🚨OpenAI-backed Speak raises $78M at $1B valuation to help users learn languages by talking out loud
Speak has developed a language learning platform that mimics how native speakers acquire languages, emphasizing listening and speaking over traditional reading and writing methods. The startup recently raised $78 million in a Series C funding round, increasing its valuation to $1 billion. The round was led by Accel, with participation from notable investors like OpenAI, Khosla Ventures, and Y Combinator.
The funding will help expand the number of languages offered, starting with Spanish and French, while continuing to support English learners. Speak's approach focuses on practical communication skills, utilizing AI to generate audio conversations and facilitate user practice without human involvement. The app has been downloaded over 10 million times, with users averaging 10-20 minutes of usage daily, and it operates on a subscription model.
Speak's learning process involves three steps: immersion in listening and speaking, repetitive practice of new phrases, and contextual application of language using AI. The company aims to avoid traditional test preparation, prioritizing real-world communication skills. While it currently lacks integrations with standardized language assessments, plans for a fluency scoring system are in development.
Gamification is not yet part of Speak's strategy, but future updates may include features that encourage engagement without sacrificing educational effectiveness. The successful funding round and strategic investments highlight Speak's potential in the consumer AI and language learning markets.
🚨OpenAI-backed Speak raises $78M at $1B valuation to help users learn languages by talking out loud
Speak has developed a language learning platform that mimics how native speakers acquire languages, emphasizing listening and speaking over traditional reading and writing methods. The startup recently raised $78 million in a Series C funding round, increasing its valuation to $1 billion. The round was led by Accel, with participation from notable investors like OpenAI, Khosla Ventures, and Y Combinator.
The funding will help expand the number of languages offered, starting with Spanish and French, while continuing to support English learners. Speak's approach focuses on practical communication skills, utilizing AI to generate audio conversations and facilitate user practice without human involvement. The app has been downloaded over 10 million times, with users averaging 10-20 minutes of usage daily, and it operates on a subscription model.
Speak's learning process involves three steps: immersion in listening and speaking, repetitive practice of new phrases, and contextual application of language using AI. The company aims to avoid traditional test preparation, prioritizing real-world communication skills. While it currently lacks integrations with standardized language assessments, plans for a fluency scoring system are in development.
Gamification is not yet part of Speak's strategy, but future updates may include features that encourage engagement without sacrificing educational effectiveness. The successful funding round and strategic investments highlight Speak's potential in the consumer AI and language learning markets.
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Bitcoin is built on a distributed digital record called a blockchain. As the name implies, blockchain is a linked body of data, made up of units called blocks that contain information about each and every transaction, including date and time, total value, buyer and seller, and a unique identifying code for each exchange. Entries are strung together in chronological order, creating a digital chain of blocks. “Once a block is added to the blockchain, it becomes accessible to anyone who wishes to view it, acting as a public ledger of cryptocurrency transactions,” says Stacey Harris, consultant for Pelicoin, a network of cryptocurrency ATMs. Blockchain is decentralized, which means it’s not controlled by any one organization. “It’s like a Google Doc that anyone can work on,” says Buchi Okoro, CEO and co-founder of African cryptocurrency exchange Quidax. “Nobody owns it, but anyone who has a link can contribute to it. And as different people update it, your copy also gets updated.”
