Latino Ex-Duolingo Execs Raise $13M To Make College Affordable

Three former Duolingo executives have secured $13 million in seed funding to launch a startup aimed at making college more accessible, as first reported by TechCrunch.

The funding round, led by Khosla Ventures, also saw participation from Karman Ventures, Latitud Ventures, Lightspeed Ventures, and several angel investors. 

The funds will be directed toward hiring and product development for the initiative, which remains in stealth mode.

A Mission Rooted in Personal Experience

The team, which includes Jorge Mazal (CEO), Daniel Falabella (Chief Product Officer), and Gina Gotthilf (Chief Marketing Officer), is working under the name Outsmart Education, though the final branding is yet to be confirmed.

Mazal, a Latino immigrant, reflected on his own struggles to finance his education, recalling the significant debt he incurred while attending prestigious institutions like Harvard and Wharton. 

Falabella, also brings a deep commitment to accessibility, shaped by his upbringing in Central America.

Their experiences at Duolingo, combined with Gotthilf’s expertise in growth and marketing, position the team to create a solution that addresses affordability, personalization, and access in higher education.

Making college more accessible

The initiative comes at a critical time, as US student loan debt has reached approximately $1.6 trillion. 

Tuition fees continue to rise, with private colleges increasing rates by 5.5% for the 2024–2025 academic year. 

Outsmart’s founders aim to deliver a solution that is more affordable and flexible than current options, addressing gaps in a system that often leaves students burdened with debt.

While Outsmart’s specifics remain undisclosed, Khosla Ventures’ partner Ethan Choi emphasized the project’s potential, calling college education a “basic, universal human right.”