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busuu: Language learning platform offers online courses, native speaker interaction, and CEFR-aligned professional courses for individuals and businesses.
Founded in 2008 by Bernhard Niesner and Adrian Hilti, Madrid-based Busuu is a digital language learning platform that combines self-paced, CEFR-aligned online courses with native speaker interactions across web, iOS, Android, and Windows applications. The company operates a freemium consumer model alongside a dedicated corporate subscription tier launched in 2016, providing structured employee language training to over 600 global organizations, including enterprise clients such as Puma and L'Oréal. Prior to its strategic acquisition, the educational platform successfully amassed over 50 million global users and raised $11.9 million in venture funding. Education technology company Chegg acquired the business for $436 million in a major transaction that officially closed in January 2022. Operating with an estimated workforce of 358 to 405 employees, the language education subsidiary generated $12.9 million in total annual revenue during 2024.
busuu has raised $12.4M across 3 funding rounds.
busuu has raised $12.4M in total across 3 funding rounds.
# Busuu: A Language Learning Technology Company
Busuu is a language learning platform that combines self-paced, expert-designed courses with a global community of native speakers for peer-to-peer language practice[1][2]. The platform serves over 120 million registered users across web, iOS, and Android, offering courses in 14 languages aligned with CEFR proficiency standards[1][3]. Rather than positioning itself as a traditional edtech company, Busuu solves the problem of expensive, time-consuming language education by delivering bite-sized lessons (3–5 minutes each) that fit into busy schedules, paired with authentic practice opportunities from real native speakers[2][4].
The company operates on a freemium model, with free access to all courses and premium subscriptions unlocking advanced features like grammar instruction, offline mode, and spaced repetition training[1]. Since its acquisition by Chegg in 2021 for $436 million, Busuu has expanded beyond individual learners to serve organizations—universities and businesses—with customized corporate language programs[1].
Busuu was founded in 2008 by Bernhard Niesner and Adrian Hilti, two MBA students at IE Business School in Spain[3]. The co-founders shared a frustration with traditional language learning methods, which they viewed as outdated, expensive, and overly time-consuming. They developed Busuu as their final MBA project, creating an affordable platform that combined online courses with interactions between learners and native speakers—a novel approach at the time[3]. The company is named after an endangered language spoken in Cameroon, reflecting the founders' commitment to language preservation and accessibility[3]. The platform launched shortly after their graduation and rapidly became one of the most recognizable brands in language education[3].
Busuu operates at the intersection of several powerful trends: the global demand for remote, asynchronous learning; the rise of the gig economy and international mobility requiring language skills; and the shift toward community-powered, peer-to-peer education models. The platform exemplifies how social networks can solve traditional edtech problems—in this case, the shortage of qualified language tutors and the high cost of personalized instruction.
The company's acquisition by Chegg, a major player in digital learning, signals institutional validation of the language learning market and the viability of community-driven edtech models. Busuu's emphasis on practical, conversational language—rather than academic proficiency—aligns with real-world demand from professionals, travelers, and immigrants seeking functional communication skills. The platform's expansion into corporate training demonstrates how consumer-grade edtech can scale into enterprise markets.
Busuu has successfully democratized language learning by solving the time and cost barriers that plagued traditional methods. As remote work and global mobility continue to reshape labor markets, demand for language skills will only intensify. The platform's challenge lies in deepening conversational practice—current limitations in speech recognition and verbal feedback represent areas for improvement[8].
Looking ahead, Busuu's trajectory will likely be shaped by three factors: deeper AI integration for more sophisticated speech recognition and personalized learning paths; expansion into underserved languages beyond the current 14 offerings; and continued growth in the corporate training segment, where customized language programs for multinational organizations represent significant revenue potential. Under Chegg's ownership, Busuu is positioned to leverage broader edtech infrastructure while maintaining the community-driven differentiation that made it distinctive in a crowded market.
busuu has raised $12.4M in total across 3 funding rounds.
busuu's investors include McGraw-Hill Education, Brent Hoberman, Firstminute Capital, Martin Añazco.
busuu has raised $12.4M across 3 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $6.7M Other Equity in July 2015.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 15, 2015 | $6.7M Other Equity | McGraw-Hill Education | |
| Oct 1, 2012 | $5.0M Series A | Brent Hoberman | Firstminute Capital, Martin Añazco |
| Mar 1, 2010 | $680K Other Equity |