How Duolingo Built a Marketing Funnel on Gamification

The Marketing Funnel Podcast with Fexingo: Awareness, Interest, Decision, and Action Stages · Jul 3, 2026 · 9m · transcript

Lucas and Luna break down how Duolingo turned language learning into a marketing funnel powered by streaks, notifications, and the infamous green owl. They trace the journey from awareness through the app store to action, showing how gamification tactics like leaderboards and daily goals keep users moving through the funnel. The episode dives into Duolingo's 2025 user retention data, the psychology behind its notification strategy, and why the company's freemium model converts at a higher rate than most subscription apps. Along the way, Lucas and Luna discuss the fine line between…