Conversations with the builders shaping the future of language education. Hosted by Jan van der Aa, the show features conversations with founders, operators, and builders who are shaping the next generation of language education, apps, platforms, and education businesses. Jan is co-founder of the language practice app Teacher AI, and runs Creator Empires; a networking community for builders in the language space.
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In this episode, Jan sits down with Tobias, co-founder of Tandem, to unpack the story behind one of the world’s biggest language exchange apps and what it takes to build a sustainable product in a crowded market. Tobias shares how Tandem grew from an early video chat concept into a global community with tens of millions of users, why the business needed capital to reach critical mass, and how the…
In this episode, Brenda dives into the the strategies behind her success: how she built a sustainable YouTube channel that attracts thousands, developed a membership that creates loyal learners, and organized in-person immersion trips in Buenos Aires, Barcelona, and Madrid that turn students into lifelong friends. You'll discover how to leverage AI to streamline video editing, the importance of…
Giovanna Carvalho from Teachable talks about how AI is changing online education, and what creators and app builders in the language space need to focus on now. The episode covers why human connection, trust, and community still matter, how creators are adapting their offers, and where new opportunities are opening up as AI makes content easier to produce. Are you building in the language space?…
Join Xavier Anguera, co-founder of Elsa and senior VP at Babel, as he explores how AI is changing language learning. Discover how AI makes learning more personal and effective, and why it's not just about flashy features. Learn how AI tools are built and how they help people learn languages faster. Whether you're interested in tech or just curious about learning, this episode offers clear insights…
In this episode, I sit down with Timothy from LearnCraft Spanish. A langpreneur who built a 7-figure Spanish coaching business with just 17K YouTube subscribers and a non-active podcast. We dive deep into: How LearnCraft Spanish sells premium coaching programs from $400 to $1,000/month Why “serious learners” are willing to pay much more for language coaching How Timothy generates high-quality…
We just got back from Amsterdam. This episode is the debrief. At our recent Langpreneurs mastermind, two talks stood out above everything else. One was a deep dive into Teachable's own student and creator data, surveying hundreds of buyers across price points and niches to find out what's actually driving course sales right now. The other was a masterclass from Olly Richards of Story Learning on…
What does it take to build one of the most recognized IELTS brands on YouTube, and turn it into a seven-figure business? In this episode, Jan sits down with Chris, who went from being a lawyer in 2008 to teaching English in Asia, to building a YouTube channel with 4.5 million subscribers and tens of millions of monthly views across platforms. Chris shares the unfiltered lessons behind his success,…
Teacher Stefano has been teaching Italian online for over a decade, and in that time he's built a YouTube channel approaching 300,000 subscribers. But the most interesting part of his story isn't the subscriber count, it's what he figured out about turning views into an actual business.In this episode, Stefano shares why he stopped chasing views and started optimizing for leads, how he uses lead…
In this conversation, Jan and Olly discuss the evolution of language education businesses over the past decade, focusing on the transition from blogging to video content and the impact of AI on the industry. They explore strategies for optimizing lead generation, the future of online courses, and the importance of building a strong personal brand and audience. Olly shares insights on how to adapt…
In this episode, Jan shares proven systems and real case studies for growing creator education businesses in 2026. Drawing from his experience building six and seven-figure education businesses and working with top content creators in the language education space, he breaks down actionable strategies across three core growth pillars: traffic, conversion, and lifetime value. What You'll Learn:…
