NEW YORK – Duolingo, a language learning smartphone app that has grown during the coronavirus pandemic, plans to go public with an overall valuation of potentially more than US$4 billion (RM16.8 billion).
The company’s initial public offering will be priced at between US$85 and US$95 per share, Duolingo said in a securities filing yesterday. Shares are expected to debut on the Nasdaq in the coming weeks under the symbol “DUOL”.
Formed in 2011 by engineers Luis von Ahn and Severin Hacker, who met at Carnegie Mellon University, Duolingo touts its potential for more growth thanks to the enduring popularity of smartphones and rising demand for online learning.
The app has been downloaded more than 500 million times and currently has about 40 million active monthly users. Revenues last year were US$161.7 million, more than double that of the prior year.
The founders have emphasised addressing inequality in education as a priority, intentionally avoiding a paywall for the basic service.
However, the company offers a premium service without ads. As of March 31, about 5% of average monthly users were on the paid model, the company said.
Another revenue source is an English language test that has been recognised by leading US universities. – AFP, July 20, 2021
