Taaly

The digital integration assistant for newcomers: from the first Dutch sentence to a first job.

Newcomers can pass a language exam and still be unable to speak. Taaly gives adult newcomers daily speaking practice with an AI coach, real conversations with 4,200 volunteer coaches, local activities and a path to work, all in one app. Municipalities fund it and see participation in real time. 30,000+ learners in 18 Dutch municipalities; 79% report better Dutch speaking skills.

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Overview

Information on this page is provided by the innovator and has not been evaluated by HundrED.

Updated October 2026

Web presence

2023

Established

10.3K 2025

30K 2026

1

Countries

Other

Target group

We want adult language education for newcomers to move from the classroom and the exam to real life. Learning a language should mean being able to speak with a doctor, a neighbour or an employer, not only passing a test. We hope to see three changes. First, every newcomer gets daily speaking practice and a human connection from their first week, combining AI that is available around the clock with volunteers from their new community. Second, language learning, participation and work are connected in one journey, so progress in one reinforces the next and the time from arrival to a first job becomes much shorter. Third, governments steer integration on real outcomes instead of paperwork, with evidence-based methods developed together with NT2 teachers. Our long-term dream is that every municipality in Europe has an operating system for integration, and that newcomers are seen as talent our societies need rather than as a cost.

About the innovation

Why did you create this innovation?

Newcomers can pass the language exam and still not be able to speak. Classes build essential skills, but most adult newcomers get too little real-life practice: 75% say they lack enough speaking practice. Without it, language stays a barrier to work and belonging. Newcomers with basic or no language skills are far more likely to be unable to find work within two years (72% versus 23% of proficient speakers) and to feel socially isolated (75% versus 7%). Both Taaly founders arrived in the Netherlands as newcomers themselves. We created Taaly so that every newcomer gets daily speaking practice, a real human connection and a clear path to work, and so that municipalities, which are legally responsible for integration since the Dutch Civic Integration Act of 2021, can see what is working.

What does your innovation look like in practice?

Taaly is one app for the whole integration journey. A newcomer practises speaking Dutch every day with an AI coach that adapts to their level, in situations like the cafe, the doctor or a job interview. They are matched with a volunteer coach for video conversations and can join weekly live lessons with certified teachers. Through Taaly Meedoen they discover volunteering, community events, workshops and trainings in their own municipality; a QR check-in registers their participation hours automatically. Through Taaly Jobs, a multilingual AI agent builds their profile and CV, explains the steps into a profession and connects them with employers who need their talent. Volunteer coaches earn Karma Coins they can exchange for gift cards or donate. Newcomers use Taaly for free; municipalities fund it and see participation in real time instead of through reports afterwards.

How has it been spreading?

Taaly started in Amsterdam in 2023 with 500 users. Today it has 30,000+ language learners and 4,200 volunteer coaches (3,500+ active), up from 10,300 learners and about 500 active coaches in mid-2025. 18 municipalities have a contract, including The Hague, Regio Rivierenland and six municipalities in Drenthe that joined in one regional contract, plus 13 organisations such as UAF. Newcomers can also join for free through COA, the national asylum reception agency. Volunteers are recruited through employers and volunteer centres, often as part of employers' social return. 14,000+ non-Dutch users joined organically and the app works in 12 languages. In an impact survey validated with the OpenEmbassy Integratie Impact Framework, 79% of learners reported improved Dutch speaking skills and 40% of those found work.

How have you modified or added to your innovation?

We rebuilt Taaly in 2024 with an AI coach and video calls. In 2025 we added 12 interface languages and an hour-registration module for municipalities, now live in 12 municipalities, which cut administration by 80% in the first pilot. In 2026 we launched Taaly Meedoen (local activities) and Taaly Jobs, our work module, so Taaly now covers language, participation and work.

If I want to try it, what should I do?

Newcomers in the Netherlands can download the free Taaly app for Android or iPhone via https://www.taaly.ai, or join through their municipality, COA or a partner organisation. Dutch speakers can sign up in the app as a volunteer coach. Municipalities and organisations that want to offer Taaly can contact us at info@taaly.nl.

Implementation steps

The municipality or organisation joins Taaly

A municipality, region or partner organisation signs up with Taaly and gets its own dashboard. Many start with hour registration, which helps them meet their legal duty to register participation hours, and then offer the full app to every newcomer. Neighbouring municipalities can join together in one regional contract.

Newcomers download the app and start practising

Newcomers receive a free licence from their municipality or organisation, or sign up via COA, and download Taaly on Android or iPhone. They practise speaking Dutch every day with the AI coach at their own level, in everyday situations such as the cafe, the doctor or a job interview.

Meet a volunteer coach and join local activities

Taaly matches each newcomer with a volunteer coach for video conversations, and they can join weekly live lessons with certified teachers. In Taaly Meedoen they find volunteering, events, workshops and trainings in their own municipality and check in with a QR code, so their participation hours are registered automatically.

Move towards work and track progress

With Taaly Jobs, a multilingual AI agent on WhatsApp builds the newcomer's profile and CV, explains the steps into their chosen profession and connects them with employers. Municipalities follow participation and progress in real time in their dashboard instead of waiting for reports afterwards.