Why We Chose the United States? What It Means for the Future of Sign Language Data?

At first glance, it might seem surprising.

spokhand was co-founded by a team of French-speaking entrepreneurs and Deaf leaders. So why build our nonprofit in the United States?

The answer lies beyond the “American dream.” It’s a strategic decision grounded in infrastructure, ecosystem, and impact. We chose the U.S. because it is objectively the most fertile ground on Earth for building the world’s largest sign language database.

The U.S. Is Already Home to the World’s Largest Sign Language Ecosystem

If you had to pick a country where the foundation of a global sign language AI infrastructure could emerge, data would point you to one place: the United States.

Why?

• ASL (American Sign Language) is one of the most widely used and studied sign languages in the world, not just in the U.S., but also in Canada.

• Millions of users: Between Deaf individuals, CODAs, interpreters, students, and allies, ASL serves a linguistic base.

• Institutional support: The U.S. has world-class Deaf education institutions including Gallaudet University and NTID and over 200 universities offering ASL courses.

• Structured Deaf community: From grassroots organizations to tech startups, the Deaf ecosystem is highly visible, active, and organized.

In short: the U.S. already has the most complete infrastructure to begin collecting, structuring, and scaling sign language data ethically.

A Culture of Innovation and Inclusion

The U.S. is also the epicenter of global innovation. It is where:

• The most advanced AI research is taking place (OpenAI, Google DeepMind, Meta, Microsoft, Amazon…)

• The strictest accessibility laws (ADA, Section 508) are being enforced — with thousands of lawsuits each year pushing for digital inclusion

• Public funding actively supports inclusive, ethical, and decentralized AI through agencies like the NSF, NIH, and DARPA

• DEI (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion) is not a buzzword it’s a business imperative. Fortune 500 companies are already experimenting with sign language access in ads, products, and training materials.

spokhand didn’t want to follow the trend, we wanted to fuel it.

By starting in the U.S., we ensure that our database aligns with the legal, technical, and cultural forces shaping the future of accessible technology.

Not Just a Product. A Lasting Infrastructure.

Most tech players today think “product” an app, a feature, a shiny demo.

spokhand thinks “infrastructure.”

We are building a multimodal, community-led, AI-ready database that will:

• Power inclusive Large Language Models (LLMs)

• Enable sign language avatars for education, public spaces, and the metaverse

• Help medical, retail, and HR systems offer real-time sign language access

• Create jobs, standards, and recognition for Deaf communities worldwide

And this must start with the right soil. In the U.S., we found:

• The scale to dream big

• The tools to build fast

• The freedom to stay nonprofit

• And the support of a global Deaf and AI community ready to collaborate

A Global Vision, Starting Here

We are not building spokhand for the U.S. We are building it from the U.S.

Our mission is global. Every country, every sign language, every culture will have its place in this database. But to achieve that, we need a strong foundation, one that can support a hundred-year vision.

This is why spokhand was born in America.

And this is why we’re just getting started.