Speak Up Idiomas

What Speak Up Idiomas does

Speak Up Idiomas is a Brazilian online language school founded in September 2001 and headquartered in the Tatuapé neighborhood of São Paulo. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, the company completed a full pivot from a hybrid in-person/online model to 100% online delivery, which it describes as a strategic decision that accelerated growth and enabled it to serve students globally. The school has trained more than 500,000 students over its 24-year history and maintains a documented zero-complaint record on Brazil's Reclame Aqui platform. It is recognized by Cambridge Assessment English as an official Cambridge Venue.

The company's core product is live, instructor-led online language instruction delivered in English, Spanish, French, and German, structured around the CEFR international standard across six proficiency levels (A1-C2). Teaching is delivered through the proprietary Easy Language methodology, which incorporates Neuro-Linguistic Programming techniques and addresses seven learning styles, supported by a physical and digital material kit ranked among the top five globally, plus a supplementary online platform with 300+ practice activities. Adult instruction is packaged into three tiers: Special (small groups), Prata (closed 2-3 student groups), and Ouro (1:1 private tutoring). A dedicated Kids & Teens track serves learners from age 6, and enrolled students receive weekly bonus classes in fluency, travel, business, and pronunciation.

Speak Up Idiomas operates a direct-to-consumer, subscription-based revenue model billed monthly, with no fidelity contracts, cancellation penalties, or hidden fees, and a 24-hour 100% refund satisfaction guarantee on first classes. Customer acquisition and plan consultation flow almost exclusively through WhatsApp Business, supplemented by Facebook and Instagram for top-of-funnel brand presence. Primary customer segments are adults (travel, business, certification, personal enrichment) and kids/teens. Pricing is opaque and quote-based, all distribution is digital, and the company employs approximately 22 staff.

Name

Speak Up Idiomas

Legal name

Speak Up Idiomas

Website

https://speakupidiomas.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Speak Up Idiomas is a Brazilian online language school founded in 2001, delivering CEFR-aligned live instruction in English, Spanish, French, and German to adults and children globally via WhatsApp-led, direct-to-consumer subscriptions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Online Language Education

NAICS

Language Schools (61163), Language Schools (611630)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAAACAK

Online/Hybrid Adult ESL & Language Learning Platforms

Education/Adult & Continuing Education/English as a Second Language (ESL) & Adult Language Learning

SECONDARYEDAAACAA

General ESL Programs (Multi-level Adult ESL)

Education/Adult & Continuing Education/English as a Second Language (ESL) & Adult Language Learning

SECONDARYEDAGAHAF

Young Learners ESL/EFL Materials (Pre-K–Primary)

Education/Educational Publishing & Learning Content/Language Learning Content & ESL/EFL Materials

SECONDARYEDAAACAH

Pronunciation, Accent Reduction & Speaking Fluency

Education/Adult & Continuing Education/English as a Second Language (ESL) & Adult Language Learning

SECONDARYEDAAACAC

ESL for Work & Workplace English (ESP)

Education/Adult & Continuing Education/English as a Second Language (ESL) & Adult Language Learning

Keywords

• Online language school
• Foreign language courses
• Live online classes
• CEFR language training
• Kids language learning

Headquarters

HQ city

São Paulo

HQ country

Brazil

HQ region

Latin America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Online Language Courses: Subscription-based language instruction with three tier levels: Special (small groups 4-6 students), Prata (2-3 students), and Ouro (private tutoring). All tiers include live classes with recordings, bonus fluency classes, and comprehensive materials. The company offers flexible cancellation with no fidelity contracts or penalties.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Speak Up Idiomas is an online language school delivering live and recorded video instruction in English, Spanish, French, and German to children (ages 6+), teens, and adults worldwide. Its courses follow the CEFR international standard across six levels (A1–C2) and use a proprietary "Easy Language" methodology that incorporates Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP). The company offers three subscription tiers (Special small groups, Prata closed groups of 2–3, Ouro one-on-one), bonus fluency/travel/business/pronunciation classes, a 300+ activity digital platform, and a globally top-5-ranked physical/digital material kit.

