Backed by
and a team of leading U.S. and European investors

How Ello Works

How Ello Works

1
Grab a book from your box and open the Ello App
Grab a book from your box and open the Ello App
2
Your child reads out loud to Ello
Your child reads out loud to Ello
3
Watch Ello coach your child into a confident, capable reader
Watch Ello coach your child into a confident, capable reader

5 Books delivered each month. Your first month is $5.

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The world’s first virtual reading coach that works with real books

Other apps talk, Ello listens

Other reading apps either teach isolated skills such as letter recognition, or they read to your child. That’s not enough. With Ello, your child reads out loud, just like they would with their teachers or literacy specialists.

First-of-its-kind AI technology

Ello uses patent-pending speech recognition and adaptive learning technology to engage with your child while they develop critical reading skills.

Real books, quality screen time

When children make a personal connection with a real book, their natural, joyful curiosity flourishes. Ello elevates the book, instead of distracting your child from it.

How an Ello Subscription Works

5 books, delivered monthly

Books are expertly matched to your child's reading level and interests.

Your child reads to Ello

Ello listens to your child read out loud and coaches them just like a great teacher would.

Return or keep your books

Return your books via free, prepaid shipping at the end of the month or pay extra to keep them.

Choose your reward

Every month, your child can select a prize with the points they earn reading.

5 Books delivered each month. Your first month is $5.

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Reading is the gateway to learning

Statistics every parent should know

Children are 2x more likely to drop out of high school if they are not a proficient reader by the end of 3rd grade.

Children are 4x more likely to remain a poor reader through 4th grade if they are behind in 1st grade.

Children are exposed to 78k more words each year when they read at least 1 book each day.

Reading skills have stalled during the pandemic. Reading fluency in the U.S. is roughly 30 percent behind what would be expected in a typical year.

No more guesswork - perfect books, delivered

‘Just right’ books are hard to find. Each month, our reading experts hand-select 5 delightful books your child will love, at just the right level to help them grow. Check out some books that are in our collection below.

Predictable text
Caldecott Medal
Beloved Authors
Books with rhythm and rhyme
Theodore Seuss Geisel Award
Beloved Characters
Beloved Authors
Predictable text
Books with rhythm and rhyme
Caldecott Medal
Theodore Seuss Geisel Award
Beloved Characters

Wondering which books are the best fit for your child’s level and interests?

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Your child’s personal reading tutor

If your child gets stuck or misreads a word, Ello uses proven strategies to help them decode and develop fluency. Ello keeps them motivated – not frustrated.

Ready to hear ‘I want to read more!’ from your kids?

With fun characters and Ello by their side, your child will develop a passion for reading. As they read, they’ll earn real rewards that will be delivered in the next month’s box.
Free Shipping | 30-day Money Back Guarantee

5 Books delivered each month. Your first month is $5.

Free Shipping | 30-day Money Back Guarantee

Who We Are

We’re a tight-knit team with deep experience in K-12 education, childhood development, and technology, who came together to support parents in creating the best learning environment for their child.
Co-Founder, CEO
Tom Sayer
Co-Founder, CXO
Dr. Elizabeth Adams
Co-Founder, CTO
Catalin Voss
Advisor
Terry Winograd
Advisor
Michael Auli
Advisor
Nick Haber
Advisor
Timothy Shanahan
Software Engineer
Anish Nag
Load more
Senior Curriculum Specialist
Lauren Sittel
Lead Engineer, Backend & Ops
James Mwangi
Software Engineer
Victoria Akeyo
Head of Product
Andrew Li
Head of People & Partnerships
Jackie Neumann
Software Engineer
Alena Adushkina
QA Manager
Eli Ongaro
Lead Graphic Designer
Sergii Hohlov
Customer Support Specialist
Andrew Chun
Chief of Staff
Zac Elder
Senior Fullstack Engineer
Brian Muthomi
Lead Engineer, Unity
Marllon Villano
Software Engineer, Unity
Phillipe Augusto
Customer Success Representative
Sarah Tenney
Warehouse Team Leader
Derlene Sosa
Executive Assistant
Anna Rizza Laganse
Senior Machine Learning Engineer
Joe Lou
Chief Speech Scientist
Henry Zhou
Operations Associate
Anthony DiPisa
Customer Support Specialist
Jeremi Short
Head of Operations
Apeksha Kothari
Senior Product Manager
Dina Koldeibekova
Curriculum Specialist
Megan Girdler
Curriculum Specialist
Stephanie Darling
Curriculum Specialist
Molly Richards
Technical Program Manager
Andrew Wooler
Business Operations Manager
Aashil Desai
Executive Assistant
Violet Trachtenberg
Head of Engineering
Shivangi Chaudhari
Head of Growth Marketing
Wes Fossile
Executive Assistant
Tali Victory
Growth Marketing Manager
Caroline Levine
Growth Hacker
Stanley Virgint
Senior Software Engineer, Platform
Eutychus Towett
Machine Learning Intern
Sarah Shader
Platform Engineer Intern
Mariagoretti Kimani
Curriculum Specialist
Sarah Nguyen
Staff Unity Engineer
Tamir Husain
People Operations Admin
Twinx Clutario

