July 29, 2020

Tandem is snagging $5.7 M for its language buddy device during the e-learning boom of COVID-19

Tandem’s Berlin-based startup, an app for second language instruction, has raised a £4.5 million (~$5.7 million) Series A round of investment to focus on the development prospects it sees as the coronavirus epidemic begins to drive the transition to digital and online learning.

Thanks to questions about virus infection risks to students mixing on physical campuses, there is a growing need for technology that allows language students to find others to practice with, as Tandem says.

So while language learning applications build a very crowded environment with giants like Duolingo so Babbel, Tandem is focused on a different niche: the domain of native speakers.

As the name suggests, the software matches with each other — connecting users with others who seek to learn their language for shared practice by (their choice) email, phone talk, or video call.

The framework also integrates a more structured aspect of learning by granting tutors access. Yet the key focus is to help the learner’s progress by speaking to a native speaker via the app.

According to Tandem co-founder and CEO Arnd Aschentrup, this is a growing global need because of the pandemic drive to socially distant learners. He says the coronavirus outbreak has sparked a rise of 200 percent in new users — showing a “strong demand” for digital language learning among customers.

The company has now taken on another funding tranche so that it can scale up to reach this rising global demand.

The Series A is led by Brighteye Ventures, a European VC fund, with the involvement of Trind Ventures, Rubylight Limited and GPS Ventures. That takes the overall sum earned to £6.8 million for the company to date.

In the past few months, he says two “primary phenomena” have emerged: “First, schools and universities offering language courses have either partially shut down, or switched almost completely to remote lessons. Therefore, students focus on additional channels for studying and practicing languages which are precisely what Tandem provides.

Until COVID-19, the tandem has expanded in use — increasing participation from about a million back in 2017 (when we last spoke), to over 10 million members currently scattered across 180 countries.

Aschentrup couches the underlying growth as “solid organic demand,” noting that since 2019 the company has been successful (thus not getting any external funding up to now). Yet, with the pandemic curve ball speeding up the transition to online learning, it’s expecting the network to start growing up.

Also Read: Top Most Popular Apps in Singapore 2022

Tandem ‘s biggest language learner markets are China (10%), the U.S. (9%), and Japan (9%) — which together make up about a third (27%) of the consumer base.

While the most popular language pairs (in ranked order of popularity) are:

English – Spanish
Spanish – Portuguese
English – Chinese
English – French
Chinese – Japanese

Although the vast majority (94 percent) of Tandem’s consumer base makes use of the freemium service, it monetizes with a premium program, called Tandem Pro, which it launched in 2018 to cater for users who “prefers to pursue a group approach to language learning,” as Aschentrup puts it.

Conclusion:

Aschentrup defines Tandem’s “group component” as a core differentiator relative to other language learning applications — saying it lets users “build and sustain a cross-cultural friendship.” The latest investment will help to create additional capabilities for the app and expand the team through Aschentrup via marketing and innovation. Disclaimer

Hire Our Development Experts.

About `Author`

Akansha Pandey, Director of Sales at Fluper, is a leader in technology sales with a decade of experience. Known for her strategic approach, she excels in driving business growth and forging strong client relationships. Akansha's expertise lies in consultative selling, team leadership, and exceeding revenue targets. Passionate about mentoring, she enjoys sharing insights with aspiring sales professionals.

Akansha Pandey

Client's Testimonial

We’ve been lucky to collaborate and deliver transformation
with a long list of overseas clients.

We partnered with Fluper to upgrade the Talabat app, and the experience was excellent. Their team delivered strong technical expertise, clear communication, and timely execution. The updated app is faster, more stable, and provides a smoother user experience, boosting engagement and performance. Fluper is a reliable partner for digital growth.

Saeed Ahmad

Product & Delivery Ops, Talabat

Hello to all my lovely friends and the Fluper family. Wishing you a very happy anniversary! From the bottom of my heart, I wish you great success and a bright future ahead. It’s been a wonderful experience working with you and being treated like family. Keep up the amazing work. Congratulations once again! Your loyal customer.

Mohammed Zainab

Co- Founder, Foodora

We got in touch with Fluper to build an app for my taxi project. It was really tough to choose a perfect partner for my app; however, I found Fluper the best choice. From project coordinators to developers, everyone was so supportive. The team has even gave me a lot of feedback to improvise my idea. It was really great working with them.

