LangListen (working name)
A research-first pitch for Aleksandra
This document is a proposal that we collaborate on developing an AI-powered language learning tool.
A prototype app
I’ve built a prototype web app that includes some basic workflows for creating personalized language-learning materials (audio lessons, conversations, quizzes, reports) from user-provided content. In building the app, I’ve just focused on getting all the pieces of the tech stack to fit together. The app does not yet reflect a product vision.
Discovery research
To start building that vision, I’ve started a lean development-style customer discovery process. So far I’ve interviewed about twenty people. These have skewed mostly towards Portuguese tutors on these platforms, but have also included independent online language instructors (tutors who market their own online courses to students directly) This document summarizes findings and insights as well as the hypotheses I’ve built from these interviews.
Based on the interviews I’ve conducted so far, this document records:
- Interview analyses and insights
- My current product development hypotheses (which need validation)
- Three business model canvases (one primary, two alternatives)
The ask for you
If you’re interested in exploring co-founding together, my proposed next step for you (Aleksandra) is:
- Explore tutoring platforms.: Italki, Prebly, and Verbling.
- Survey competitive landscape: Pimsleur and Language Reactor especially, as well as tools that use AI such as DuoLingo Max and Italki Plus.
- Run ~10 discovery interviews in 2 weeks: Interview students or tutors (ideally more students). Use other platforms and this prototype as topics of conversation.
- Day-14 deliverable: Write an updated Business Model Canvas + a short recommendation memo: **double down / pivot / explore other collaboration directions.
Reading guide
- Start with Why us.
- Then read about dogfooding and motivation.
- Then explore the prototype app.
- Then read the analyses of the interviews
- Then consider the hypotheses - ideas for product vision that need further validation
- Finally, review the business model canvases
What I believe today (high-level)
- Beachhead: busy adult learners (not school/career-driven) who want “real progress” without high friction.
- Primary bet: audio-first “personalized podcast feed” experience at roughly $12/mo.
- Distribution wedge: tutors as a free acquisition channel (inviting learners), while learners are the payer.
- Backbone: cross-lesson memory + progress visibility (continuity and “wins”).
These are hypotheses, not conclusions. The goal is to test them fast and honestly.