Due to the so-called “English fever” in South Korea, children there typically begin learning the language at the age of 3.7. This has caused startups to enter this market over time.
One such business is Real Class, which works with well-known Hollywood studios like WarnerMedia and NBC Universal to offer conversational English instruction via a mobile app.
The SoftBank Vision Fund-backed South Korean AI edtech startup Riiid has revealed that it has acquired Qualson, the company that runs Real Class. The sum is not known.
Through the acquisition, Qualson’s user base, content, and English-as-a-second-language market will be accessible to Riiid, which leverages AI to offer personalized learning and adaptive content delivery. This would increase Riid’s visibility in the Asian test-prep market, where users can use its AI-powered Santa app to help them get ready for the TOEIC exam.
Additionally, businesses wishing to develop employee training programs and test prep companies can license Riiid’s technology.
Meanwhile, Qualson works with well-known South Koreans to provide top-notch English-learning materials that are based on Hollywood motion pictures and television series. Users looking for useful, everyday English skills are the target audience for the live-class and video-on-demand formats.
Sheep-duck-llama-2 is a Llama-based large-language model available in Riiid. The company is active in South America and the United States in addition to Asia.
The edtech company has previously acquired a Japanese mobile app distributor called Langoo in 2021. Raising US $175 million in series D funds led by SoftBank Vision Fund in the same year, Riiid’s total funding surpassed US $250 million.
