Speak, a world leader in AI-powered language learning, has raised $78 million in Series C funding, achieving a $1 billion valuation. This funding milestone underscores the corporate’s mission to rework language education by prioritizing spoken fluency through modern AI technology. Founded in 2016 by Connor Zwick and Andrew Hsu, Speak has change into a trailblazer within the language learning space, combining advanced AI with expert-designed content to empower learners worldwide.
The corporate’s approach focuses on speaking out loud, recognizing this as essentially the most effective technique to achieve fluency. Speak’s AI-powered virtual tutor, Speak Tutor, delivers personalized lessons tailored to every learner’s pace, goals, and unique style. This approach has helped over 10 million learners in 40+ countries achieve measurable progress in speaking English and other languages.
A Revolutionary Language Learning Experience
Speak’s core philosophy is easy yet powerful: to learn a language effectively, it’s good to speak it out loud. Traditional language learning tools often neglect this significant aspect, leaving learners unable to speak confidently despite years of study. Speak addresses this gap with its proprietary AI-driven curriculum, which adapts dynamically to user needs.
Learners using Speak’s platform practice a whole bunch of sentences weekly, gaining fluency through repetition and real-time feedback. Features equivalent to the AI-powered Live Roleplays enable learners to interact in immersive, life-like conversations, simulating real-world scenarios and providing nuanced corrections on tone, pronunciation, and grammar.
The app’s effectiveness is reflected in its user feedback. One user in Korea shared,
Driving Growth Across Global and Enterprise Markets
Constructing on its success in South Korea, where it’s the #1 English learning app, Speak has expanded its reach to latest markets, including Japan, Taiwan, and Europe. The app’s recent introduction in Mandarin-speaking regions and its launch of Spanish courses reflect the corporate’s ambition to cater to learners globally. Speak’s approach to language education resonates across cultures, making it a preferred alternative for tens of millions.
Recognizing the importance of English fluency within the workplace, Speak introduced “Speak for Business,” an enterprise solution designed to support organizations in enhancing their teams’ communication skills. With over 200 clients and an 85% worker adoption rate, this initiative addresses the universal need for English proficiency across industries.
Technology That Powers Success
Speak’s achievements are rooted in its commitment to leveraging cutting-edge AI and speech recognition technology. The platform’s proprietary learning engine is powered by state-of-the-art large language models (LLMs) and modern speech-to-speech capabilities, enabling dynamic and immersive learning experiences. With the combination of OpenAI’s Realtime API, Speak has set a brand new standard for conversational AI, offering users real-time feedback that rivals human interaction.
This dedication to technological excellence has not gone unnoticed. said Ian Hathaway, partner on the OpenAI Startup Fund.
Backed by Visionary Leadership and Investors
Founded by Harvard and Stanford alumni Connor Zwick and Andrew Hsu, Speak was born from a vision to democratize language learning. Each founders bring extensive experience in education and technology, with previous ventures equivalent to Flashcards+, which was acquired by Chegg. Speak’s ability to draw top-tier talent and investors has fueled its growth. Up to now, the corporate has raised $162 million, with backing from Accel, Khosla Ventures, the OpenAI Startup Fund, and Y Combinator.
The most recent Series C funding round, led by Accel, marks Speak’s second preemptive raise this yr, doubling its valuation in only six months. This capital will support the corporate’s expansion into latest markets, the event of additional languages, and further advancements in its AI learning engine.
The Road Ahead
As Speak continues to innovate, its vision stays steadfast: to construct the world’s most advanced AI language tutor and make spoken fluency accessible to tens of millions. With plans to introduce more languages and further refine its AI capabilities, Speak is poised to redefine language education on a world scale.
said Connor Zwick, CEO of Speak.
