Lingu

What Lingu does

Lingu AS is a Norwegian language education provider founded in 2008 and headquartered in Stavanger, Norway. The company delivers Norwegian and English language training to four primary segments: adult immigrants preparing for Norwegian permanent residency or citizenship, healthcare professionals seeking to practise in the Norwegian health system, corporate and public-sector organisations needing workplace language programmes, and individual learners of English for IELTS, TOEFL, or business use. Lingu holds HK-dir accreditation as an approved private provider of Norwegian language and social studies education, ISO 9001:2015 certification, WCAG 2.1 Level AA accessibility compliance, and GDPR compliance, and operates physical language centres in Stavanger (HQ), Oslo, and Bergen alongside native iOS and Android applications.

The product portfolio is built on a proprietary Learning Management System with a virtual interactive classroom and collaborative tools. Core Norwegian offerings span four monthly subscription tiers — Easy Norwegian (NOK 415), Flexi Norwegian (NOK 1,990), Fast-Track Norwegian (NOK 2,690), and Flexi Premium (NOK 3,890) — plus prepaid test-prep licenses for the written Norskprøven (NOK 900) and Social Studies test (NOK 1,900 self-paced, NOK 3,700 instructor-led). Specialised products include Samaneh's Journey (A1–C1 digital curriculum), Selena's Anatomy / Norwegian for Healthcare, Business Norwegian, Business English, the Language Academy B2B programme, IELTS and TOEFL preparation, and the recently launched AI Practice for Norskprøven for oral exam preparation using speech and dialogue AI. Free ecosystem assets include the Lingupedia grammar reference, Norskpodden podcast, Norskbloggen blog, and community language cafés.

Revenue is generated through a hybrid model: recurring subscription revenue from individual learners, one-time prepaid license fees for test-prep products, transactional fees for proficiency tests (Norskprøven, IELTS, TOEFL), and bespoke enterprise training contracts sold via a direct field-sales motion to corporate and public-sector buyers. Consumer acquisition runs on a product-led model through lingu.no and mobile apps, supplemented by content marketing (Norskpodden, Norskbloggen, Lingupedia), free events and webinars, and SEO targeting immigration and Norwegian-language queries. Approximately 750 active students are served by a 78-person, 22-nationality team, with a 4.8/5 Trustpilot rating across 976 reviews.

Name

Lingu

Legal name

Lingu AS

Website

https://lingu.no

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Language Training Services

NAICS

Language Schools (61163)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

General Language Schools & Institutes (EDAMAFAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Language & Cross-Cultural Training (BPACANAL), Language Learning Centers (ESL/EFL & World Languages) (EDANAHAG), English Proficiency & International Admissions Exams (TOEFL/IELTS/PTE/Duolingo) Prep (EDANABAC), English Test Preparation (IELTS, TOEFL, Duolingo English Test, etc.) (EDAAACAJ)

Keywords

• Norwegian language training
• Online language courses
• Corporate language training
• Language test preparation
• Immigration language education

Headquarters

HQ city

Stavanger

HQ country

Norway

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Subscription Courses: Monthly subscription model for Norwegian and English language courses with tiered pricing based on flexibility and teacher involvement levels
2. Prepaid Course Licenses: One-time payment for defined period access to self-study materials and test preparation courses
3. Language Tests: Fee-based language proficiency tests including Norwegian Language Test (Norskprøven) and English tests (IELTS, TOEFL)
4. Enterprise Training: Customized corporate language training packages for businesses and public sector organizations

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Lingu provides Norwegian and English language education through self-paced digital courses, teacher-led flexible programs, and instructor-led online classes delivered via a proprietary Learning Management System. Core offerings include subscription-based Norwegian courses (Easy, Flexi, Fast-Track, Premium), Social Studies test preparation for citizenship, healthcare-specialized Norwegian (Selena's Anatomy), and corporate Business Norwegian and Business English programs. The company also operates AI-powered Norskprøven oral exam practice, IELTS/TOEFL prep, and free reference resources (Lingupedia, Norskpodden, Norskbloggen).

Product overview

Lingu offers a comprehensive language education platform providing Norwegian and English courses through multiple delivery formats. The core offering includes self-paced digital courses (Easy Norwegian, Samaneh's Journey), teacher-led flexible programs (Flexi Norwegian, Fast-Track Norwegian, Flexi Norwegian Premium), and instructor-led online courses. The platform operates a Learning Management System (LMS) with virtual interactive classrooms and collaborative tools. Supporting products include specialized courses for healthcare professionals (Selena's Anatomy, Norwegian for Healthcare), exam preparation (Social Studies Test, Norskprøven with AI practice), business language training (Business Norwegian, Business English), and professional teacher development (Unmuta). Free resources include Lingupedia (grammar reference), Norskpodden (podcast), Norskbloggen (blog), and community events. The company serves individuals, corporate clients, and the public sector across physical locations in Oslo, Bergen, and Stavanger plus online delivery.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Lingupedia: Free learning resource from Lingu, designed for those who want quick and easy access to topics in grammar and pronunciation.
• Samanehs reise
• Selena's anatomy
• Unmuta
• Norskpodden
• Norskbloggen

