Fluent City

What Fluent City does

Fluent City (legally operated as Cricket Media, Inc.) is a New York-based, private online language learning provider founded in 2011 and operating under the Cricket eLearning brand. The company delivers live, instructor-led language lessons on the Zoom video platform in 11 languages — Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese, German, Chinese, Russian, English, and others — spanning beginner through advanced proficiency levels. Curriculum is personalized to each learner's goals, and students select their own instructors and class times from a curated teacher network. The product portfolio is organized into four go-to-market tracks: (1) individual consumer packages, (2) a dedicated Kids & Teens program, (3) customizable Business Language Training for corporate clients in 11 languages, and (4) Schools & Libraries programs targeting K-12 institutions and public libraries, including ELA-funded initiatives. Fluent City also operates FluentCommunity, a separate online community-building platform.

The business model blends self-serve, package-based direct-to-consumer revenue with a B2B sales motion for corporate training and institutional programs. Distribution is global (100+ countries, 40,000+ enrolled students, 100,000+ lessons delivered), supported by content marketing, organic social channels, and a portfolio of case studies and gated guides targeting enterprise and education buyers. Named customers span sports leagues (NFL, NBA), fashion and retail (Calvin Klein, Calzedonia), technology and gaming (AppNexus, Scopely), education (Wharton School, Head Start), and legal/healthcare organizations.

The company has raised approximately $5.5 million across two funding rounds in 2016 ($2.5M) and 2017 ($3.0M), both led by Lerner Enterprises. Leadership consists of CEO Jessica Vollman and Chairman James Rohrbach. Fluent City has no native mobile app, no disclosed AI capabilities, and depends on Zoom as its core delivery infrastructure. Revenue, valuation, and detailed pricing are not publicly disclosed.

Name

Fluent City

Legal name

Cricket Media, Inc.

Website

https://fluentcity.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Fluent City is a New York-based online language learning provider offering live, instructor-led Zoom lessons in 11 languages for individual consumers, children, corporate clients, and schools and libraries globally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Online Language Learning

NAICS

Language Schools (611630), All Other Schools and Instruction (61169)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Live Online Language Tutoring & Small-Group Classes (EDAMAFAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Classroom & Institutional Language Learning Platforms (Schools/Universities) (EDAFAOAI), Language Learning Centers (ESL/EFL & World Languages) (EDANAHAG)

Keywords

• Online language learning
• Corporate language training
• Live language instruction
• Language education services
• Multilingual learning programs

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Individual Language Lessons: Package-based language instruction for individual consumers purchasing lessons directly
2. Corporate Language Training: Customized language training programs for businesses, offered in 11 languages with tailor-made curriculum for organizational needs
3. Educational Institution Programs: Language programs for schools and libraries with customizable instructional needs

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Fluent City delivers live, instructor-led online language lessons in 11 languages via Zoom, with personalized curriculum and custom schedules for individual learners. For organizations, the company provides customized language training programs for businesses, schools, and libraries, tailored to specific instructional needs and workforce or educational goals.

Product overview

Fluent City operates primarily through the Cricket eLearning platform, a unified online language learning system offering live instructor-led lessons via Zoom. The core product includes Live Online Language Lessons with personalized curriculum and custom schedules. The portfolio comprises separate programs for Kids & Teens, Business Language Training (customizable in 11 languages), and Schools & Libraries programs. Additionally, FluentCommunity (mentioned in news content) is a separate online community-building tool for creating and managing different community types.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Live Online Language Lessons Personalized live one-on-one language instruction delivered via Zoom with expert teachers, custom schedules, and curriculum from beginner to advanced levels across 11 languages. Targeted at individual adult learners pursuing personal or professional language acquisition.
• Kids & Teens Language Programs Language learning programs designed specifically for children and teenage students, delivered live online via Zoom with instructor-led lessons. Targeted at parents purchasing on behalf of kids and teens.
• Business Language Training Customizable corporate language training programs for businesses, available in 11 languages, tailored to organizational needs and use cases such as workforce development, DEI, and international business communication. Targeted at enterprise HR, L&D, and DEI leaders.
• Schools & Libraries Programs Language programs designed for educational institutions including K-12 schools, universities, and public libraries, with customizable curriculum and live instruction delivered via Zoom. Targeted at district curriculum directors, school administrators, and library program managers.
• FluentCommunity Online community platform for building and managing various types of online communities including support, learning, interest-based, professional, feedback, and brand communities. Targeted at organizations seeking to deploy branded community experiences.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100,000+ lessons taught
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature3 records

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Varsity Tutors: Large live online tutoring platform offering language instruction alongside K-12 and test prep subjects — broader portfolio but with overlap in live language tutoring for consumer and enterprise.
• Babbel: Large-scale consumer language learning subscription with a self-paced app plus Babbel Live group classes — broader portfolio but with overlapping live instruction offering.
• Duolingo: Mass-market gamified language learning app with optional live tutoring via Duolingo Max — adjacent AI/app competitor reaching the same learner segment at much larger scale.

Direct peers

• Verbling: Online platform for live, instructor-led language lessons with vetted teachers and flexible scheduling — closely mirrors Fluent City's live tutor marketplace approach.
• Preply: Live online language tutoring marketplace connecting learners with private instructors across dozens of languages, with subscription and package pricing — directly comparable in delivery model and target buyer.
• Lingoda: Subscription-based live online group and private language classes with certified teachers — directly competes with Fluent City's small-group and individual live instruction.
• Open English: Live online English and Spanish instruction for adults and corporate clients across Latin America and the U.S. — directly comparable live-instructor language learning business model.
• TakeLessons: Online marketplace for live, instructor-led lessons across languages and other subjects with package-based pricing — comparable live tutor delivery and B2C/B2B hybrid GTM.
• italki: Global marketplace for live online language tutors and teachers, offering 1-on-1 and small-group lessons across many languages — the closest direct competitor to Fluent City's live online model.

Emerging players

• Outschool: Live online small-group classes marketplace for kids and teens including world languages — overlaps with Fluent City's Kids & Teens and Schools & Libraries programs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/fluentcity
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/fluentcity
• Facebookfacebook.com/FluentCity
• Instagraminstagram.com/cricketelearning

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors7 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Fluent City