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Severin Hacker

05/19/25

@ 20VC with Harry Stebbings

In the competitive landscape of language learning, retention is the most critical factor for success, not just user acquisition.

Video

2w

Duolingo Co-Founder, Severin Hacker: How AI Impacts the Future of Work and Education

@ 20VC with Harry Stebbings

Duolingo Co-Founder, Severin Hacker: How AI Impacts the Future of Work and Education

05/19/25

Related Takeaways

AS

Alex Schultz

03/24/17

@ Y Combinator

Retention is the single most important factor for growth; if users don't stay, the business won't succeed.

GA

Gustaf Alstromer

09/12/18

@ Y Combinator

Measuring retention is critical; if you don't have a product that retains users, you shouldn't focus on growth yet.

BK

Bryan Kim

06/01/24

@ a16z

Retention is crucial for consumer products; if users don't return, you face a 'burned forest' problem where new user acquisition becomes impossible.

DL

David Lieb

08/30/24

@ Y Combinator

Acquiring better users is essential; targeting the right customer can significantly improve your cohort retention rates.

SD

Suhail Doshi

09/12/18

@ Y Combinator

It's a mistake to get distracted by new features without ensuring your existing product retains users effectively; focus on improving retention first.

AC

Adora Cheung

03/20/17

@ Y Combinator

Tracking customer retention is essential; it helps you understand how many users continue to engage with your product over time, which is a key indicator of success.

YC

Y Combinator Cast

01/03/17

@ Y Combinator

In the early days, focus on product retention rather than just growth. If your retention rate is low, prioritize improving your product before trying to scale.

TB

Tom Blomfield

12/16/23

@ Y Combinator

Retention is a critical metric; it shows how many customers continue to pay over time, indicating the product's value to them.

IV

Ilya Volodarsky

08/01/19

@ Y Combinator

Retention should be analyzed by looking at cohorts of users over time, assessing how many continue to use your product after signing up.