Decoder with Nilay Patel Recode Decode: Rosetta Stone President Matt Hulett
Oct 14, 2019
Matt Hulett, president of Rosetta Stone, shares insights from his tech journey as the company shifts from CDs to a user-friendly mobile app. He discusses the challenges of childhood literacy and the importance of personalized education through innovative software. The conversation explores how language learning is evolving globally, emphasizing the role of AI and digital platforms. Hulett also speculates on future technologies that could transform language acquisition, touching on cultural motivations and the significance of maintaining linguistic diversity.
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Early Internet Streaming
- Matt Hulett, Rosetta Stone President, was employee 50 at Progressive Networks (later Real Networks).
- He was the product manager for the Real Player during the early days of internet streaming.
Short-Form Content and the Dot-Com Bubble
- After Real Networks, Hulett co-founded Atom Films, focusing on short-form online content pre-YouTube.
- They merged with Shockwave (becoming Atom Shockwave) and raised $20 million right before the dot-com bubble burst.
Expedia and Career Trajectory
- Rich Barton, then Expedia CEO, recruited Hulett to start their corporate travel group.
- Hulett's career has involved startups and turnarounds since.