Product overview

Speak Up Idiomas is an online language school offering a unified course portfolio structured around three service tiers (Special, Prata, Ouro) for adults and a dedicated Kids & Teens program for children from age 6. The company provides instruction in English, Spanish, French, and German, using its proprietary Easy Language Methodology incorporating Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP). Core offerings are supplemented by bonus classes (fluency, travel, business, pronunciation), a digital platform with 300+ activities, and physical+digital course materials. All courses follow the CEFR international standard across 6 proficiency levels. The school is recognized by Cambridge as a Cambridge Venue.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Kids & Teens English Course (Inglês para Crianças a partir dos 6 anos) Online English course for children aged 6 and older featuring interactive live classes with trained teachers, a methodology designed for the child audience, a complete physical material kit (book, notebook, folder) delivered to the home with a surprise gift and a mailed welcome letter, weekly bonus conversation classes, and free workshops.
• Adults Language Courses (English, Spanish, French, German) Online adult language courses in English, Spanish, French, and German, adapted to learner objectives (travel, business, international certification preparation such as Cambridge, DELF, Goethe, CELI, or personalized goals), following the CEFR international standard across six proficiency levels (A1 beginner through C2 advanced), delivered via live online video classes with recordings accessible for 30 days.

Quantifiable outcome

• 500,000+ students trained over 24 years
• +3 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Cambridge Assessment EnglishcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCambridge recognition indicates an official relationship with Cambridge Assessment English, positioning Speak Up as an authorized preparation center for Cambridge certifications. This recognition validates the school's teaching quality and international standards alignment.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Duolingo: Global mobile-first language learning platform with hundreds of millions of users offering gamified, freemium self-study across many languages. Comparable as a consumer language-learning destination, but operates a fundamentally different (app-based, AI-driven) model from Speak Up's live-instructor subscription.
• Babbel: Global subscription language learning app focused on adult conversational proficiency. Comparable in subscription monetization and adult learner focus, but competes as a low-cost, self-paced alternative to Speak Up's live-instructor model.
• EF Education First: Global language education company with online, in-person, and study-abroad programs. Comparable as a multi-channel language instruction provider with international certification alignment, but operates at vastly greater scale and broader scope than Speak Up.

Direct peers

• CNA Idiomas: One of the largest traditional language school franchises in Brazil, offering in-person and online English and Spanish courses to consumers across all age groups. Directly comparable to Speak Up's Brazilian consumer language-learning focus, though CNA relies on a physical franchise footprint that Speak Up has shed.
• CCAA: Long-established Brazilian language school chain offering English, Spanish, and other languages to kids, teens, and adults. Comparable in target segments (children from age 6 through adults) and CEFR-aligned curriculum, though CCAA still operates a substantial physical branch network.
• Fisk: Brazilian language and education franchise with decades of history teaching English and Spanish to consumer and corporate clients. Comparable across the kids/teens/adult consumer base and subscription-style class delivery, with a strong franchise-driven footprint.
• Wizard: Major Brazilian language school chain with both physical and online presence, teaching English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Chinese, and Japanese. Comparable as a multi-language, multi-tier consumer language school operating in the same Brazilian market, with broader geographic reach than Speak Up.
• Cultura Inglesa: Brazilian English-specialist language school with strong brand recognition and Cambridge affiliation. Closely comparable to Speak Up's English-first curriculum, CEFR alignment, and international certification positioning, with a longer institutional history but more traditional delivery model.

Regional players

• Open English: Latin America-focused online English school offering live group and private classes by subscription to consumers and corporate clients. Highly comparable in online live-instructor subscription model and Latin American target market, with stronger B2B/corporate positioning than Speak Up.

Emerging players

• italki: Global online marketplace connecting language learners with tutors for 1:1 lessons. Comparable in its 1:1 private-tutoring model (overlapping with Speak Up's Ouro tier) and global online distribution, but lacks curriculum, materials, and structured CEFR progression.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/SpeakUpIdiomasOficial
• Instagraminstagram.com/speakupidiomas
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/speak-up-idiomas

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Speak Up Idiomas