Monkimum

Monkimun, which now operates as Lingokids, was established in 2014 as an educational technology company focused on language learning for children. The venture was co-founded by siblings Cristobal Viedma and Marieta Viedma. Cristobal's background in computer science and his experience as head of platform at the video startup Viki, combined with Marieta's eight years of experience running language-learning centers in Madrid, formed the foundation of the company. The idea originated when they sought a scalable, digital solution to teach Marieta's two-year-old daughter English, finding the existing market offerings inadequate.

Initially started as a side project in January 2014, the company gained significant traction, leading to its formal launch in June 2014. The founders participated in the 500 Startups accelerator program, which helped them refine their business strategy and secure initial funding. Monkimun was legally established as a US-based entity, Monkimun Inc., with offices in San Francisco and Madrid to maintain proximity to investors and partners. By 2016, the company launched its flagship product, LingoKids, an adaptive language learning platform.

The business operates in the EdTech market, specifically targeting parents of children aged two to eight. Its primary offering is the Lingokids platform, which provides a game-based, immersive environment for learning languages, initially focusing on English, Spanish, and Chinese. Revenue is generated through a subscription-based model, where parents pay a monthly fee for full access to the platform's content, which includes games, activities, and progress reports. This model ensures a safe, ad-free experience for children. The company also initially offered individual apps on a freemium basis.

The Lingokids platform is designed to make language acquisition feel like play. It features an adaptive learning system that adjusts lesson difficulty based on a child's performance. Key features include content developed in partnership with educational bodies like Oxford University Press, weekly progress reports for parents, and offline access to materials. The platform provides a structured curriculum with thousands of words and activities, moving beyond simple one-off game apps to a comprehensive service. Its effectiveness is supported by studies showing children can learn twice as much vocabulary compared to traditional methods. Keywords: Monkimun, Lingokids, Cristobal Viedma, Marieta Viedma, language learning for kids, EdTech, mobile learning, adaptive learning platform, subscription model, early childhood education, English learning apps, Spanish learning apps, Chinese learning apps, game-based learning, Oxford University Press partnership, 500 Startups, educational games, children's apps, playlearning, language immersion