Fluently, a YC alum startup based on an AI-powered English coaching platform, has raised $2 million in a seed funding round. The round saw participation from Pioneer Fund, SID Venture Partners, and individual angel investors.
Founders and Inspiration
- Founders: Stan Beliaev and Yurii Rebryk
- Inspiration: Both founders, who are near-native English speakers, created Fluently to improve their own fluency and for others in similar situations.
How Fluently Works
Fluently leverages AI to provide real-time feedback and tips on spoken English. Users can have their side of real-life calls recorded and transcribed, or practice with AI coaches:
- Ryan: For daily conversation practice.
- Kyle: For mock interviews, crucial for job seekers in English-speaking environments.
Market Potential
- Target Audience: 84 million non-native employees in English-speaking work environments.
- Niche: A less crowded space compared to the broader ESL market.
Technology and Team
- Tech-Heavy Approach: Out of the distributed team of four, three are engineers.
- Founders’ Background: Both founders have machine learning backgrounds with internships at Amazon, Google, and Nvidia.
Product Features and Future Enhancements
- Current Features: Focus on improving pronunciation, grammar, pace, and vocabulary.
- Planned Features: Rephrasing advice similar to Grammarly or Ludwig for writing.
- User Privacy: Ensures privacy with local audio storage, encryption, and anonymized data for third-party transcription.
Beta and Pricing
- Beta Version: Available only on MacOS with a planned Chrome extension.
- Pricing: $25 per month for the service.
Future Plans
The seed round will enable Fluently to:
- Expand Team: Hire additional team members.
- Marketing: Allocate funds for marketing efforts when the time is right.
What we think
Fluently is positioned to make a significant impact in the niche market of near-native English speakers looking to improve their fluency. With the recent funding, the startup plans to enhance its offerings, expand its team, and eventually cater to a broader audience with its upcoming Chrome extension.
