, I can see a time when Yoodli will become a real-time AI assistant in all kinds of professional and social contexts. Imagine you are on a date. The Yoodli app on your watch could remind you to stop speaking and ask more questions. Or if you’re in a tough meeting, Yoodli could advise you to take a break and get a glass of water before restarting the conversation.
It’s challenging because we deal with people’s personalities and deep-rooted feelings, but I’m positive we have the people and initiative to make it work. When you add the support from the Google Cloud team, we feel secure about the future — and giving people the confidence to excel at work and in their social lives by practicing with Yoodli.
We’re thrilled to announce that Yoodli is now SOC 2 Type 2 certified!
This achievement is a testament to our unwavering commitment to the privacy and security of our users. At Yoodli, we understand the importance of trust, especially when our users are relying on us to help them prepare for high-stakes conversations—whether it’s nailing an investor presentation, perfecting a sales pitch, or roleplaying sensitive hiring and firing scenarios.
With this certification, our users can be even more confident that Yoodli’s security and privacy programs are not just robust, but also compliant with stringent enterprise security standards. SOC 2 Type 2 certification is a rigorous audit that examines our systems and controls over an extended period, ensuring that we consistently protect our users’ data.
To enablement leaders aiming to upskill their teams, this certification underscores our commitment to excellence. Yoodli isn’t just a tool for practicing conversations; it’s a secure platform where your team can confidently simulate customer objections and receive feedback tailored to your company’s unique methodologies.
We’re incredibly grateful to our auditors at Prescient Security and our partners at Vanta for their invaluable support in helping us achieve this milestone.
Yoodli has always been committed to our users’ privacy and trust. We’re thrilled to now have a stamp of approval on our efforts to give our users further confidence in our platform
—Varun Puri, CEO
This certification is more than just a badge of honor; it’s a promise to our users that we’ll continue to uphold the highest standards of security and privacy as we help them succeed in their most important conversations.
Stay tuned for more exciting updates as we continue to innovate and provide the best possible experience for our users.
Capitol Debate offers programs that focus on building confidence and leadership skills in students through public speaking and debate. A significant challenge faced by camp instructors was the lack of familiarity with students’ abilities and personalities before the camps began. This made it difficult for instructors to tailor their teaching to meet individual students’ needs effectively. Additionally, camp instructors would spend 2 hours per student evaluating speeches according to the Capitol Debate rubric.
“Before Yoodli, we had no idea who was walking into our classes, which made it tough to tailor our approach right from the start. Now, with Yoodli, we can get to know our campers beforehand, and it’s been a game changer! Yoodli has provided our instructors the extra time to provide more personalized feedback. We’re so excited about the growth and progress we’ve seen in our campers thanks to this tool!” —Rachel Christoph, Lead Instructor and Head of Curriculum
The Solution
Capitol Debate integrated Yoodli AI speech coach into their summer camp curriculum to train nearly 1,000 students in public speaking and debate. Through Yoodli, Capitol Debate instructors are now able to:
Assess the students’ strengths and weaknesses early on
Work with 25% more students and reduce feedback time by 50% with an AI coach providing humanlike feedback
Focus on delivering more advanced and personalized advice. Yoodli software will provide students with valuable feedback, saving instructors time by automatically counting disfluencies like “um” and “ah,” analyzing word usage, and assessing the conciseness of language.
View and share student progress with each other and the students’ parents
The learner flow is as follows:
Before the camp, students record a 1-2 minute video about a topic they are passionate about. This allows instructors to assess the students’ strengths and weaknesses early on.
During the first week of camp, the focus is on public speaking. Students spend the week writing persuasive speeches, which are recorded and analyzed using Yoodli. The tool automatically provides feedback on key areas like word choice, disfluencies, weak words, and speech pace. . Junior instructors use this feedback to offer personalized comments and evaluations, helping students improve their skills. With Yoodli’s automated feedback on structure, content, and delivery, junior instructors can provide specialized feedback in half the time at specific time stamped moments within their speech.
In the second week, the focus shifts to debate. Students record refutation speeches and participate in a debate tournament. Yoodli was used to analyze their speeches, providing real-time feedback on fluency and timing.
Students have unlimited access to Yoodli. They could practice their speeches as many times as they liked in order to build their confidence.The private, judgment-free aspect made it feel less like an assignment and more a self improvement opportunity.
