Ex-Duolingo Leaders Launch Outsmart to Tackle College Costs

As college fees keep climbing, three former Duolingo bigwigs are starting a new venture, Outsmart Education. Their goal? Make higher education more affordable and accessible. The team, led by Jorge Mazal, has snagged $13 million in funding from investors like Khosla Ventures. This seed money will go towards hiring and developing their product. The idea came from Mazal's personal struggles. When he moved to the U. S. for his undergrad, he juggled jobs and scholarships to pay for school. Later, he found himself deep in debt after earning degrees from Harvard and Wharton. This experience drove him to want to fix the higher education system. Gina Gotthilf and Daniel Falabella, also ex-Duolingo execs, are on board. They've kept the details of their new venture under wraps, but investors are excited. Ethan Choi of Khosla Ventures believes Outsmart could be game-changing. College costs are a big deal. This year, private college fees rose by 5. 5%, and public schools saw a 2% increase. In the U. S. , total student loan debt is around $1. 6 trillion. Outsmart aims to shake things up, but how they plan to do so remains a mystery. Mazal is confident Outsmart will outdo current options. With diverse backgrounds in tech and education, this trio could be well-positioned to make a difference.