Livemocha Named Sterling Award Winner in Education and Continued Learning Category

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Livemocha Named Sterling Award Winner in Education and Continued Learning Category

Winners represent best in class products and technologies for Americans Age 50+

LAS VEGAS, January 10, 2012 – Livemocha has been selected as a winner in the Education and Continued Learning Category in the first annual Sterling Awards competition, announced at the Silvers Summit Conference at CES. Sponsored by AARP, the Sterling Awards identify the very best in technology innovation and product excellence for Americans age 50+.

The purpose of the inaugural Sterling Awards is to identify the peerless products that enhance, empower and exemplify the lifestyles of the Boomer and Silvers audience. Research shows that learning a second language can exalt cognitive functions, by building IQ and improving attention switching abilities, and even postpone Alzheimer’s and dementia for years. Livemocha provides an online language learning service that helps seniors to maintain cognitive functions and brain health well into their later years. This ultimately enhances the health and wellness of the individual and aids longevity.

“Seniors are looking for ways to revitalize their cognitive thinking and consequently, improve their mental and physical health,” said Michael Schutzler, CEO of Livemocha. “People think that language learning is something that must be pursued during the adolescent years of an individual’s life, but Livemocha is dedicated to providing language learning for those of all ages. Our recognition by the Sterling Awards reinforces this idea.”

“We congratulate Livemocha and all of our Sterling Award winners who offer unique ways to enrich the lives of the 100 million boomers and silvers in our society today,” said Sherri Snelling, co-producer, Silvers Summit. “We hope the Sterling Awards become an annual showcase that illustrates the new and improved ways that technology can help us stay healthy, happy, connected to family and friends, living in our homes longer, and making a difference in the world as we age.”

Visit the Silvers Summit Web site for more information about the Sterling Award.

About Livemocha
Livemocha is a company committed to helping every person on earth achieve fluency in a new language. As the world’s largest online language learning community, Livemocha fuses traditional learning methods with online practice, and interaction with native language speakers from around the world. Livemocha delivers an unparalleled, learning experience that promises conversational fluency. Since launching in 2007, the Livemocha community has grown to nearly 11 million members from 190 countries, underscoring the strong demand for an engaging and collaborative approach to language learning. Livemocha continues to grow with one mission: to create a world in which every human being is fluent in multiple languages. For more information about Livemocha, please visit http://www.livemocha.com.

About Silvers Summit:
The Silvers Summit at the 2012 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) is where the thought leaders on an aging society and technology come together. The conference and exhibit assembles companies, distributors, journalists, research firms, and think tanks, to demonstrate the products and services that will help consumers age 50+ stay engaged, empowered and help enhance their lives. The Silvers Summit and Exhibition is presented by Living in Digital Times, producer of the following summits and exhibitions at the 2011 Consumer Electronics Show: Digital Health, Fitness Tech Summit, HigherEd Tech Summit, Kids@Play Summit, MommyTech Summit, Mobile Apps Showdown, and Last Gadget Standing. For more information about The Silvers Summit, visit: http://silverssummit.com/.

DISCLAIMER: Silvers Summit (a property of Living in Digital Times, Inc.) does not endorse or promote any of the Sterling Award winners. AARP, the Sterling Award sponsor, does not endorse or promote any of the Sterling Award winners.

Silvers Summit and Sterling Award are service marks of Living In Digital Times, Inc.

Media Contact:
Morgan Bradley
Barokas PR for Livemocha
Livemocha@Barokas.com
206-264-8220

Livemocha Launches Scholarship Program to Rebuild Language Learning Programs in U.S. Schools

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SEATTLE, WA – (Marketwire – Jan 11, 2012) – Livemocha, the world’s largest online language learning service, today announced the Livemocha Scholarship Program, which offers free and discounted foreign language services to high schools and community colleges across the nation. Livemocha aspires to create a world in which every person is fluent in multiple languages and to help support this mission will donate approximately five million dollars of language learning to U.S. schools in 2012. Schools can now apply for the needs-based Livemocha 2012 Scholarship Program offering discounts and free language learning solutions.

In the United States today, less than 40% of high school students and 8% of college students are enrolled in the study of a foreign language. According to a recent survey on multilingual talent in the workplace, 33% of Fortune 500 companies will require knowledge of a foreign language in order to qualify for employment. These statistics highlight an alarming discrepancy between the need for foreign language in the corporate sector and the inadequate preparation in the U.S. education system. Livemocha has long understood the importance of world language acquisition in the United States and the Scholarship Program is dedicated to the inclusion of language learning programs in schools across the country.

