Hello! Who are you and what product are you building?
My name is Chidiebere Marcel, and I am the technical co-founder of Pluritongues LLC. We created Plurintongue, an edu-tech platform dedicated to preserving and teaching African languages and culture.
Our platform is primarily targeted at Africans in the diaspora and those living on the continent who wish to learn directly from native speakers.
We provide verified content and instructors to ensure authenticity in language learning.
How did you come up with the idea for this product, and what problem were you aiming to solve?
I've always been passionate about learning and the ways we acquire knowledge. While in school, I noticed fundamental flaws in how learning was structured. In 2016, I attempted an education-based project called Akada for Fun.
Years later, I discussed language learning challenges with my co-founder, a linguist. He shared the struggles people faced when trying to learn African languages, particularly in the diaspora.
Our research revealed a gap: existing language-learning platforms didn’t prioritize African languages. Instead, they treated them as an afterthought. This insight, combined with my co-founder's experience and the demand from African parents abroad, led us to build Plurintongue.
Give us a step-by-step process on how you built the first version of your product
We started with rough prototypes, quickly coding and testing different approaches. However, we realized that many African products suffer from a perception of mediocrity.
So, we took a step back to refine the experience. Initially, our co-founder manually taught learners without a software backbone. This allowed us to identify key needs before fully developing the platform. We iterated continuously, focusing on structured native content delivery, progress tracking, and a world-class user experience.
Through this process, we narrowed our focus to offering personalized, high-quality language instruction.
How did you launch the product?
We launched simply—by making the app available on the App Store and Play Store.
Before launch, we had beta users who were already interested in our product. Once we went live, we informed them, and they started using it officially.
We didn’t run major ads or marketing campaigns initially. Instead, we learned from early adopters, fixed issues, and refined our offering based on their feedback.
We still plan to run more structured marketing efforts as we grow.
How did you land your first customers?
Our first customers came organically.
We knew people actively searching for a solution, including a friend’s wife who specifically asked for a language-learning tool.
We identified real-world demand and directly provided solutions. No paid ads or promotions—just solving an existing problem for people who needed it.
Word-of-mouth and community engagement played a big role in early adoption.
How have you grown your business so far?
Growth has been incremental but promising.
We focus on creating awareness through social media and content marketing. We run podcasts discussing African culture and language, and we share engaging educational content.
Through this, we’ve attracted interest from people across Africa and beyond, including potential collaborators from Tanzania and other regions.
While growth has been steady, we are refining our outreach strategies to scale further.
Give us a breakdown of your revenue and financials
We officially launched a month ago (January 2025) and have generated about $1,000 in revenue so far. Our earnings are growing as more users discover our platform.
Given our early-stage status, we are focused on refining our monetization model and expanding our reach.
What does the future look like?
The future is exciting.
Even without heavy marketing, we’re seeing traction and positive feedback.
We are continuously experimenting with new features, improving user experience, and expanding our content offerings.
Our vision is to be the go-to platform for African language learning, helping people reconnect with their roots in a meaningful way.
The enthusiasm from users and our team keeps us motivated to push forward.
Three most important things you have learned that have been helpful to you since launching this product?
Content Structure Matters: It’s not enough to just provide language content; the way it is structured and delivered significantly impacts learning effectiveness. We learned this through multiple iterations and refinements.
Start Simple and Iterate: Initially, we focused on just providing the service manually. This helped us understand user needs before investing heavily in technology.
Authenticity is Key: People value learning from native speakers and culturally accurate content. Ensuring authenticity has been a major factor in user trust and engagement.
Advice for other entrepreneurs who want to build their product or already started building?
One of my guiding principles as a Christian is that creating value for people is a way to worship God.
My advice to other entrepreneurs is to build products that genuinely help others.
Don’t just chase trends—solve real problems, be persistent, and always seek to improve. Building something meaningful takes time, but the impact is worth it.
Where can we go to learn more?
You can follow @pluritongues on social media to stay updated on new features, content, and insights into African languages and culture:
Instagram: @pluritongues
X (Twitter): @pluritongues
For inquiries, collaborations, or support, feel free to reach out via email at [email protected] or visit the official website at www.pluritongues.com.