#238 Why Interpreting Remains a Growth Market with Boostlingo CEO Bryan Forrester

SlatorPod

Bryan Forrester, Co-founder and CEO of Boostlingo, returns to SlatorPod for round 2 to talk about the company’s growth, the US interpreting market, and the evolving role of AI.

Bryan shares how the company has tripled in size since he last appeared on the pod, driven by strategic acquisitions, including VoiceBoxer and Interpreter Intelligence, and a rebranding effort to unify its product portfolio.

Bryan explains how Boostlingo balances innovation with practicality, ensuring that new features align with customer needs. He highlights the company’s three-pronged strategy: retaining existing customers, enabling growth, and making long-term bets on emerging trends.

While tools like real-time captions and transcription enhance efficiency, Bryan stresses that AI alone cannot replace human interpreters in complex industries like healthcare. He highlights privacy, compliance, and the nuanced expertise of human interpreters as critical factors, positioning AI as a supportive tool rather than a replacement.

Bryan discusses market dynamics and regulatory changes, including how those under the new US administration could influence language access demand, particularly in areas like healthcare and public services.

He describes Boostlingo’s strategy of leveraging third-party AI models, optimizing them with proprietary data, and rigorously testing to ensure quality and reliability. Looking ahead, Boostlingo plans to expand internationally and integrate AI ethically and effectively into its offerings, guided by its newly formed AI Advisory Board.

Chapters

1. Intro (00:00:00)

2. Boostlingo Overview (00:01:38)

3. Company Milestones (00:04:21)

4. Growth Metrics (00:05:27)

5. Rebranding and Integration of VoiceBoxer (00:06:43)

6. Market Trends and LSP Insights (00:09:33)

7. AI Feature Development Strategy (00:13:27)

8. Leveraging Third-Party Technologies (00:17:27)

9. Deployment of AI in Healthcare (00:20:30)

10. Compliance and Risk Considerations (00:22:52)

11. AI Limitations (00:24:18)

12. Customer Sentiment Towards AI in Interpreting (00:27:52)

13. Healthcare Dynamics and Concerns (00:29:15)

14. Complexity of Human Interpreting (00:30:26)

15. Rebranding to Boostlingo Hub (00:31:49)

16. US Political Climate and Language Access (00:34:49)

17. European Market Dynamics (00:38:18)

18. Plans for 2025 (00:40:59)