“It’s clear that the English-only mentality is no longer acceptable in light of our increasingly globalized world,” said Michael Schutzler, CEO of Livemocha. “The first step in becoming a more globally competent nation lies in the ability to interact with individuals from other countries, and that requires a commitment to language learning. Livemocha is fiercely committed to providing language learning to every student in the U.S. and the Scholarship Program will help make this a reality.”

Livemocha’s initiative is also dedicated to enhancing English as a second language (ESL) instruction for students in the process of learning English, or English Learners. By doing so, English Learners gain the competitive edge they need to be successful members of their school and in time, the workforce. An improved language education system will help bridge language and culture throughout the nation.

“While creating quality education for English Learners is often viewed as a major challenge, I prefer to look at it as an opportunity to make a significant difference in the lives of this growing population of learners from diverse backgrounds and native languages,” said Dr. Rosalinda B. Barrera, Assistant Deputy Secretary and Director, Office of English Language Acquisition. “I urge that we all work together to ensure these students graduate from high school with the skills and knowledge they will need to achieve success in college and their careers.”

Schools can now apply for Livemocha 2012 Scholarship Program based on the following:

Eligibility requirements: Schools with budget for language programs reduced from 2010 levels; or only one world language elective since 2010; or no world language electives available today. Must have a teacher to serve as program facilitator ; School must conduct proctored testing and offer full credit to student; Each student registered within the Scholarship Program must volunteer 1 hour per month as a language guide for another student in the community; School and student must have online access to participate in Livemocha online coursework.

Scholarships based on the following criteria: How many languages does the school offer? How many language sections were cut since 2010? What is the current size of the student body? What is the number of students who will likely sign up for a world language? How much Title 1 funding does the school receive?

For more information on the Livemocha 2012 Scholarship program, and to access the application, please visit www.Livemocha.com/scholarship or e-mail questions to scholarship@livemocha.com. Scholarships and discounts awarded will be applied toward Livemocha English and world language programs.

About Livemocha

Livemocha is a company committed to helping every person on earth achieve fluency in a new language. As the world’s largest online language learning community, Livemocha fuses traditional learning methods with online practice, and interaction with native language speakers from around the world. Livemocha delivers an unparalleled, learning experience that promises conversational fluency. Since launching in 2007, the Livemocha community has grown to nearly 11 million members from 190 countries, underscoring the strong demand for an engaging and collaborative approach to language learning. Livemocha continues to grow with one mission: to create a world in which every human being is fluent in multiple languages. For more information about Livemocha, please visit http://www.livemocha.com.

Livemocha Loves AWS in Brazil: Speeds Go from 1999 to 2011

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One Seattle-area company is more than a little happy about Amazon Web Services opening a new South American computing region: Livemocha, an online language-learning service that counts about a quarter of its more than 11 million members in Brazil alone.

Livemocha runs its Web-based software on AWS, but previously, the closest region for South American markets was still in the U.S. And that meant a distinct difference in quality. The more static elements of the site, like logos and other images, were hosted locally. But the main Web experience—the core of Livemocha’s product—had to make too many hops to get to the end user.

“When I’m in Brazil and I’m using Livemocha, it’s kind of painful in comparison to what it’s like in the U.S.,” CEO Michael Schutzler says. “It’s not terrible, but … it’s like the difference between 1999 and 2011.”

So when the AWS Sao Paulo region started coming to fruition, ”We were like, ‘Yes! Hallelujah,’” Schutzler says. “Because if we’re doing really well in Brazil now—serving from, you know, Dallas—it’s just going to be awesome for Brazilians using Livemocha.”

Livemocha added a Brazilian investor earlier this year, and is looking to the fast-growing country as a possible template for how to expand into other foreign territories in the future. That comes as the company has significantly grown its user base by branching out from consumers and into professional markets, including corporate users, and people in the public-sector sector who are seeking language lessons.

“There are a lot of companies that are starting to get serious about Brazil now, and kind of waking up to the fact that there are 200 million people there,” Schutlzer says. “And, hey, they have a middle class with disposable income. Maybe we should pay attention to that.”

See the full article on Xconomy here.

Livemocha takes a crack at Rosetta Stone in retail

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Livemocha CEO Michael Schutzler hasn’t been shy about taking some shots at rival Rosetta Stone over the years. Last year, for example, the Seattle Internet executive declared that Rosetta Stone would have a “long mountain to climb” in order to compete with Livemocha in online language learning.

