Hi everyone, I’m Darcy, your Postgraduate Officer at Students’ Union UCL.
Last Thursday, as part of a busy Welcome Week, I had the privilege of hosting a chat with Professor Luis von Ahn, co-founder and CEO of Duolingo. The room was filled to capacity with 150 students filling every seat, and dozens more waited eagerly to ask their questions. What unfolded wasn’t just a conversation about an app. It was an incredible conversation about how language connects us, and how education can reshape opportunities around the world.
Meeting the Mind Behind Duo
Luis von Ahn’s story is one of innovation and cultural curiosity. In his twenties, he co-invented CAPTCHAs, sold two companies to Google, and became a MacArthur Fellow (all before turning his focus to language learning).
Duolingo today has over 130 million monthly users across the globe. Behind its playful green owl is a powerful mission: to make the best education universally accessible. That mission has already expanded with the Duolingo English Test, which has opened doors for international students by offering an affordable, flexible alternative to traditional English exams.
And the significance behind the green owl and macot, Duo? The owl was chosen for wisdom. And its green feathers? That’s thanks to an inside joke: Luis’s co-founder simply disliked the colour. Now, it’s a symbol recognised worldwide.
"It was so inspiring to hear from such an influential person, and to have the opportunity to ask questions" - attendee
Language as a Bridge
One of the themes that came up again and again in our chat was language as a tool for opportunity and connection.
Luis explained how learning English can dramatically increase earning potential in many parts of the world. But the story isn’t just about English. With Duolingo, learners everywhere are also exploring Spanish, Japanese, Hindi, Welsh, and so many more. Each new word learned is a window into a different culture, a step toward understanding, and a way of bringing people closer together.
This philosophy extends to Duolingo’s expansion into maths, music, and chess subjects with universal appeal and cultural significance, giving learners everywhere more ways to learn.
Advice for Students on their own journey
Luis gave advice for students who are thinking about their own futures:
- Start early as an entrepreneur (don’t wait for the “perfect time. Just begin.”)
- Build small and grow steadily by focusing first on a group who truly love what you’re creating.
- Lead with social impact - Think about how your work can create access for others. Duolingo’s model is simple: paying users in wealthier countries make it possible for millions of learners to study for free. As Luis put it, it’s a small but powerful way of redistributing wealth through education, helping everyone from refugees to world leaders (the reach is truly global!).
- Make education accessible and fair - Traditional English exams can be expensive and require travel, but the Duolingo English Test is affordable, taken from home, and delivers fast results.
- Embrace the world of AI. AI will shape every field, not just technology. The challenge and opportunity is to use AI as a tool to strengthen creativity, not replace it.
The Owl in the Room
Of course, no Duolingo event would be complete without a little streak competition. Three students with the longest streaks went home with a Duo plushy in their arms (the top streak being an incredible 1,800+ days - wow!) The rest of us left with something just as valuable - fresh perspectives, inspiration, and a renewed motivation to keep their own streaks alive!
Closing Reflections
For me, this event wasn’t only about hearing from a successful entrepreneur. It was about how language enables access, opportunity, cultural discovery and learning. Luis’s story reminds us that behind every streak and every lesson, there’s a bigger mission to bring education to anyone, anywhere. With this, we're excited to launch our Language and Cultural Discovery Programme later term.
A huge thank you to Luis, the Duolingo team, our UCL colleagues, and most importantly, all of you students who turned up, asked bold questions, and created such an unforgettable evening.
Until next time, and don’t forget to check your Duolingo streak tonight 😉
Darcy Lan, Postgraduate Officer