Speak, an AI-powered language tutoring company backed by OpenAI and Khosla Ventures, has reached $100 million in annualized revenue as it expands across key international markets. The startup, now valued at $1 billion, first gained momentum in Seoul, where Co-Founder Connor Zwick identified strong demand for practical English learning. “English language learning there was like an obsession,” Zwick said, noting a gap between student interest and traditional grammar-heavy instruction.
The platform offers voice-based scenarios in six languages and has recorded about 15 million downloads, supported by consumer plans ranging from $80 to $200. Speak introduced workplace programs in 2024, and roughly 500 companies, including KPMG and HD Hyundai, now provide access for employees.
The company continues to scale after raising $160 million from investors such as Accel and the OpenAI Startup Fund. Zwick highlighted his philosophy of prioritizing spoken comfort, explaining that users engage more frequently in active dialogue on Speak compared to other apps. He said the service aims to deliver a more serious learning experience, contrasting with mobile game-style tools. Speak’s system has benefited from improvements in OpenAI models, allowing the platform to add accent guidance and adaptive lessons as it competes with larger rivals like Duolingo, which generated $724 million in 2024.