But there’s one spot where Rosetta Stone has always held an advantage: Retail. The company’s yellow-boxed CD-ROM titles are ubiquitous at retail locations in malls and airports.

But Livemocha, which has raised about $14 million from August Capital and Maveron, is now looking to toss some stones of its own into that territory.

Through a partnership with Harper Collins and Merriam Webster, Livemocha has begun selling language learning course books at Barnes & Noble and on Amazon.com.

Schutzler tells GeekWire that they started testing the new titles, which integrate with Livemocha’s online learning community, in June. So far, he said sales are going very well.

“(The) bulk of Rosetta Stone’s sales that generate actual margin are in retail. Berlitz has been there for decades,” said Schutzler. “Our partners are Merriam Webster … and therefore we think we have a shot at winning in this arena as well.”

Schutzler says the books are ”beautifully crafted” and come with a code for a six-month free subscription to Livemocha’s premium language service. At this point, the company is selling books for Spanish, French, German and Italian.

Founded in 2007 by Seattle entrepreneur Shirish Nadkarni, Livemocha now boasts 12 million members in its online community.

See the post on GeekWire at http://bit.ly/usOikk

LIVEMOCHA CEO MICHAEL SCHUTZLER TO SPEAK AT NORTHWEST ENTREPRENEUR NETWORK BREAKFAST BUZZ ON MONETIZATION OF ONLINE NETWORKS

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SEATTLE – November 2, 2011 – Livemocha™, the world’s largest online language learning community, today announced that CEO Michael Schutzler, will deliver a keynote presentation at the Northwest Entrepreneur Network Breakfast Buzz Event. The session: A Gazillion Registered Members… Now What? takes place Friday, November 4 at 7:45 a.m. at TechDwellers in Georgetown.

A Gazillion Registered Members… Now What?

When: Friday, November 4 at 7:45 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. (PST)

Where: TechDwellers Georgetown
6100 4th Avenue South
Seattle, WA 98108

Cost: $15 for members and $30 for non-members

Description
You have a gazillion members… but revenue, not so much. So what’s the plan? What’s the strategy? How do you make money? Many have tried and few have succeeded. In this session, Michael Schutzler will discuss best practices for monetizing online communities.

About Livemocha
Livemocha is a company committed to helping every person on earth achieve fluency in a new language. As the world’s largest online language learning community, Livemocha fuses traditional learning methods with online practice, and interaction with native language speakers from around the world. Livemocha delivers an unparalleled, learning experience that promises conversational fluency. Since launching in 2007, the Livemocha community has grown to over 11 million members from 190 countries, underscoring the strong demand for an engaging and collaborative approach to language learning. Livemocha continues to grow with one mission: to create a world in which every human being is fluent in multiple languages. For more information about Livemocha, please visit http://www.livemocha.com.

Contact:
Morgan Bradley
Barokas Public Relations
Livemocha@Barokas.com
Office: 206.264.8220

LIVEMOCHA CEO MICHAEL SCHUTZLER TO SPEAK AT FIRST ANNUAL SEATTLE INTERACTIVE CONFERENCE 2011

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Schutzler to discuss “The importance and Innovation of Virtual Language Learning in the Workplace”

SEATTLE – October 25, 2011 – Livemocha™, the world’s largest online language learning community, today announced that CEO Michael Schutzler, will speak at the Seattle Interactive Conference, an inaugural event that will bring together the tech industry’s brightest leaders being held November 2-3 at the Washington State Convention Center.

In line with the conference theme of “transformations in interactive technology,” Schutzler will offer his insight on the growing necessity of language acquisition in the corporate context, specifically highlighting the benefits of virtual learning communities.

The Importance of Language Learning in a Global Economy

When: Thurs., November 3 at 2:15 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. PT

Where: Washington State Convention Center
800 Convention Place
Seattle, WA 98101-2350
Room 303

Description
In recent decades, there has been a rapid globalization of markets and skilled labor. In the past, the primary factor that drove US companies overseas was off shoring for cheaper labor. Today, however, the focus has shifted to acquiring skilled talent and gaining accessibility to fast growing markets. Businesses of every size must bolster their knowledge of other languages and cultures in order to compete effectively. In this session, Livemocha CEO Michael Schutzler will present a case for language training as an essential workplace tool along with examples of organizations that have created a more productive and dynamic workforce through the implementation of virtual language training on a company-wide basis.

