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Duolingo, Inc. is a leading mobile learning platform primarily focused on language education. The company offers a popular language-learning app that provides courses in over 40 languages, making it the top-grossing education app in app stores. Duolingo operates on a freemium model, offering free access to its app with premium features available through subscriptions.
- Time-Based Subscriptions - Offers monthly, six-month, or year-long subscriptions with options for single or family plans, providing premium features such as an ad-free experience and additional learning tools.
- In-App Advertising - Generates revenue from third-party advertisements placed within the app, monetizing free users.
- Duolingo English Test (DET) - Provides an English proficiency test, generating revenue from test fees.
- In-App Purchases - Allows users to purchase consumable virtual goods within the app to enhance their learning experience.
| Name | Position | External Roles | Short Bio | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Luis von Ahn ExecutiveBoard | CEO, Co-Founder, Chairman | None | Co-founded Duolingo in August 2011, leading its growth into a leading language-learning platform. Holds a Ph.D. in Computer Science from Carnegie Mellon University. | View Report → |
Severin Hacker ExecutiveBoard | CTO, Co-Founder | None | Co-founded Duolingo in August 2011, instrumental in technology and product development. Holds a Ph.D. in Computer Science from Carnegie Mellon University. | |
Matthew Skaruppa Executive | CFO | None | Joined Duolingo as CFO in February 2020. Previously worked at Goldman Sachs and KKR Capstone. Holds an MBA from Stanford. | |
Natalie Glance Executive | Chief Engineering Officer | None | Joined Duolingo in March 2015, promoted to Chief Engineering Officer in November 2022. Holds a Ph.D. in Physics from Stanford University. | |
Robert Meese Executive | Chief Business Officer | None | Joined Duolingo in September 2016, promoted to Chief Business Officer in March 2021. Previously worked at Google. | |
Stephen Chen Executive | General Counsel | None | Joined Duolingo as General Counsel in March 2020. Previously worked at Proofpoint, Inc. and Yahoo!. | |
Amy Bohutinsky Board | Director | Board Member at Zillow Group, Venture Partner at TCV | Joined Duolingo's Board in June 2020. Extensive experience in marketing and leadership at technology companies. | |
Bing Gordon Board | Director | Partner at Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, Board Member at Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc., Special Advisor to Amazon | Joined Duolingo's Board in February 2020. Extensive experience in corporate governance and strategic planning. | |
Bonnie Ross Board | Director | Dean’s Leadership Council at Colorado State University | Joined Duolingo's Board in December 2024. Extensive experience in the gaming industry, previously led the Halo franchise at Microsoft. | |
Gillian Munson Board | Director | CFO of Vimeo, Board Member at Phreesia, Inc. | Joined Duolingo's Board in September 2019. Extensive experience in financial leadership roles, including at Vimeo and Zillow Group. | |
Jim Shelton Board | Director | Chief Investment and Impact Officer at Blue Meridian Partners, Partner at Amandla Enterprises | Joined Duolingo's Board in October 2020. Extensive experience in education and impact investment. | |
John Lilly Board | Director | Venture Partner at Greylock Partners | Joined Duolingo's Board in December 2021. Extensive experience in sales, marketing, and business development. | |
Sara Clemens Board | Director | Senior Advisor to Blackstone Growth, Board Member at Khosla Ventures Acquisition Co. III, Board Member at Karat | Joined Duolingo's Board in June 2020. Extensive international business experience and senior leadership roles at technology companies. |
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With U.S. market growth being only roughly average compared to other countries, are you concerned about potential saturation in your most mature market, and what specific strategies are you implementing to drive further growth in the U.S.?
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Given that Max adoption has not yet materially impacted ARPU and its scale remains uncertain, how confident are you that Max will drive sustainable ARPU growth going forward, and what are the key factors that will influence this?
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As you expand into international markets by adding marketing managers in countries like France, Korea, Italy, and Turkey, how do you plan to address the challenges of localization to replicate the success you've seen in Japan, and what metrics will you use to measure success in these new markets? ,
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With retention rates for Max subscribers not yet stable and the possibility that they may differ from Super subscribers, what strategies are you implementing to ensure high retention across all subscription tiers, and how might varying retention rates impact your long-term revenue projections?
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Considering that your marketing strategy relies heavily on organic social media and you've mentioned minimal impact from performance marketing, how will you adapt if organic growth slows or if social media platforms change their algorithms, and are there plans to increase paid marketing to sustain user acquisition?
| Customer | Relationship | Segment | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
Apple | Payment processing & distribution partner | All | Processed 60.8% (~$454.8 million) of 2024 total revenue |
Payment processing & distribution partner | All | Processed 23.4% (~$174.4 million) of 2024 total revenue | |
Stripe | Payment processing partner | All | Processed 11.7% (~$87.4 million) of 2024 total revenue |
Notable M&A activity and strategic investments in the past 3 years.
| Company | Year | Details |
|---|---|---|
Undisclosed Company 1 | 2024 | Completed in July 2024, this acquisition had a total consideration of $7.5 million—comprising cash, contingent payments, and a holdback tied to post-acquisition conditions—and was aimed at adding new design, illustration, animation, and engineering talent along with developed technology, although the final purchase price allocation remains in progress. |
Undisclosed Company 2 | 2024 | Completed in July 2024, this deal mirrors the structure of the first, with a total aggregate consideration of $7.5 million (including cash, contingent payments, and a holdback), aimed at bolstering Duolingo's creative and engineering teams and technology assets, with the acquisition accounting still being finalized. |
Gunner Made LLC | 2022 | Acquired on October 3, 2022, for a total of $4.5 million (with $4 million paid at closing and $0.5 million contingent on continued service), this acquisition brought 15 new design and animation experts to enhance Duolingo's brand and product capabilities, aligning with its strategic focus on reinvesting in creative talent while final purchase price allocation is pending. |
Recent developments and announcements about DUOL.
Earnings
New Earnings (Q4 2024)
·7 days agoView full earnings summary →Duolingo Q4 shows 51% YoY DAU growth, including 80% in Latin America, plus premium gains (Max at 5% of subscribers, Family at 23%). However, watch for margin pressure from AI-driven costs and a decelerating revenue growth rate throughout 2025.