And math, interestingly, has always been in the back of von Ahn’s head. Popular features like leaderboards sputtered before they succeeded. Meanwhile, Duolingo’s “graveyard” of failed ideas includes a few retired monetization strategies and AI-powered chatbots. Over the past few years, it built a product suite beyond its core app, which includes Duolingo ABC, a literacy app for kids and the Duolingo English Test. The company has churned through hundreds of ideas in its decade of existence, which have had varying degrees of success. Math-focused edtech companies include Khan Academy,, Photomath, Numerade and the recently acquired Symbolab.įor Duolingo, the math app is another chapter in its history of experimentation.

“If there are other subjects where we think somebody is doing a pretty good job and they have a similar mission to us, and they have a similar company culture,” Duolingo may consider acquiring the company, von Ahn said in the interview. That may calm some qualms around Duolingo needing to put a ton of resources toward an entirely new piece of software or curriculum. In an interview on IPO day, CEO Luis von Ahn said that users may see Duolingo accelerate its math app and that the company plans to expand beyond language learning through upcoming acquisitions. It mentions that Duolingo wants candidates to have classroom experience and knowledge about teaching K-12 level math, especially with younger students between 3rd and 8th grade.ĭuolingo can’t teach you how to speak a language, but now it wants to try The listing hints that the app will be focused on serving younger learners. A May job posting shows that Duolingo has been looking for a learning scientist with a PhD in mathematics to help build out a new math app alongside a “small cross-functional team.” It did say that users may learn more about it later this month at Duocon, Duolingo’s annual free conference. The co-founder mentioned the app during an interview last week, the same day that Duolingo officially listed in the stock market.Īfter the interview, TechCrunch reached out to Duolingo to get more information about the app, but the company declined to provide more detail because it is “still very early” in the development process. Duolingo, best known for its whimsical owl and language-learning app, is working on a new product to add to its growing suite: a math app, according to CEO Luis von Ahn.

Duolingo math app