Speak, a language learning app founded by Connor Zwick, uses AI-powered voice technology to provide interactive, conversation-focused language practice, differentiating itself from competitors like Duolingo by emphasizing speaking fluency and pronunciation. With over 15 million downloads, $100 million in annualized revenue, and a $1 billion valuation, Speak is expanding internationally and into the enterprise market while raising significant venture capital funding.
In 2018, Connor Zwick, founder of the language learning app Speak, discovered a massive demand for English language education in Seoul, South Korea. Unlike Silicon Valley, where his company was based, Seoul was filled with classrooms and advertisements for English learning, but the methods were outdated and ineffective. Students often relied on textbooks and pre-recorded videos, with instructors who lacked fluency, focusing heavily on grammar and vocabulary rather than speaking practice. Zwick saw an opportunity to create an AI-powered language tutor that could provide a judgment-free environment for learners to practice speaking and make mistakes without fear.
Speak’s AI tutor uses voice-based technology, primarily built on OpenAI’s models, to simulate real-world conversations such as ordering drinks, asking for directions, or making small talk. Users can also create custom scenarios to practice specific situations. The app encourages users to speak out loud and practice pronunciation, helping build conversational fluency. To maintain user engagement, Speak incorporates features like leaderboards and streaks that track daily usage. Beyond English, Speak offers lessons in five other languages: Korean, Spanish, Japanese, French, and Italian, attracting around 15 million downloads.
The startup has achieved significant financial success, recently surpassing $100 million in annualized revenue and reaching a valuation of $1 billion. While the app is free to start, users pay between $80 and $200 for premium content. Speak has also expanded into the enterprise market, with about 500 companies, including KPMG and HD Hyundai, offering Speak subscriptions to their employees, primarily in South Korea. The company has also begun expanding internationally, targeting markets like Japan, Taiwan, and the United States.
Despite this progress, Speak faces stiff competition from Duolingo, the dominant player in the language learning space. Duolingo generated $724 million in revenue last year and expects to exceed $1 billion this year. Duolingo also integrates AI, offering casual language learning video calls with an AI character named Lily. However, Zwick believes Speak differentiates itself by focusing on conversational fluency and pronunciation rather than just grammar and vocabulary, claiming that users speak five to ten times more on Speak than on other apps.
Speak has attracted significant investment, raising around $160 million from venture capital firms such as Coastal Ventures, Excel, and the OpenAI Startup Fund. With its innovative approach to language learning and growing enterprise partnerships, Speak aims to carve out a unique position in the competitive market, offering a more interactive and speaking-focused alternative to traditional language learning apps. For more detailed coverage, readers can refer to Rashi Shrivastava’s article on Forbes.com.