Who We Are

We’re a tight-knit team with deep experience in K-12 education, childhood development, and technology, who came together to support parents in creating the best learning environment for their child.
Co-Founder, CEO
Tom Sayer
Co-Founder, CXO
Dr. Elizabeth Adams
Co-Founder, CTO
Catalin Voss
Advisor
Terry Winograd
Advisor
Michael Auli
Advisor
Nick Haber
Advisor
Timothy Shanahan
Software Engineer
Anish Nag
Senior Curriculum Specialist
Lauren Sittel
Lead Engineer, Backend & Ops
James Mwangi
Software Engineer
Victoria Akeyo
Head of Product
Andrew Li
Head of People & Partnerships
Jackie Neumann
Software Engineer
Alena Adushkina
QA Manager
Eli Ongaro
Lead Graphic Designer
Sergii Hohlov
Customer Support Specialist
Andrew Chun
Chief of Staff
Zac Elder
Senior Fullstack Engineer
Brian Muthomi
Lead Engineer, Unity
Marllon Villano
Software Engineer, Unity
Phillipe Augusto
Customer Success Representative
Sarah Tenney
Warehouse Team Leader
Derlene Sosa
Executive Assistant
Anna Rizza Laganse
Senior Machine Learning Engineer
Joe Lou
Chief Speech Scientist
Henry Zhou
Operations Associate
Anthony DiPisa
Customer Support Specialist
Jeremi Short
Head of Operations
Apeksha Kothari
Senior Product Manager
Dina Koldeibekova
Curriculum Specialist
Megan Girdler
Curriculum Specialist
Stephanie Darling
Curriculum Specialist
Molly Richards
Technical Program Manager
Andrew Wooler
Business Operations Manager
Aashil Desai
Executive Assistant
Violet Trachtenberg

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Ello work?

Ello revolutionizes the way children learn to read by combining real books with state-of-the-art speech recognition technology and Artificial Intelligence. Ello listens to your child reading out loud, uses evidence-based strategies to help your child when they get stuck, and behavioral psychology to motivate them to keep going.

What types of books do you send?

Ones that your child will love! 

Every box of books has to meet three criteria: 

  1. Highly engaging
  2. Just the right level for your child’s reading ability
  3. Matched to their interests

We believe that fantastic books create enthusiastic readers and we work with reading specialists to source classic beloved books and new undiscovered gems. The best part is that we take the guesswork out of finding books that are "just right" for your child – ones that are not too easy and not too hard.

What’s included in my membership?

As an Ello subscriber, you will have unlimited access to the Ello app and a monthly box of five real books that work with it.

If you choose our “Return the Books'' subscription option, you use the books for the month and return any you do not wish to keep with the included prepaid shipping label. You can still choose to keep any of the books from that month that your child loves, but you will be charged $5 for each book you keep.

If you choose our “Keep the Books” subscription option, then you will pay a slightly higher monthly price and you do not have to return the books every month—they are yours to keep forever.

