Duolingo is mostly owned and controlled by its co-founders and top executives Luis von Ahn, and Severin Hacker, who have a majority stake in the company which also gives them wide control of it. Other top institutional investors comprise CapitalG, Durable, Baillie Gifford & Co, Vanguard, and Blackrock.
Detail
Description
Company
Duolingo, Inc.
Ownership Structure
Publicly traded company with major shareholders
Major Shareholders
Institutional investors like Vanguard Group, Durable Capital Partners LP, Baillie Gifford & Co., and individual shareholders
Founding Date
November 30, 2011
Founders
Luis von Ahn and Severin Hacker
Headquarters
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
Primary Business
Providing a language-learning platform and mobile app offering courses in over 40 languages
Strategic Goals
Expanding global reach, enhancing app features through AI and machine learning, growing user engagement, and broadening educational offerings
Corporate Structure and Ownership: Duolingo, Inc. is a publicly traded company on the NASDAQ under the ticker symbol DUOL. It became publicly traded in July 2021. The company has major institutional shareholders such as Vanguard Group, Durable Capital Partners LP, and Baillie Gifford & Co., among others, which provide significant financial backing and strategic input.
Corporate Strategy and Business Model: Duolingo operates on a freemiummodel, offering free language courses with optional paid subscriptions (Duolingo Plus) for an ad-free experience and additional features. This approach aligns with its mission to make language education accessible and enjoyable for everyone.
Product Innovation and User Engagement: Duolingo invests in artificial intelligence and machine learning to personalize the learning experience, optimize course content, and provide real-time feedback. The app regularly updates with new languages and interactive features, such as gamified learning paths and stories, to keep users engaged.
Global Reach and Market Positioning: Duolingo is one of the most popular language-learning platforms worldwide, with a strong presence in North America, Europe, Asia, and Latin America. Its user-friendly interface and diverse language offerings make it appealing to a broad audience, including students, professionals, and casual learners.
Educational Expansion: In addition to language courses, Duolingo has expanded into literacy and math education, introducing products like Duolingo ABC for young readers and Duolingo Math. This expansion reflects the company’s goal to become a comprehensive educational platform.
Community and Inclusivity: Duolingo emphasizes inclusivity and community engagement by supporting minority languages, offering culturally relevant content, and fostering a global community of learners and contributors. This commitment aligns with its broader mission of breaking down language barriers and promoting cross-cultural understanding.
Duolingo is mostly owned and controlled by its co-founders and top executives Luis von Ahn, and Severin Hacker, who have a majority stake in the company which also gives them wide control of it. Other top institutional investors comprise CapitalG, Durable, Baillie Gifford & Co, Vanguard, and Blackrock.
Duolingo was profitable in 2023, as it reported a net income of $16.07 million in 2023, compared to a net loss of $59.57 million in 2022 and $60.13 million net loss in 2021.
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ian game-based learning platform founded in 2012 by Johan Brand, Jamie Brooker, and Morten Versvik. It is based on a university-developed interactive learning game called Lecture Quiz.
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Gennaro is the creator of FourWeekMBA, which reached about four million business people, comprising C-level executives, investors, analysts, product managers, and aspiring digital entrepreneurs in 2022 alone | He is also Director of Sales for a high-tech scaleup in the AI Industry | In 2012, Gennaro earned an International MBA with emphasis on Corporate Finance and Business Strategy.
