Duolingo 2025 Investor Day Summary Company Overview - **Company**: Duolingo (NasdaqGS:DUOL) - **Event**: 2025 Investor Day - **Date**: September 16, 2025 Key Points Industry and Market Position - Duolingo aims to provide access to language education for everyone, regardless of financial status, addressing educational inequality [3][2] - Over 130 million active learners on Duolingo, with 90% learning for free [3] - Duolingo is used globally, with the most commonly learned language being English in most countries [4][5] Educational Approach and Features - Introduction of the **Duolingo Score**, a numerical representation of language proficiency ranging from 0 to 160 [8][9] - The score correlates with the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR), with specific ranges indicating different proficiency levels [10][11][12][13] - Courses are designed to help learners reach a score of 130, enabling them to qualify for knowledge jobs in the language learned [14][15] - Learning duration to reach various scores: - Score 30: 93 hours - Score 60: 192 hours - Score 100: 397 hours - Score 130: 550 hours [16][18] Learning Tools and Engagement - Features like leaderboards and friend streaks are implemented to motivate learners [19] - Different lesson types evolve with the learner's score, including adventures, Duo Radio, and stories [20][21][24] - Research indicates that Duolingo's teaching effectiveness has improved over time, with learners achieving better results in recent years [26][28] Certification and Partnerships - The **Duolingo English Test** offers a certified score for language proficiency, accepted by 99 of the top 100 U.S. universities [30] - Aiming for the Duolingo Score to become a global standard for language proficiency, with integration into platforms like LinkedIn [49][52] New Features and Innovations - Introduction of **video call** feature with a conversational agent named Lily, designed to provide real-time speaking practice [34][35] - Ongoing enhancements to the video call experience, including personalized support and feedback mechanisms [41][43] - Launch of **Duolingo Math**, expanding the platform's educational offerings beyond language learning [72] Chess Course Launch - Duolingo has introduced a chess course, emphasizing strategic thinking and problem-solving skills [80][87] - The course includes lessons, mini matches, and a capstone experience against a character named Oscar [90][92] User Testimonials and Impact - Personal stories highlight the transformative impact of Duolingo on learners' lives, including success in higher education and career opportunities [74][76][78] Additional Insights - The focus on gamification and personalization in learning experiences is a key strategy for maintaining user engagement [43][44] - Continuous A/B testing is employed to refine app features and improve user experience based on data-driven insights [64][66][70] This summary encapsulates the core themes and developments discussed during the Duolingo 2025 Investor Day, highlighting the company's commitment to accessible education and innovative learning solutions.

Investment Rating - The report maintains an "Outperform" rating for the industry [2] Core Insights - Duolingo is the world's most widely used language learning platform, with over 80% of its revenue coming from subscription fees. The introduction of the AI MAX feature is expected to enhance the company's paid user rate, total user base, and product pricing [3][11] - The online language learning market is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 19.73%, reaching $70 billion by 2028, driven by AI-enabled online learning [3] - Duolingo's revenue growth remains robust at over 40%, with a gross margin above 70%. The company has raised its revenue growth guidance for the year to over 32% [3] Company and Product Overview - Duolingo, founded in 2011, focuses on technology-enabled education and offers over 40 language courses through its app, which has a monthly active user (MAU) count of 130 million as of Q1 2025, reflecting a 33% year-over-year increase [8][30] - The company operates on a "free learning + investment value" model, leveraging user data to optimize products and monetize through subscription services [8][11] Financial and Business Performance - Duolingo's revenue is primarily derived from subscription services, which accounted for 80% of total revenue, with a year-over-year growth rate of approximately 50% [24] - The company reported a total revenue of $231 million in Q1 2025, a 38% increase year-over-year, with subscription revenue reaching $191 million, up 45% year-over-year [34] - The gross margin remains strong at 71.7%, with ongoing optimization of operational costs [27] User Growth and Engagement - The number of paid subscribers reached 10.3 million by Q1 2025, representing a 40% year-over-year increase, with a paid user rate of 8.9% [30] - Daily active users (DAU) reached 46.6 million, a 49% year-over-year increase, indicating strong engagement in mature markets [30] Growth Drivers - AI technology is accelerating course content development, with Duolingo generating 148 new language courses in a year, a process that previously took over a decade [51] - The company is expanding its learning categories, including math and music, which have already attracted 3 million DAUs [54] - Duolingo is enhancing its high-level English courses to increase the proportion of English learners among its user base, which currently stands at 46% of DAUs [57]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company expects a full-year gross margin decline of about 150 basis points year-over-year, with Q1 showing a better-than-expected decline of 200 basis points instead of the anticipated 300 basis points [11][12] - The average revenue per user is in the $6 range, indicating a strong value proposition [21] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Duolingo Max now accounts for about 7% of subscribers, showing impressive growth and contributing to a strong Q1 performance [31] - The company added 48 new language courses in a year, significantly faster than the previous pace of course additions [32] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Daily active users (DAUs) grew by 49% year-over-year, with strong growth across all regions, including mature markets [37][39] - The company has 30 million active users, indicating substantial room for growth in the language learning market, which has an estimated 2 billion learners globally [39] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to expand beyond language learning into subjects like math, music, and chess, with a focus on creating content that is beneficial for users and society [79] - AI is a central part of the company's strategy, enabling faster content creation and improved teaching methods [114][115] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the roadmap for 2025, noting no significant changes in trends due to macroeconomic factors [20] - The company is committed to being AI-first, focusing on automating processes while investing in new AI features [116][118] Other Important Information - The company is testing pricing strategies and may adjust features across different subscription tiers [102][105] - Marketing efforts will continue to leverage social media for efficient user acquisition and engagement [96][98] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you discuss the cadence of gross margin for the year? - The company expects a 150 basis point decline for the full year, with Q1 showing a better performance than anticipated [11][12] Question: What are the expectations for new language modules? - The company is excited about the addition of chess and other subjects, which are expected to increase user engagement [14][15] Question: Are there any signs of macro softness affecting the business? - Management has not observed any significant changes in trends due to the macro environment and remains confident in the business outlook [20][21] Question: How is the company prioritizing new content production? - The focus remains on language learning, but there will be significant improvements in math and music content due to AI [65] Question: What is the impact of Duolingo Max on subscriber conversion rates? - The company believes that Max has a positive impact on platform lifetime value and is seeing upgrades from Super subscribers [131]