Speak, the AI-powered language learning platform backed by OpenAI, has raised $78 million in a Series C funding round, reaching a valuation of $1 billion. The milestone is a significant accomplishment for the San Francisco-based startup, whose stated mission is to "reinvent the way people learn, starting with language."
Key Points:
- Speak’s $78M Series C round doubles its valuation in just six months to $1B.
- The round was led by Accel with participation from OpenAI Startup Fund, Khosla Ventures, and Y Combinator.
- Speak has created over 25M personalized lessons this year, driving a billion spoken sentences by users.
- Plans include expanding to new languages and scaling its enterprise offering.
Why it matters: Speak's breakthrough in AI-powered language tutoring addresses a fundamental gap in traditional language education. While billions of people study English through conventional methods, many struggle to speak confidently in real-world situations.
The company's rapid ascent to unicorn status, doubling its valuation to $1 billion in just six months, validates its conversational approach to language learning. With users having spoken over a billion sentences this year alone, Speak has demonstrated significant traction in shifting language education from textbook learning to practical conversation skills.
The big picture: While most language apps prioritize vocabulary and grammar, Speak's platform uses AI to simulate real conversations, helping learners practice speaking from day one. The company's approach mirrors how native speakers naturally learn languages - through speaking and listening rather than traditional textbook methods.
Behind the scenes: Accel led the round, with participation from existing investors including OpenAI's Startup Fund, Khosla Ventures, and Y Combinator. The company has now raised $162M total.
What they're saying: "For the one and a half billion people out there trying to learn English, the vast majority have spent 15+ years learning intensely. They know vocabulary and grammar better than any of us. But the issue is that they have no ability to speak it," said CEO Connor Zwick.
What's next: Speak plans to expand beyond English instruction in 2025, adding Spanish and French to its offerings. The company is also developing more advanced personalization features using the latest large language models and speech technology.
The bottom line: The platform's focus on spoken fluency, rather than traditional reading and writing exercises, positions it to tap into a massive global market of 1.5 billion English learners who need conversational practice more than grammar rules.