
SmileML is a Techstars Air Force-backed company specializing in computer vision and machine learning for sentiment analysis. They offer an edge-based emotion recognition model that operates on-device, ensuring data privacy and security. Their core product, Optic, is an AI assistant for video calls that analyzes sentiment and body language to provide feedback and coaching, helping users improve communication effectiveness, stay on track, reduce rambling, and maintain optimal speaking speed. The technology is camera-agnostic, real-time (70 frames per second), lightweight (300kb model), and secure, with processing done on the device itself without storing video or images.

SmileML is a Techstars Air Force-backed company specializing in computer vision and machine learning for sentiment analysis. They offer an edge-based emotion recognition model that operates on-device, ensuring data privacy and security. Their core product, Optic, is an AI assistant for video calls that analyzes sentiment and body language to provide feedback and coaching, helping users improve communication effectiveness, stay on track, reduce rambling, and maintain optimal speaking speed. The technology is camera-agnostic, real-time (70 frames per second), lightweight (300kb model), and secure, with processing done on the device itself without storing video or images.
Founded: 2017
Headquarters: Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Core product: Optic — on-device real-time sentiment and body-language feedback for video calls
Tech: Edge-based emotion recognition; on-device inference (lightweight model)
Notable backers: Techstars Air Force; participation in accelerator programs
Improving communication effectiveness through real-time emotion and sentiment analysis in video/camera environments.
2017
Artificial Intelligence / Computer Vision
Last reported funding event classified as Non-equity Assistance (May 15, 2019).
“Participation in accelerator programs and non-equity support from Techstars Air Force, MassChallenge, and gbeta”