For both options, new books are sent each month, challenging your child, sparking a love of reading, and rewarding them with real prizes sent in next month's box if they achieve certain reading goals in the app.

What age range is Ello designed for?

Generally 4–8 years of age, but it depends on the child. 

At the younger end, if they can read the sentence “I am a cat” then Ello will work for them. 

At the older end, Ello works well through the end of 2nd grade for a child reading at grade level, and longer if they are behind.

Can I get more than 5 books a month?

Right now, we offer only 5 books per month. But you can email us at support@helloello.com to let us know you'd like more.

How do I cancel?

Each month, at the end of the month, we text you to check how it's going. Tell us then! Or you can email us at support@helloello.com at any time.

Can I order a gift subscription?

Absolutely. Email support@helloello.com and we’ll get you all set up!

When does the box ship?

The box will ship within 4 days of you signing up.

Do you have a donation program?

Yes! We love to share the love of reading. If you would like to donate your books, simply email support@helloello.com and let us know. Send your books back as normal and we will take care of the rest, ensuring that books end up in the homes of children who need them most.

Other questions?
Email support@helloello.com or text (415) 214 8119
How does the Ello app work?

Ello helps early readers break down learning barriers by combining artificial intelligence and speech recognition technology to make Ello come to life. Ello is a revolutionary state-of-the-art interactive reading buddy who listens to your child read out loud. Ello provides support when your child needs help reading, gentle corrections when they make errors, and motivation to keep your child engaged. Appropriately leveled books will be automatically loaded into the app for you!

How does my child use Ello?

Your child will simply log into the app and choose a book to start reading. If they need help with a word, they can tap on the word for help from Ello.

How does Ello keep my child engaged?

As your child reads, Ello brings the story to life, provides words of encouragement, and helps them if they get stuck so they don't get frustrated.

We use behavioral psychology and a growth mindset paradigm to keep your child encouraged, help their confidence soar, and build a love of reading. 

Ello offers a reward system as well. In this system, children collect stars and badges, leading up to a completion prize that is either delivered digitally, included in the next box, or both!

My child is reading the words wrong but Ello isn’t correcting them. What’s going on?

Since children can get easily discouraged, Ello leans on the lenient side. We recommend sitting with your child when they read and helping with some of these corrections yourself. 

Is Ello good for kids with dyslexia?

Ello’s instructional method was developed by reading specialists with backgrounds in dyslexia intervention and uses direct, explicit, and sequential phonics instruction. This is exactly what research shows works for helping children with dyslexia learn how to read. Ello is not a comprehensive curriculum or intervention model for dyslexia, it’s a great supplement and we have numerous children with dyslexia using Ello with great success.

What literacy strategies do you use to support my child?

Ello uses proven, phonics-based reading strategies to help your child decode words and develop fluency. 

What device is required for Ello?

The Ello app works on iPads running iOS 16 and newer. For a complete list, click here. Please note that Ello does not currently work on laptops or desktop computers or phones.

Other questions?
Email support@helloello.com or text (415) 214 8119
How do you determine my child's reading level?

We make it easy! We’ll take you through a short series of questions in our onboarding process. 

We will automatically update the books over the course of your subscription, so Ello grows along with your child.

What types of books do you send?

Ones that your child will love! 

Every box of books has to meet three criteria: 

  1. Highly engaging
  2. Just the right level for your child’s reading ability
  3. Matched to their interests

We believe that fantastic books create enthusiastic readers and we work with reading specialists to source classic beloved books and new undiscovered gems. The best part is that we take the guesswork out of finding books that are "just right" for your child – ones that are not too easy and not too hard.

What comes in my monthly Ello box?

Every box comes with 5 books, perfectly selected to match your child's reading level and interests. After your first month, your child will also receive a physical reward, such a special book or craft kit, for their hard work and reading from the previous month. 

What does it mean that a book is ‘just right’ or ‘levelled’ for my child?

It means that it is challenging enough so that they develop their reading skills, but not so challenging that they get frustrated.

In school, your child's teacher does this. We bring this into your home by determining your child's level, leveling popular books, and sending them to you. By answering a few short questions, we can help determine your child’s appropriate developmental reading level.