Products and services

• Easy Norwegian (LettNorsk) Self-paced Norwegian language course with teacher support available for spoken and written Norwegian; targeted at adult learners who want flexibility with access to teacher help when needed. Priced at NOK 415/month.
• Flexi Norwegian (Fleksinorsk) Flexible Norwegian course with topic-oriented drop-in classes taught by professional teachers; designed for learners needing schedule flexibility. Priced at NOK 1,990/month.
• Fast-Track Norwegian Intensive Norwegian course combining digital classes with a fixed teacher and schedule, drop-in sessions, and access to the Samaneh's Journey digital resource. Priced at NOK 2,690/month.
• Flexi Norwegian Premium (Norskpakken) Premium Norwegian course offering schedule flexibility, personal follow-up, one-to-one lessons and drop-in sessions with professional teachers. Priced at NOK 3,890/month.
• Samaneh's Journey (Samanehs reise) Proprietary digital learning resource for Norwegian as a second language covering CEFR levels A1 through C1, built around a narrative storyline for adult learners. Bundled with subscription courses and also available to institutions.
• Selena's Anatomy (Selenas anatomi) Specialized Norwegian language course/resource for healthcare professionals, preparing students for work in the Norwegian health sector with medical terminology and clinical communication.
• Social Studies Test Preparation (50 hours) Comprehensive course preparing students for the official Norwegian Social Studies test required for permanent residency and citizenship applications; offered in self-paced (NOK 1,900) and instructor-led (NOK 3,700) formats with 6 months of e-learning access. Average completion time 4 weeks.
• Norwegian Language Tests Online language proficiency tests for level assessment, offered to both companies and individuals for placement and benchmarking.
• Norwegian for Healthcare Specialized Norwegian language training for nurses and doctors, preparing healthcare professionals for the Norwegian healthcare workplace with profession-specific communication.
• Private Lessons One-on-one or small group (two participants) Norwegian or English language instruction delivered by private tutors for personalized learning.
• IELTS Test Preparation Test preparation course for the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), available in Norway for learners seeking English proficiency certification.
• TOEFL Test Preparation Test preparation course for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) for learners seeking English proficiency certification.
• Business Norwegian Corporate Norwegian language training solutions for workplace inclusion; flexible programs tailored to company requirements for building an inclusive workplace.
• Business English Flexible blended learning English programs geared toward workplace requirements for corporate clients, covering a broad range of business communication needs.
• Language Academy Corporate language training school offering internal training programs for businesses, providing structured institutional language education partnerships.

Quantifiable outcome

• Pass rate for official Norwegian Language Test (Norskprøven)
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• HK-dir (The Directorate for Higher Education and Skills)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with HK-dir to provide supplementary programs for adult education centers nationally. Lingu is approved as a private provider of Norwegian language and social studies education under this partnership.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Preply: Online marketplace connecting learners with private language tutors, including Norwegian tutors, via subscription packages. Comparable in PLG/private-lesson model and online-first GTM, though lacking accreditation and integrated curriculum content.
• Babbel: Subscription-based online language learning app with self-paced courses in many languages. Comparable product paradigm and PLG/self-serve GTM; competes for self-directed adult learners though it does not hold HK-dir accreditation or local test-prep specialization.
• Rosetta Stone: Long-standing consumer and enterprise language-learning platform with self-paced courses, mobile apps, and corporate solutions. Comparable in self-serve digital learning and corporate channels; broader catalog means less Norway-specific depth than Lingu.
• Duolingo: Leading consumer language-learning app offering Norwegian in a gamified free/premium model with AI features. Comparable in self-paced mobile/PLG distribution; competes on price for the Easy Norsk tier but lacks Lingu's accredited exam prep and instructor services.

Broad incumbents

• Berlitz Corporation: Global language school chain providing instructor-led and corporate language training across many markets. Overlaps with Lingu in business Norwegian/English workplace training and adult premium instruction, though it does not specialize in Norwegian A1–C1 immigration pathways.
• Inlingua: International language training network with corporate and government programs. Comparable in business language training delivery model and enterprise GTM; broader geographic and language portfolio makes it a broader incumbent rather than a direct Norwegian-only peer.

Direct peers

• Folkeuniversitetet: Established Norway-wide adult education provider of accredited Norwegian language and social studies courses for adult immigrants. Competes head-on with Lingu in the same HK-dir-regulated market and similar B2C and B2B channels.
• AOF (Arbeidernes Opplysningsforbund): Norwegian adult education organization offering accredited Norwegian courses and social studies training for working adults and immigrants. Competes with Lingu on price, breadth of delivery formats, and enterprise/public-sector channels.
• Alfaskolen: One of Norway's largest accredited private Norwegian language schools, offering online and in-person A1–C1 courses, Norskprøven prep and corporate training. Directly comparable to Lingu in geography, accreditation status, and target audience of adult immigrants and corporate clients.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@LinguNorge
• Facebookfacebook.com/lingunorge
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lingunorge
• Instagraminstagram.com/linguno
• Xx.com/lingunorge

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Lingu