Duolingo Raises $25 Million

Internet and IoT startup Duolingo announced it has secured $25 million in Series E financing. Two investors contributed to the round, among them Drive Capital.

Duolingo is a popular way to learn a language online, with more than 170 million users worldwide. It is the most downloaded app in the Education category on iTunes and Google Play, and it is the only education app to have been selected by Apple as “iPhone App of the Year.”

Duolingo’s mission is to make language education accessible to all. Its platform is 100 percent free, designed to feel like a game, and scientifically proven to be effective. An independent study by the City University of New York showed that 34 hours spent on Duolingo is equivalent to a university semester of language classes. It is available on the Web and via Android, iOS and Windows phones.

In its announcement, the company said the capital will be used to accelerate Duolingo’s hiring and product development.