Anthony Tan

Owner at Grab Taxi App

We connected with Fluper to design an app for Dubizzle, and choosing them proved to be a great decision. Their team demonstrated strong expertise, creativity, and professionalism throughout the process. They helped elevate our business to the next level with a well-designed, user-friendly app that perfectly matched our vision and goals.

Maria smith

Sales Marketing Manager at dubizzle

Our Global Presence

500+

Startups

300+

SMEs

200+

Enterprises

We Built

1000+

Brands Globally

30+

Countries Served

Office Address

Fluper is Not Only an Idea But
A Dream to Meet Business Needs

After launch, the solution drove significant revenue growth and positive customer feedback. Fluper’s commitment to quality, timely delivery, and competitive pricing made the partnership both successful and rewarding.

Robert Hug

Central Ops

Fluper’s deliverables drove a clear sales boost soon after launch. Their team was responsive, punctual, and proactive, providing valuable insights that strengthened the original specs and improved overall product quality.

Mohammed Zainab

Product Specialist

Fluper stands out as a leading web and mobile app development company. Their structured strategy, milestone-driven execution, and unwavering focus on quality made the collaboration highly productive and results-driven.

Karim Ahmed

Operationas Manager

Fluper’s app reached millions of downloads and earned excellent user feedback. They delivered high-quality results on time, welcomed input, and showed a cooperative, strategic, innovation-driven approach.

Sajid Mohammed

Operations Head

Fluper exceeded expectations with professionalism, adaptability, and technical excellence. They aligned with our vision, met performance goals, resolved issues swiftly, and delivered a highly functional, scalable app.

Ben Robertson

Biz Ops & Strategy

Fluper transformed our food delivery app vision into reality with seamless functionality and an intuitive design. Their team was professional, responsive, and delivered on time. Thanks to Fluper, our customer engagement.

Abdulla Ellyas

Ops & Delivery

Crafted for Growth

Our Global Clients

375+ Certified Developers!

Delivering Digital Success

Crafting Digital Solutions that Inspire

Luxury real estate developments in Dubai.

UAE's Premier Social Networking Platform

Order food online from top restaurants.

Ride-hailing made easy, safe, and affordable.

Shop now, pay later with flexible options.

Your Free Movie and TV Night, Every Night.

Trusted automotive solutions, driving excellence.

Transformed the transport landscape in the city.

Personalized banking experiences, for financial.

Transforming Virtual Healthcare Solutions Globally

Discover and book top tours, and activities.

Simplifying Daily Services

Seamless Video Streaming

Redefining Turkey’s Real Estate

July 29, 2020

Tandem is snagging $5.7 M for its language buddy device during the e-learning boom of COVID-19

Table of Contents

Conclusion:

Hire Our Development Experts.

About Author

Akansha Pandey

Expanding Expertise via Global Mobile & Technology Conference Participation

How Much Does It Cost To Develop An App In Abu Dhabi?

Airbnb Clone App Development: Features, Cost & Tech Stack

How to Build a Video Chat App Like Chamet in 2026

What Makes Fluper Different?

16+ Years

50+

Industries Served

24*7

Support & Maintenance

Guaranteed Project Delivery – On Time, On Budget, Every Time.

15 Million+

User Enagagement

Client's Testimonial

Launch your Million Dollar Business Idea Into a Successful Growth Story.

Free Marketing

2.5 Year Post Launch Assistance

Money Back Guarantee

Real-Time tracking & Support

Schedule Call

Our Global Presence

500+

Startups

300+

SMEs

200+

Enterprises

We Built

1000+

Brands Globally

30+

Countries Served

Office Address

Call Fluper

Drop An Email

Whatsapp Fluper

Office Address

Call Fluper

Drop An Email

Whatsapp Fluper

Office Address

Drop An Email

Call Fluper

Whatsapp Fluper

Office Address

Call Fluper

Drop An Email

Whatsapp Fluper

Office Address

Call Fluper

Drop An Email

Whatsapp Fluper

Office Address

Call Fluper

Crafted for `Growth`

Our Global `Clients`

`375+` Certified Developers!

About `Author`

Expanding Expertise via Global Mobile & `Technology Conference` Participation

Support &
Maintenance

Guaranteed Project
Delivery – On Time,
On Budget, Every Time.

#1 ICT Services &
Solutions Provider

Fluper is Not Only an Idea But
A Dream to Meet Business Needs

Let’s `Talk!`

Fluper is Not Only an Idea But
A Dream to Meet Business Needs

Let’s `Talk!`