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World Service,·24 Jun 2026,·21 mins
Available for over a year
We hear how a childhood in Guatemala, a fascination with computers and a belief that education should be accessible to everyone helped inspire the world's most popular learning apps. Luis von Ahn tells us how he went from creating CAPTCHA and selling reCAPTCHA to Google, to building Duolingo into a multi-billion-dollar education technology company used by millions around the world. He reflects on his mother's sacrifices to fund his education, the lessons he learned as an entrepreneur, and why he struggles with conflict in his life as a tech CEO. Presenter: Leanna Byrne Producer: Amber Mehmood If you'd like to get in touch with the team, our email address is businessdaily@bbc.co.uk
Read the full story at BBC ↗
Luis von Ahn, founder of Duolingo, is the subject of a BBC World Service podcast episode. Von Ahn grew up in Guatemala and developed an interest in computers. He created CAPTCHA technology and later sold reCAPTCHA to Google. He subsequently founded Duolingo, an education technology platform with millions of users globally. In the podcast, von Ahn discusses how his childhood experiences and his mother's educational investments influenced his career. He also reflects on lessons learned as an entrepreneur and his experience navigating interpersonal conflict in a leadership role.
Read the full story at BBC ↗
Use BBC.com or the new BBC App to listen to BBC podcasts, Radio 4 and the World Service outside the UK.
Find out how to listen to other BBC stations
World Service,·24 Jun 2026,·21 mins
Available for over a year
We hear how a childhood in Guatemala, a fascination with computers and a belief that education should be accessible to everyone helped inspire the world's most popular learning apps. Luis von Ahn tells us how he went from creating CAPTCHA and selling reCAPTCHA to Google, to building Duolingo into a multi-billion-dollar education technology company used by millions around the world. He reflects on his mother's sacrifices to fund his education, the lessons he learned as an entrepreneur, and why he struggles with conflict in his life as a tech CEO. Presenter: Leanna Byrne Producer: Amber Mehmood If you'd like to get in touch with the team, our email address is businessdaily@bbc.co.uk
Read the full story at BBC ↗
Luis von Ahn created CAPTCHA and sold reCAPTCHA to Google Von Ahn founded Duolingo, which became a multi-billion-dollar company Duolingo is used by millions of people around the world Von Ahn grew up in Guatemala A childhood in Guatemala and fascination with computers inspired his creation of the world's most popular learning apps Von Ahn believes education should be accessible to everyone His mother made sacrifices to fund his education He struggles with conflict in his life as a tech CEO
Read the full story at BBC ↗
- Luis von Ahn built Duolingo into a multi-billion-dollar education technology company used by millions worldwide
- Von Ahn previously created CAPTCHA and sold reCAPTCHA to Google
- His Guatemalan childhood and belief in accessible education shaped his entrepreneurial path
- Von Ahn credits his mother's sacrifices in funding his education as formative
- BBC World Service podcast features von Ahn discussing his entrepreneurial journey and personal reflections