LEARNING FAST: Lingvist, a startup with headquarters in Estonia and the UK that wants to help people learn languages, has raised $8 million in a Series A round. The deal was led by the Japanese company Rakuten and followed by Smart Cap and the local investors Jaan Tallinn, Skype co-founder, and Geoff Prentice, former Atomico partner. More details from Tech.eu.
The tool is free for users and currently supports French and English learners. Lingvist claims to teach words and expressions based on how often they are used, which accelerates the learning process. According to the company, the algorithm is able to track users' progress and to understand memorization patterns. After 200 hours, Lingvist claims users should be able to have casual conversations and watch movies in a foreign language.
