Three former Duolingo executives are turning their attention to higher education with a new venture, Outsmart Education, which has raised $13 million in seed funding. The startup, still operating in stealth mode, aims to make college more affordable and accessible, addressing the growing challenges of rising tuition fees and mounting student debt.
The co-founders include Daniel Falabella, Gina Gotthilf, and Jorge Mazal, all of whom played key roles in Duolingo’s rise. Mazal, who will serve as CEO, shared that the inspiration for Outsmart stemmed from his own struggles financing his education in the U.S., which left him with substantial debt. He called the experience emblematic of the broader issues plaguing higher education.
The funding round, led by Khosla Ventures, includes participation from Karman Ventures, Latitud Ventures, Lightspeed Ventures, and individual investors such as Lenny Ratchinsky, previously at Airbnb. According to the team, the capital will support hiring and product development as Outsmart refines its approach to tackling these systemic issues.
While the startup has yet to disclose its specific plans, Mazal emphasized its mission to dramatically expand access to education. Khosla Ventures partner Ethan Choi, a first-generation college graduate, expressed optimism about the venture, calling it “world-changing.”
Outsmart enters the scene as tuition costs continue to rise, with private college fees up 5.5% for the upcoming academic year and total U.S. student debt exceeding $1.6 trillion. Competing services, such as Tuition Tracker and College Rover, offer tools to navigate these challenges, but Outsmart hopes to go beyond by addressing affordability and personalization in higher education.
The founding team brings a wealth of experience from Duolingo and other tech giants like Dropbox, Tumblr, and Zynga. Mazal believes their combined expertise will position Outsmart as a transformative force in the education sector.
As details remain under wraps, Outsmart’s promise lies in its potential to redefine access to higher education—a goal that resonates deeply in today’s economic climate.
Featured image courtesy of iStock
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