Learning resources for English are abundant, but few cater to near-native speakers looking to enhance their fluency. Stan Beliaev and Yurii Rebryk were motivated by this gap in the market, leading them to develop Fluently.
Utilizing AI, Fluently acts as a coach providing feedback and tips on spoken English, resembling ELSA’s AI speech tutor and traditional one-on-one coaching solutions. What sets Fluently apart is its feedback mechanism based on real call recordings.
Users can have Fluently transcribe real-life calls, such as those on Zoom, or practice with AI coaches like “Ryan” for casual chats or “Kyle” for mock interviews. This is particularly beneficial for non-native speakers aiming to improve their English for job opportunities.
With an estimated 84 million non-native English-speaking employees globally, Fluently targets a niche market seeking improved communication skills. The platform’s inclusion in Y Combinator’s winter 2024 batch and successful seed funding showcase its potential in the edtech sector.
Fluently focuses on technical expertise, with a team predominantly consisting of engineers with machine learning backgrounds. While not education professionals, their firsthand experience in language learning drives Fluently’s user-centric approach.
The platform aims to enhance speaking skills holistically, emphasizing clarity over accent. Apart from pronunciation and grammar correction, Fluently plans to introduce rephrasing tools similar to Grammarly for writing.
While Fluently is still in its beta stage, users have reported positive experiences, indicating its potential value for improving English proficiency. The platform’s subscription model aims to offer affordable and practical language coaching.
Moving forward, Fluently aims to enhance user engagement through gamified progress tracking, inspired by successful language learning apps like Duolingo. Privacy remains a priority, with Fluently assuring users of data protection and anonymity.
Despite current limitations on platform availability, Fluently plans to expand to Chrome extension, catering to a broader user base. The recent seed funding will enable team expansion and marketing initiatives, demonstrating the platform’s growth potential.
