Livemocha eyes one million users this year

PUNE, INDIA: Livemocha, a web 2.0-based language learning venture, is already counting its beans as it is showing an appetite for one million registered users by the end of this year.

About 15 per cent of this projected user-base is expected from India alone.

"We are doing very well since our launch in September 2007. In five to six months, we have touched 350,000 users globally, " claims Shirish Nadkarni, CEO & Co-founder of Livemocha.com.

"There is an intense demand for foreign language training."

The site, which currently has content for six languages, will be adding five more next month. New additions like TOEFL preparatory content will be followed by in-depth learning content in the next few months.

The start-up would be exploring different source of revenues and advertising. Premium content would be another avenue for revenue.

"The recently announced TOEFL content fits in well with our model with about one million students taking this test every year."

Additionally three tests are being planned which the company will start charging for as it looks at using other options like more advanced learning content, bundling and online tutoring ahead as well.

Nadkarni is also exploring the possibility of tying up with language institutes, which he is exploring in this visit to India.

"The online model of classroom instruction is attractive. We are in discussion with online entities and would next start trying for large institutes. This is in early stages however."

Certifications are also in the pipeline, but not for the immediate future. The idea of this start-up, that integrates online instructional content with a global community of language learners, was to use the potent web 2.0 concept, hitherto used for fun, for productive purposes.

Livemocha addresses a $20 billion worldwide language learning market. With over 200 countries as its Netprint, India is the third largest country in its user base.

The languages currently available on Livemocha are English, French, Hindi, German, Spanish and Mandarin Chinese. It is a venture-funded company backed by Maveron, a Seattle-based venture firm with $6 million in funding secured this January.