About Livemocha
Livemocha is a company committed to helping every person on earth achieve fluency in a new language. As the world’s largest online language learning community, Livemocha fuses traditional learning methods with online practice, and interaction with native language speakers from around the world. Livemocha delivers an unparalleled, learning experience that promises conversational fluency. Since launching in 2007, the Livemocha community has grown to over 11 million members from 190 countries, underscoring the strong demand for an engaging and collaborative approach to language learning. Livemocha continues to grow with one mission: to create a world in which every human being is fluent in multiple languages. For more information about Livemocha, please visit http://www.livemocha.com.

Contact:
Morgan Bradley
Barokas Public Relations
Livemocha@Barokas.com
Office: 206.264.8220

Livemocha Forges Exclusive Partnership with the Largest Media Corporation in Latin America to Fuel Brazil Expansion

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São Paulo – September 7, 2011– Abril Educação (BM&F Bovespa: ABRE11), one of the largest and most respected education companies in Brazil, and Livemocha™, the world’s largest language learning community, announced a partnership in which Abril Educação becomes the exclusive representative of Livemocha in Brazil. This partnership combines Livemocha’s powerful social language learning methodology with Abril Educação’s expert skill in serving the existing education marketplace in Brazil. The two companies will work together to deliver affordable and engaging language learning to the sizeable Brazilian market.

Under the terms of the agreement, Abril Educação – a BM&FBovespa-listed company and controlled by Grupo Abril, one of the largest and most influential media corporations in Latin America – will promote Livemocha to consumers and organizations throughout Brazil. The partnership with Livemocha comes shortly following Abril Educação’s highly anticipated initial public offering on the Brazilian Stock Exchange that was announced on July 6 and raised 371 million Brazilian reais ($238 million). Abril Educação’s experience will be key in enabling Livemocha to reach Brazilian schools, homes and corporations. The partnership is focused in the near term on helping Brazilian students and citizens prepare to welcome millions of visitors from around the world for the upcoming World Cup and Olympic championships. In a related transaction, Livemocha raised $5 million in additional working capital to assist with the effort in Brazil and further global expansion. Abril Educação was joined by existing investors August Capital and Maveron in the financing.

Livemocha is the world’s dominant online language learning company, with over 11 million members from 190 countries helping each other learn 38 languages. Brazil, one of the world’s fastest growing economies and a culture that strongly embraces social media, has long been a significant segment of the Livemocha community, representing over 25 percent of the membership. Abril Educação is one of the largest education publishers in Brazil, supplying nearly 50 million textbooks in 2010, serving approximately 30 million students and over 125,000 schools with textbooks, learning systems and other services. Its books have received more than 30 awards for excellence in recent years.

“Brazil is a strategic market for Livemocha with its booming economy and strong adoption of social media technologies,” said Michael Schutzler, CEO of Livemocha. “This agreement establishes a blueprint by which we intend to continue our global expansion, build on our success in using language education to foster personal and professional growth, and remove barriers in an increasingly connected world. Abril Educação is the ideal partner to help Livemocha build upon our success in Brazil and expose our brand to millions of people wanting to learn another language.”

“The world is watching Brazil and we are preparing our nation to become a population of global citizens,” said Manoel Amorim, CEO of Abril Educação. “The foundation for competing globally is language and we chose to invest in this relationship because Brazil loves Livemocha. No other language company has either the experience or community to match Livemocha, and together with Abril Educação our companies will introduce millions more to the benefit of social language learning.”

About Livemocha
Livemocha is a company committed to helping every person on earth achieve fluency in a new language. As the world’s largest online language learning community, Livemocha fuses traditional learning methods with online practice, and interaction with native language speakers from around the world. Livemocha delivers an unparalleled, learning experience that promises conversational fluency. Since launching in 2007, the Livemocha community has grown to over 11 million members from 190 countries, underscoring the strong demand for an engaging and collaborative approach to language learning. Livemocha continues to grow with one mission: to create a world in which every human being is fluent in multiple languages. For more information about Livemocha, please visit http://www.livemocha.com.

About Abril Educação
One of the largest educational companies in Brazil, Abril Educação offers solutions for schools, based on publishers’ best available didactic content, comprising class planning, evaluation, pedagogic consultancy, digital complimentary materials and multidisciplinary projects. The company owns the publishing houses Ática and Scipione, as well as Anglo and pH, two of the most respected education groups in Brazil. Abril Educação is a leader in the textbook and learning systems markets in Brazil. The company recently completed an IPO in Brazil and is now listed on the BM&F Bovespa. It is controlled by Grupo Abril, one of the largest media conglomerates in Latin America.

About Grupo Abril
The Abril Group is one of the largest and most influential media groups in Latin America, providing information, education and entertainment for virtually all segments of the public and working seamlessly across media. