Founders in Arms Duolingo’s CTO on Building the World’s Most Addictive Learning App
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May 9, 2025 
Severin Hacker, co-founder and CTO of Duolingo, shares insights into building a leading language-learning platform. He discusses how AI personalizes education and enhances user engagement. The conversation delves into the relentless experimentation that drives Duolingo's innovation and retention strategies. Severin highlights the immigrant founder advantage and its impact on startup culture. Additionally, he reveals the importance of design in app development, emphasizing how a mission-driven approach can shape user experiences.
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Motivation Drives Language Learning
- Language learning success depends more on motivation and habit than just the method. - Duolingo's focus on retention through a motivation engine drives high user return rates.
Mission-Driven Business Model
- Duolingo remains proud of staying true to its mission of universal education. - Their business model benefits many by providing free access while maintaining financial viability.
AI's Transformative Role at Duolingo
- AI transforms content generation, feature development, and productivity at Duolingo. - Features like conversational AI friends enrich learning beyond social leaderboards.