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How Duolingo Kept Users Hooked Without Going Broke
In this episode, Lucas and Luna dig into one of the sneakiest business decisions in consumer tech: how Duolingo, the language-learning app with a 40-million-strong daily user base, built a growth engine that didn't depend on paid ads. They trace the company's early bet on a mascot-driven push notification strategy, the shift to a freemium model that converted just 8 percent of users into paying subscribers, and how the brand turned its owl into a cultural meme. Along the way, they unpack the math behind user retention, the psychology of streaks, and why Duolingo's IPO in 2021…
The skinny
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