Lingokids is a company on a mission to Help parents raise amazing kids through Playlearning. The company combines the entertainment that kids love with an exceptional curriculum of many different subjects to complement children’s education. Pulse 2.0 interviewed Lingokids founder and CEO Cristobal Viedma to learn more about the company.
Cristobal Viedma’s Background
Could you tell me more about your background? Viedma said:
“I’ve always been passionate about technology and how it can be leveraged to improve our lives. My background is in computer science, and since an early age, I worked on various tech projects; beginning my entrepreneurship journey with the founding of Bluewalks, a mobile platform designed for travel enthusiasts. From there, I took on various leadership roles in mobile product research and media distribution. These experiences fueled my interest in education and the power of digital platforms to make learning more accessible and engaging for people of all ages.”
Formation Of The Company
How did the idea for the company come together? Viedma shared:
“Lingokids was born from a personal story: my niece. When she was around two years old, my sister was looking for a digital solution that could help her learn English in a playful way, but she struggled to find one that was both effective and engaging. Seeing this gap in the market, I realized there was an opportunity to create a product that combined educational value with fun, making learning feel like play. That’s how Lingokids was founded; with the goal of helping children learn in a stress-free, engaging environment through what we call Playlearning.”
Favorite Memory
What has been your favorite memory working for the company so far? Viedma reflected:
“There have been so many incredible moments, but one that stands out is when we received letters from parents and teachers telling us how Lingokids had a real impact on their children’s education. One I remember particularly too well came from a parent whose child, who is neurodiverse, had always struggled with traditional learning methods and self-expression.”
“After engaging with our neurodiversity-friendly activities, which focus on sensory play, social-emotional cues, and interactive storytelling, she told us that her child started expressing himself more openly and even engaging in conversations in a way he hadn’t before. For us, that was a powerful reminder of why we do what we do—creating an inclusive space where all kids, regardless of their learning style, can feel confident and thrive.”
Core Products
What are the company’s core products and features? Viedma explained:
“Lingokids is a comprehensive educational app designed for children aged 2-8, built on our proprietary Playlearning methodology. Through over 2,000 interactive activities and a completely immersive learning experience, we help children develop essential skills in a fun and engaging way, combining gamification, storytelling, and adaptive learning. Our approach has been tested and proven effective, with research showing that 90% of kids improve their skills after completing our structured learning experiences.”
“Within the app, children can explore a variety of learning experiences, from structured lessons in Math, Literacy, Science (including Space-themed lessons with NASA), and Socio-Emotional Learning to interactive games, safe and educational videos, and activities designed for parents and kids to enjoy together. Beyond the app, families can extend their Playlearning™ journey through our extensive catalog of songs, curiosity-driven video episodes, podcasts, and even a dedicated merchandise store—making learning an immersive, ever-growing adventure.”
“Lingokids makes learning a joyful adventure, ensuring kids acquire new skills while having fun!”
Challenges Faced
Have you faced any challenges in your sector of work recently? Viedma acknowledged:
“One of the biggest challenges in edtech is balancing engagement with meaningful learning outcomes. Many apps focus on pure entertainment, while others prioritize rigid instruction. We constantly work to strike the right balance—ensuring kids are having fun while actually learning.”
“Another challenge is the evolving conversation around screen time. Parents today are more mindful than ever about the quality of the content their children consume. That’s why we focus on making Lingokids a trusted and enriching screen time choice—one that is safe, educational, and designed to support children’s growth in a fun and meaningful way. That’s why until date, we have been honored with the kidSAFE, astroSAFE certifications and the recent inclusion into the UNICEF’s Learning Cabinet, which underscores all the safety and privacy features our app has to offer. Moreover, we take seriously all children’s privacy protection rules, that’s why we also follow strictly the COPPA rule.”
Evolution Of The Company’s Technology
How has the company’s technology evolved since launching? Viedma noted:
“We’ve evolved from a simple language-learning app into a comprehensive learning ecosystem. Initially, Lingokids focused solely on teaching English, but as we grew, we expanded into multiple subjects, developed adaptive learning technology, and integrated interactive features like the new Playtogether Mode, a collaborative and multiplayer space where kids and families can both enjoy the benefits of Playlearning.”
“We also continue to enhance personalization, using AI to recommend content based on a child’s progress while maintaining a completely safe, ad-free environment. For the record, it is important to mention that we broadly use AI as a tool to improve the team’s productivity, but never to purely create content that kids will consume. The whole content portfolio at Lingokids is done under the watchful eye of our education experts.”
Significant Milestones
What have been some of the company’s most significant milestones? Viedma cited:
Some key recent milestones include:
1.) Expanding beyond language learning into a full educational platform covering guided courses in subjects such as Math, Science, Literacy, and Socio-Emotional Learning. Our idea is to expand our offer as time goes by and add more and more subjects!
