Babbel Amongst the 150 Most Transformational Companies in Digital Learning
GSV named Babbel amongst the world’s 150 most transformational companies in digital learning
The GSV 150 companies reach almost half the global population, generating revenue of $25 billion
The nomination is testament to Babbel’s ongoing success as a language learning innovator in the consumer and B2B field
New York / Berlin, Jan 12, 2023: Babbel, the global top-selling language learning platform, has been named to the GSV 150, the list of the world’s most transformative private companies in education. Following 2022, a year that saw double digit growth in Babbel’s revenue on top of a massive pandemic induced boost, the recognition by GSV underlines Babbel’s status as a pioneer and innovation leader. Operating an ecosystem of language learning experiences for both consumers and businesses, Babbel was chosen from over 4,000 venture capital and private equity-backed private companies revolutionizing the world of education technology. GSV estimates that together these 150 companies reach roughly 3 billion people -- almost half of the global population -- and generate approximately $25 billion in revenue.
“Babbel created the category of online language learning in 2007, and we continue to innovate, bringing effective new methods of language learning to an ever-growing audience. With the development of B2B in the past several years and the fast-paced launch of language-learning for Ukrainians, Babbel has shown that it can address the needs of a diverse set of learners,” said Julie Hansen, U.S. CEO and CRO at Babbel. “Last year saw us cater to millions of learners worldwide, giving them even more opportunities to progress effectively through our new product features. The recognition by GSV is testament to this success. Now, more people than ever before are turning to learn languages online. With Babbel being best-in-class we are ready to meet this demand.”
“As we enter into what we call a ‘Brave New World,’ it is clear that you can’t use an old map to navigate a new world”, says Alexandra Argo, investor at GSV Ventures. “This impressive group of companies, and Babbel among them, continues to grow and evolve to meet the needs of learners and businesses at scale. After evaluating over 4,000 companies globally, we are proud to present the list of the 150 most impactful companies in digital learning that are leading the charge in providing ALL people equal access to the future.”
The assessment for the GSV 150 is rigorous: Overall more than 4,000 companies were considered that had to meet several criteria and score high in several KPIs such as revenue scale, revenue growth, active learner reach, international reach, and margin profile.
While Babbel saw strong growth in all its markets, it surpassed expectations, especially in the U.S.A., which overtook Europe as Babbel’s strongest market in 2022. In H1 alone, the company sold over one million subscriptions. It also launched its B2B-offering Babbel for Business to the U.S., which already empowers hundreds of companies and their teams to learn languages in a highly professional and motivating ecosystem, from a self-study app to instructor-led virtual live classes.
About GSV The ASU+GSV Summit is the premier global event focused on technology innovation in education and skills. We believe that ALL people deserve equal access to the future. Started in 2010 with a collaboration between Arizona State University (ASU) and Global Silicon Valley (GSV), the annual Summit connects leading minds focused on transforming society and business around learning and work. Educators, investors, industry leaders, and entrepreneurs from around the world come together to innovate the future of education for all. Hosted in San Diego, over 5,300 people attended in April 2022. Speakers from previous years include President Barack Obama, President George W. Bush, Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, John Legend, Common, Marian Wright Edelman, Bill Gates, Sandra Day O'Connor, Reed Hastings, President Vicente Fox, Malcolm Gladwell, Gloria Steinem, Tony Blair, and Howard Schultz.
