Noala’s Pioneering Speech and Language Therapy Platform Acquired by Martin McKay, Founder of Everway

July 15, 2025 — Martin McKay, founder and Executive Chairman of Everway, today announced the personal acquisition of the intellectual property of Noala, a pioneering digital platform created to empower speech and language professionals through innovative online therapy solutions.

While acquired in a personal capacity, McKay intends to transfer the assets to Everway in the coming year. The acquisition aligns with Everway’s mission to deliver social impact through neuroinclusive technology and reflects a commitment to further developing Noala’s legacy within Everway’s ecosystem.

Founded in July 2021 by Emilie Spire, Noala was built to address the critical global shortage of Speech & Language Therapists (SLTs) and the increasing demand for support in communication disorders. At its core, Noala introduced a new, scalable model for therapy delivery, centered on the Parent-Child Interaction (PCI) methodology, enabling therapists to extend their impact through indirect and digitally facilitated care.

Under Emilie’s leadership, a team of 15 across clinical, product, technology, and operations came together to conceptualize, develop, and launch a platform that reached hundreds of SLTs and supported thousands of families. They also drafted a research paper proving the efficacy of Noala programs, published on the Noala blog. The company raised a $4 million seed round led by LocalGlobe, one of Europe’s top seed venture capital firms.

Despite its success in building a meaningful product and community, Noala made the difficult decision to cease operations in September 2023 due to challenges in commercial sustainability. However, the company’s story did not end there.

Martin McKay, founder and CEO of Texthelp and now Executive Chairman of Everway, first connected with Emilie in July 2023 while exploring a potential distribution partnership. From that point, a mutual respect and alignment in mission grew between the two leaders. Over the following months, a strong relationship of trust was built, leading to Everway’s acquisition of Noala’s IP in July 2025.

“We deeply respect the work that went into building the platform and fully share the belief in its potential to deliver social good—particularly in the area of speech therapy, where accessible and effective tools can have a life-changing impact,” Martin said. “Our intention is to ensure the technology continues to benefit those who need it most.”

As part of the agreement, SenCo, a charity that has continued to use Noala’s platform since its closure, will retain free access. This commitment ensures continuity of care for the families and communities already benefiting from the technology.

Commenting on the acquisition, Emilie shared: “I’m genuinely happy that Noala found a great home, ensuring that this asset will continue to live and support people who need it. The team poured their heart into building something meaningful, and it’s an honour to see that work respected and carried forward. I look forward to witnessing the platform’s future applications and ensuring its original mission—to make speech and language therapy more accessible—remains at the heart of its next chapter.”