Ex-executives from the popular language learning app Duolingo have raised $13 million in seed funding to start a new venture aimed at making college education more affordable and accessible. The startup, tentatively named Outsmart Education, is headed by co-founders Daniel Falabella, Gina Gotthilf, and Jorge Mazal, all former senior leaders at Duolingo.
The funding round was led by Khosla Ventures, with participation from Karman Ventures, Latitud Ventures, Lightspeed Ventures, and several angel investors. The startup plans to use the capital for hiring and product development as it works to address the growing challenges of rising tuition costs and student debt.
“College-level education is a basic, universal human right,” said Ethan Choi, a partner at Khosla Ventures. “I’m actually a first-generation college student myself, and education has completely transformed my life. I just think what [Outsmart] is doing will be world-changing.”
The idea for Outsmart Education stemmed from co-founder Jorge Mazal’s own experiences struggling to finance his college and graduate school education. Mazal accumulated a significant amount of debt, which he says is emblematic of the broader issues in the higher education system.
“The mission that we’re trying to achieve is to dramatically increase access to higher education in a way that’s been unprecedented and that we believe can change the world,” Mazal told TechCrunch.
While the startup is currently operating in stealth mode, the team’s pedigree and the backing of prominent investors suggest that Outsmart Education could be poised to disrupt the landscape of college affordability and accessibility. As the cost of higher education continues to rise and the student loan crisis persists, this startup’s efforts to democratize access to college could have a significant impact.
