Fluent Forever, a company pioneering a unique method for accelerated language acquisition, has secured $4.9 million in a funding round spearheaded by Stout Street Capital, a Denver-based investment firm. This funding round also saw participation from The Syndicate, LAUNCH, Mana Ventures, Noveus VC, Flight.VC, Insta VC, UpVentures, Firebrand Ventures, Cultivation Capital, Spero Ventures, and Lofty Ventures.

Fluent Forever positions itself as a distinct alternative to established platforms like Duolingo and Babbel. Its core differentiation lies in a highly individualized learning approach, prioritizing auditory training, visual learning resources, and a system resembling spaced repetition to facilitate the memorization of vocabulary and phrases. The service operates on a subscription basis, following a 14-day complimentary trial, with plans beginning at $10 monthly, and cost savings available with extended subscription periods.

The company’s founder and CEO, Gabriel Wyner, initially employed the Anki flashcard program to learn his own languages, subsequently authored a book detailing his methodology, and conducted workshops centered around his Anki-based learning system. However, Wyner recognized that Anki, while powerful, demands significant time and effort to master its effective use.

“I’ve observed many individuals struggle with language learning,” he explained. “The initial thought is that proper technique can overcome these challenges. That’s encouraging. But then, even with a viable solution and enthusiastic learners, they often encounter difficulties due to technical complexities. That’s particularly frustrating.”

Consequently, Fluent Forever translates Wyner’s flashcard-based principles – as the creation of these flashcards is fundamental to his learning philosophy – into a more user-friendly application.

Wyner emphasizes that users desire a straightforward tool that delivers results with minimal effort. However, he firmly believes this approach is ineffective. “I felt compelled to strongly disagree with that notion – to assert that the act of building the learning materials is essential.”

Wyner contrasts his methodology with Duolingo’s, contending that its emphasis on translation exercises doesn’t necessarily cultivate genuine language proficiency over time. He does, however, acknowledge Duolingo’s superior user experience and gamified elements compared to Fluent Forever, while maintaining that his system yields more substantial learning outcomes.

“We inquire with our users: ‘What motivates you to choose us, especially when Duolingo is available without charge?’ Their consistent response is, ‘While your product has areas for improvement, it enabled me to think in Spanish within two weeks,’” Wyner stated.

Currently, Fluent Forever supports nine languages: Japanese, French, Russian, Mexican Spanish, Spanish Spanish, Italian, Korean, German, and Brazilian Portuguese, with Dutch slated to be the next addition.

Wyner recounts that securing funding in 2019 proved challenging, partly due to stagnant growth. “The language learning sector is often viewed with skepticism – it’s not considered a particularly exciting field. The prospect of competing with Duolingo was unappealing to many investors,” he noted. However, growth accelerated in 2020, even prior to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, and Fluent Forever also participated in Jason Calacanis’ Launch Accelerator program.

Looking forward, Wyner reveals that Fluent Forever is exploring the integration of live tutoring. While online live tutoring exists, with companies like Preply already established in the space, Fluent Forever aims to combine its online learning platform with brief live sessions, followed by continued practice and reinforcement of the conversation over the subsequent week. A potential benefit is that users opting for the premium live service could generate personalized sentences within the Fluent Forever system, which could then be incorporated into content accessible to all users.