Can I keep the books?

Absolutely! We know that building a library of high-interest books is one of the best ways to instill a love of reading. With Ello, you are in control of which books you keep.

We offer two ways to keep the books:

  1. If you choose our “Keep the Books” subscription option, you will pay a slightly higher monthly price and get to keep all five books.
  2. If you choose our “Return the Books” option, you will pay a lower monthly price and will receive a free return shipping label to send the books back to us; however, if you change your mind later in the month, you can still choose to keep as many of these books as you want for an additional $5 per book.
How do I return the books?

If you choose the “Return the Books” option, you will receive a prepaid, pre-addressed label in your Ello box. At the end of the month, put the books that you want to return back inside the same box they arrived in, and leave it for USPS to pick up or drop it off at a post office. You can return your books up to 4 weeks after receiving them.

If you choose the “Keep the Books” option but are not satisfied with your first month and would like a refund, you can email support@helloello.com and request a return shipping label to be sent to you digitally so that you can package and return the books. You will not receive a refund unless you return the books.

Can I return some of the books and keep some of the books?

Yes, but only with the “Return the Books” subscription option. You can pick which books you want to keep and which books you want to return. Simply put the books you want to return in the Ello box, add the prepaid label, and give it to USPS. We’ll assume you want to purchase any you don’t send back!

What happens if I lose or damage a book I wanted to return?

If you lose or significantly damage a book, you will be charged the cost of the book.

Why not just buy books from Amazon?

Because our books work with the Ello app, they’re leveled just right for your child, and they’re cheaper than you’ll find online!

Other questions?
Email support@helloello.com or text (415) 214 8119
What data do you collect?

If you choose to allow it, we process the audio of your child reading so that Ello can provide real-time support and motivation, and so your child can access certain features of the app, such as listening to themselves read. Separately, you can opt-in to give us access to this data so that we can improve Ello.

We also collect data of your child's progress to provide the service (for example the rewards).

Finally, we collect anonymous and aggregated usage data. See our privacy policy for full details.

What do you do with the data you collect?

It is up to you on what data we collect - it is optional. You will be asked if you would like to opt-in to data collection after downloading the app.

All data is anonymous and aggregated and used to improve the product.

How secure is the data you collect?

It's very secure. We use industry-leading encryption and security.

Other questions?
Email support@helloello.com or text (415) 214 8119
Can I keep the books?

Absolutely! We know that building a library of high-interest books is one of the best ways to instill a love of reading. With Ello, you are in control of which books you keep.

We offer two ways to keep the books:

  1. If you choose our “Keep the Books” subscription option, you will pay a slightly higher monthly price and get to keep all five books.
  2. If you choose our “Return the Books” option, you will pay a lower monthly price and will receive a free return shipping label to send the books back to us; however, if you change your mind later in the month, you can still choose to keep as many of these books as you want for an additional $5 per book.
How do I return the books?

If you choose the “Return the Books” option, you will receive a prepaid, pre-addressed label in your Ello box. At the end of the month, put the books that you want to return back inside the same box they arrived in, and leave it for USPS to pick up or drop it off at a post office. You can return your books up to 4 weeks after receiving them.

If you choose the “Keep the Books” option but are not satisfied with your first month and would like a refund, you can email support@helloello.com and request a return shipping label to be sent to you digitally so that you can package and return the books. You will not receive a refund unless you return the books.

Can I return some of the books and keep some of the books?

Yes, but only with the “Return the Books” subscription option. You can pick which books you want to keep and which books you want to return. Simply put the books you want to return in the Ello box, add the prepaid label, and give it to USPS. We’ll assume you want to purchase any you don’t send back!

What happens if I lose or damage a book I wanted to return?

If you lose or significantly damage a book, you will be charged the cost of the book.

If I missed the 4-week return deadline, can I still return my books?

Unfortunately not. After 4 weeks with the books, you will be charged for any unreturned books. If you know in advance you will miss the deadline please email support@helloello.com and we’ll see what we can do!

Other questions?
Email support@helloello.com or text (415) 214 8119