Tenvos AI’s voice-based screening is leading the way in setting the new safety standard
The system integrates into clock-in/clock-out procedures, using voice recognition to analyze subtle variations in speech that may signal impairment.
The level of talent in this year’s Sustainable Mobility Accelerator is nothing short of remarkable, and Rima Seiilova-Olson is a prime example.
As the Founder and CEO of Tenvos AI, Seiilova-Olson is bringing to market voice recognition technology to address a critical challenge in high-risk workplaces: identifying impairment caused by fatigue, sleep deprivation, or substance use in real time.
This is not her first time working in the startup scene. In 2022, her first startup Kintsugi, which has created a technology to screen for signs of depression and anxiety using short samples of speech, was named Forbes AI 50 in North America.
A problem that needs addressing
As marijuana legalization continues to expand across the U.S., workplaces with heavy machinery or hazardous tasks are grappling with how to ensure workers are truly fit for duty.
“Drug tests are often not good indicators of current-moment intoxication because the drugs stay in the system for a few weeks after consumption,” Seiilova-Olson explained. “Someone may show up completely sober to work, but still have traces of cannabis in their system due to THC’s fat solubility. We need a more real-time indicator.”
That’s where Tenvos AI comes in. The system integrates into clock-in/clock-out procedures, using voice characteristics to analyze subtle variations in speech that may signal impairment. Employees read a designated sentence into a microphone each day, allowing AI to track changes over time and flag potential issues before accidents occur.
Tenvos AI builds on decades of research
Seiilova-Olson, whose background is in software engineering with a focus on voice recognition, and her team have translated years of academic research into a practical, scalable solution.
“When we speak, we have over 100 muscles that are moving in a rapid and precise manner,” she said. “The way I contract my muscles, the strength of that contraction, and the timing of that contraction are all trackable.”
In other words, speech is a very fine motor skill and a highly sensitive biometric. Any level of exhaustion or intoxication can subtly change the way we speak, and Tenvos AI is trained to detect those changes.
The technology has already attracted significant early support. The company received SBIR grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Science Foundation (NSF),
Lessons from the first few pilots
Tenvos AI carried out pilots at two locations, including a manufacturing site where employees often work grueling shifts. In this environment, even minor impairment can have serious consequences.
Tenvos AI installed an iPad and a microphone by the entrance, allowing workers to complete a quick voice check-in at the start of each shift.
Like any pilot, the team encountered challenges – one of the biggest being background noise.
“We seriously underestimated the challenges of background noise,” Seiilova-Olson said. “We had to install a directional microphone to ensure quality audio samples.”
The pilot also caught the attention of the National Safety Council, which is now developing a case study on Tenvos AI’s results. “We’re excited to see the results of the study with the National Safety Council,” she said. “They’re interviewing the participants, and hopefully we can share the case studies soon.”
From California to Chattanooga
Tenvos AI is one of five high-growth startups in the 2025 cohort of the Sustainable Mobility Accelerator, a program hosted by The Company Lab (CO.LAB) and gener8tor. The 12-week program, which includes six weeks in person in Chattanooga, has already proved to be fertile ground for growth.
Being from California, Seiilova-Olson wasn’t sure what to expect spending six weeks in East Tennessee. However, she shared that she was positively surprised by the whole experience.
“Everyone was willing to help. Everyone was happy to help,” she said. “Everyone opened up their networks, opened up their calendars for any follow-up calls, and follow-up meetings in person. People who live in Chattanooga are so proud to live there.”
The city’s reputation as a central logistics hub in the Southeast made it an ideal location for Seiilova-Olson to connect with industry leaders, explore potential markets, and refine her company’s direction.
The program also helped her identify new potential verticals for the technology, from forklift drivers and truckers to mining sites and processing plants.
“We’re such a horizontal solution that can be used in various industries. The program helped me realize that,” she said.
But one thing is clear: Chattanooga made an impression.
The Sustainable Mobility Accelerator still has a few weeks left for the virtual portion of the program.
To learn more about Tenvos AI, visit the website.
Connect with Rima Seiilova-Olson.
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