2.) Partnering with leading brands like Moonbug Entertainment, bringing beloved characters such as Blippi into the app to enhance learning through engaging content.
3.) Collaborating with renowned educational institutions and organizations, including NASA for space-themed learning experiences and Oxford University Press, with whom we have a long-standing partnership.
4.) Winning multiple industry awards, including Good Housekeeping’s Best Parenting Award and the Mom’s Choice Gold Award—both won for two consecutive years.
5.) Conducting an efficacy study with UC Davis, proving that children using Lingokids improved their vocabulary skills by 14% over eight weeks.
Customer Success Stories
Can you share any specific customer success stories? Viedma highlighted:
“We’ve heard from parents all over the world about how Lingokids has transformed their children’s learning journeys. One particularly touching story came from a mother whose son, diagnosed with speech delays, started using Lingokids and began verbalizing words and sentences after just a few months. Another family shared that their child, who was struggling with math, gained confidence through our interactive math lessons. These stories drive us to keep innovating.”
Funding
When asking Viedma about the company’s funding details, he revealed:
“We’ve been fortunate to have the support of strong investors who believe in our vision. Until
2021, we’ve raised over $60 million in funding from investors like HV Capital and Ravensburger. As for revenue, while we don’t disclose exact numbers, we’ve seen significant growth year over year, fueled by our expanding global user base and new premium features.”
Total Addressable Market
What total addressable market (TAM) size is the company pursuing? Viedma assessed:
“The global digital education market is projected to exceed $100 billion before 2030, and within that, the early childhood segment is one of the fastest-growing. With over 600 million children worldwide in our target age range (2-8 years old), the opportunity is massive!”
Differentiation From The Competition
What differentiates the company from its competition? Viedma affirmed:
“Lingokids stands out because we offer a holistic learning experience—not just one subject, but a full educational journey covering core skills, emotional intelligence, and parent-child interactions.
Our key differentiators include the Playlearning methodology, which makes education feel like play. Safety and trust, with an ad-free, child-friendly environment. Diverse learning modes, including Play, Video, Lessons, and Playtogether; and, proven efficacy, backed by third-party and independent research.”
Future Company Goals
What are some of the company’s future company goals? Viedma emphasized:
“Our vision is to become the go-to learning platform for kids globally. In the coming years, we plan to expand our curriculum, adding more subjects and real-world themes. We’ll strengthen our partnerships, bringing in more beloved educational brands. We’ll enhance personalization and AI-driven learning paths to better adapt to each child’s needs. Plus, continue advocating for guilt-free and high-quality screen time, helping parents see digital learning as a valuable tool and not something to worry about, at least when they think about Lingokids.”
Additional Thoughts
Any other topics you would like to discuss? Viedma concluded:
“One topic I think is crucial in today’s world is how we can shift the conversation around screen time. There is still a lot of guilt and stigma surrounding children using screens, and often, the debate is reduced to a simple ‘screens: good or bad?’ discussion, when in reality, it’s far more nuanced. Instead of focusing on how much screen time kids have, the real question should be what kind of screen time they’re engaging in—is it passive or interactive? Is it just entertainment, or is it actually enriching their minds?”
“If we take a step back and look at history, we can see that this kind of skepticism toward new media is nothing new. Over a century ago, people who were caught reading books in public were sometimes branded as madmen. Newspapers from the late 19th and early 20th centuries strongly criticized this, with articles warning that books were “dangerously immersive”, making readers lose themselves in ‘fanciful, unrealistic worlds.’ Some even feared that excessive reading could disconnect people from reality.”
“Yet today, reading in public is a symbol of intelligence and culture. If you see someone reading on a train or a park bench, you don’t think, “That person is ruining their brain.” Instead, you probably assume they are well-informed, educated, or simply enjoying a great book. Screens will go through the same transition.”
“Right now, we’re in the early stages of this evolution, where screen use is still met with skepticism. But as time goes on, and as quality educational experiences become the standard, the conversation will shift. In the future, a child using a tablet in public won’t automatically trigger concerns about screen addiction—it will depend on what they’re engaging with, exactly what happens right now with another format such as books.”
“It’s not or shouldn’t be a problem around the tool, but the content. That’s why I strongly believe electronic devices will end up earning their place as an essential and respected tool for learning.”
“And here there’s Lingokids, where we’re committed to reshaping the narrative around screen time. We want to help parents feel confident that when their kids use digital devices, they are engaging with content that is educational, enriching, and designed to help them grow. Because it’s not about banning screens—it’s about making sure they’re being used in the best way possible.”
