Language-Learning App Babbel Hits One Million Customers
Market leader for online language learning reaches one million active paying customers
Fast Company Magazine names Babbel as the most innovative education company worldwide and 48th most innovative company overall
Arne Schepker (CMO) and Martin Kütter (COO) round out management team
In 2007, Babbel set out to make language learning easy and accessible to everyone. One million paying customers later, the Berlin-based startup is one step closer to this goal. For a company operating a premium-only, subscription-based business model, such a milestone is certainly worthy of celebration.
Although Babbel recently published a large-scale survey into the motivations and learning habits of its users, this news marks the first time the company has disclosed such numbers.
Further cause for celebration comes in the form of a Fast Company feature which names Babbel one of the world’s 50 most innovative companies. Published annually, the index is widely considered to be an international who’s who of disruptive and creative organisations. Babbel also takes the top spot among the publication’s top ten innovative companies in education. The app sets itself apart from other online learning products by encouraging learners to apply their new skills from the very first lesson, quickly enabling them to become conversational in a new language.
“We’re very proud to be positively impacting the lives of so many people,” says Markus Witte, Founder and CEO of Babbel. “And this latest recognition from Fast Company really reinforces the global relevance of online language learning. That said, we’re really just beginning to scratch the surface of what’s possible.”
For Babbel, all signs point to continued product innovation and growth in 2016. The company, already synonymous with online language learning in much of Europe, is now targeting rapid expansion beyond its home markets. In support of this push, Babbel’s management team has been bolstered with world-class talent in the form of Arne Schepker (CMO) and Martin Kütter (COO).
Both new arrivals bring with them considerable experience: Schepker has previously served as VP of Brand Marketing at Zalando, prior to which he led P&G Switzerland’s marketing team. Kütter has more than 17 years of management experience, including spells as COO of Delivery Hero and Telefonica Germany.
About Babbel
Driven by the purpose of creating mutual understanding through language, Babbel has been building digital language learning products for consumers and businesses since 2007. The Babbel app helps people connect and communicate across cultures, whether for travel, friendship, or career advancement. Based on a deep knowledge of how we learn languages, Babbel aims to make learners conversational as fast as possible. And it works: Studies from institutions like Michigan State University, Yale University and the City University of New York demonstrate the efficacy of Babbel's language learning methods. Millions of language learners agree.
Babbel's secret sauce is the blend of true expertise, understanding of how humans learn, and the latest technology. Starting with one of 60,000 lessons across 15 languages hand-crafted by experts, the learner experience constantly adapts through behavior analysis to provide high quality interactive content that makes understanding a new language easy, from Spanish to Indonesian.
Because Babbel is for everyone, its team reflects this diversity. Across headquarters in Berlin and New York, a team from more than 80 nationalities represent the backgrounds and perspectives that make humans unique. With over 25 million subscriptions sold and an industry-leading retention rate, Babbel creates genuine connections with learners worldwide. For more information, visit www.babbel.com or download the apps in the App Store or Play Store.
