Babbel Named to 2026 GSV 150 as One of the World's Most Transformational Companies in Digital Learning
Digital language learning pioneer, Babbel, has today been named to the 2026 GSV 150, the annual ranking by Global Silicon Valley (GSV) of the 150 most transformational growth companies in digital learning and workforce skills. Presented by NU Advisory Partners at the ASU+GSV Summit, the 2026 list recognizes companies that are delivering innovation at scale and giving everyone the opportunity to participate in the future of learning.
Babbel was evaluated and selected in the Adult Consumer Learning category out of more than 3,000 public and private companies worldwide. Collectively, the 150 honorees top $50 billion in annual revenue, reach over 3 billion learners, and are increasingly profitable with two-thirds now cash flow positive and collective EBITDA up 14% year-over-year.
“Being named to the GSV 150 is a great honor,” said Julie Hansen, US CEO & CRO of Babbel. “It tells us that our mix of real language expertise, smart AI, and a clear focus on how people actually learn is working. We’re building for a world where language brings people closer together, and this recognition is a sign that our mission is connecting with learners and the education community.”
This is the third year in a row that Babbel has been honored in the GSV 150. The recognition comes as Babbel has accelerated its product roadmap. In 2025, Babbel launched Babbel Speak, an AI-powered voice feature designed to help learners build real conversational confidence through realistic dialogues and functional design. The product reflects Babbel's continued commitment to making language learners conversational quickly, so they can experience the connection and community language learning offers.
The GSV 150 winners will be celebrated at the ASU+GSV Summit, an annual gathering of leaders across the education, technology, and investment sectors, held in San Diego, CA.
The full 2026 GSV 150 list is available at asugsvsummit.com/gsv-150.
About Babbel
Driven by the purpose of creating mutual understanding through language, Babbel has been building digital language learning products for consumers and businesses since 2007. The Babbel app helps people connect and communicate across cultures, whether for travel, friendship, or career advancement. Based on a deep knowledge of how we learn languages, Babbel aims to make learners conversational as fast as possible. And it works: Studies from institutions like Michigan State University, Yale University and the City University of New York demonstrate the efficacy of Babbel's language learning methods. Millions of language learners agree.
Babbel's secret sauce is the blend of true expertise, understanding of how humans learn, and the latest technology. Starting with one of 60,000 lessons across 15 languages hand-crafted by experts, the learner experience constantly adapts through behavior analysis to provide high quality interactive content that makes understanding a new language easy, from Spanish to Indonesian.
Because Babbel is for everyone, its team reflects this diversity. Across headquarters in Berlin and New York, a team from more than 80 nationalities represent the backgrounds and perspectives that make humans unique. With over 25 million subscriptions sold and an industry-leading retention rate, Babbel creates genuine connections with learners worldwide. For more information, visit www.babbel.com or download the apps in the App Store or Play Store.
