The Best One Yet Exclusive 🦉 “Education Super App” — Duolingo CEO Luis von Ahn announces next product on TBOY
10 snips
Apr 22, 2025 
Luis von Ahn, the Co-founder and CEO of Duolingo, shares his innovative vision for transforming language learning into an addictive experience. He proudly discusses how gamification strategies like notifications and streak tracking keep over 40 million users engaged daily. Excitingly, he announces Duolingo's next venture: a chess feature aimed at enhancing logical thinking. Luis also delves into the freemium model's impact, revealing how wealthier users help subsidize education for less fortunate learners, proving that learning can be fun and accessible for all.
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Episode notes
Luis' Sugarcoat Firing Story
- Luis von Ahn once fired an employee who didn't realize they were fired because he sugar-coated it too much.
- He had to learn to be direct to effectively manage his team.
Staying in Pittsburgh Helped Growth
- Duolingo stayed headquartered in Pittsburgh to focus deeply on education without Silicon Valley distractions.
- This location helped them hire loyal and skilled employees who stayed long-term.
Engagement Drives Learning Success
- Duolingo's key success is engagement that keeps people motivated to learn daily.
- Gamification elements like streaks and personalized notifications are instrumental in user retention.