This generation of 10-17 year olds is incredibly tech-savvy, having grown up with digital tools at their fingertips. They’re not just comfortable with technology like Yoodli, but also eager to continue using it to enhance their skills. Whether it’s for refining their public speaking or boosting their confidence, these young learners see tech as a natural extension of their learning process, making platforms like Yoodli a key part of their growth journey.
“Yoodli provides substantial assistance to all coaches in the room, enhancing the learning experience with advanced feedback and support.” —Ronald Bratt, CEO of Capitol Debate, the pioneer behind the Capitol Debate – Yoodli collaboration
The Outcomes
Yoodli helps instructors build rapport with students by allowing them to assess and understand students’ abilities before camp begins. This facilitates the creation of personalized learning cohorts, including advanced classes for returning students and those who demonstrated higher skill levels.
Yoodli reduces instructors’ feedback time by 50%, enabling them to work with 25% more students during camps.
Parents receive evaluations and links to their children’s Yoodli recordings, leading to positive feedback. They gain insights into their children’s speaking abilities and progress.
Students receive personalized feedback, helping them improve their public speaking and debate skills. Some enjoyed watching their recordings and seeing their progress.
What’s Next
After successfully using Yoodli in the 2024 summer camps, Capitol Debate will now incorporate it into 100% of their programs, including school-year clubs and future camps.
Team Yoodli recently hosted Rachel, our Lead Instructor and Head of Curriculum, for a productive brainstorming and feedback session!
“I’ve been a sales and training manager for 30 years, and for the first time in my life — I had a rep with no sales experience come in, get trained within 2 weeks [using AI], and her first sales call was a win.” – Bill Pace, Sales and Training Manager, USB Payments
TLDR: USB Payments uses Yoodli AI sales coach to reduce seller ramp time, save time on manual role-play training, and improve the quality of practice.
Through Yoodli, USB Payments achieved a 19% increase in meetings booked within 30 days, a 20% improvement in meeting quality (more in-person & qualified meetings booked), and a 50% reduction in seller ramp time.
Background
USB Payment Processing offers credit card processing, mobile payments, and marketing services that allow merchants to streamline their business operations.
Within 30 days of implementation, Bill Pace, Sales and Training Manager, achieved immediate results. With both Inside and Outside sales teams reporting to him, he previously spent 20 hours per week manually training and onboarding new reps. Now, he uses Yoodli daily, empowering his reps to close more business.
The Problem
USB Payments prides itself on having a culture of continuous growth and learning. Each new hire gets 8 hours of role-play based training before speaking with potential customers, with 1.5 hours a month of ongoing role-play training with peers.
Previously, sales managers spent over 50% of their time manually conducting role plays during initial onboarding, taking valuable time away from other revenue generating responsibilities.
Leaders also found it challenging to continually craft different personas, scenarios, and provide objective feedback.
The Solution
USB Payments deployed Yoodli AI sales coach across their entire sales organization, enabling customized AI roleplay practice, on-demand. With Yoodli, USB payments:
Scaled role-play training across a variety of USB customized buyer personas, buying situations, and prospect objections.
Increased self-paced training hours by over 600% per rep (from 18 hours to 120 hours annually)
Saved sales leaders at least 6 hours a week on training, allowing them to focus on revenue generating activities.
“Yoodli has made my time with my reps much more strategic and valuable. I can now work with my team on specific things they’re struggling with, and help them solve those exact problems.” – Sales Leader at USB Payments
Cultural Shift
Now, reps use Yoodli daily to warm-up with custom AI scenarios, personalized by sales leadership with objections they’re hearing from the field. It’s part of daily standup, and the team loves it.
“It’s completely changed the culture. Everyone practices. This is just what we do. And now we’ll be exponentially better next year because of the sheer amount of practice we’re able to get with Yoodli that we couldn’t have before.”
Learners have unlimited access to Yoodli. They can practice their pitches as many times as they like to build confidence. Yoodli’s private, judgment-free platform makes it feel less like an assignment and more like a self-improvement opportunity. Reps love it.
Bill shared: “Last week, a new hire asked me: ‘Am I allowed to do this at night? Can I practice this on my own time as well?! I love this!’”
The Outcome
Yoodli has changed the game for USB payments. In just 30 days after roll out, the team is already seeing:
A 19% increase in meetings booked month over month due to deeper discovery and more relevant questions.
A 20% increase in face-to-face meetings booked (F2F has a close rate of 42% vs. Phone which has a rate of 8%)
Significantly shorter ramp times, with new reps closing deals just weeks after joining USB Payments.
A 20% increase in call length, leading to significantly improved objection handling and deal progression.
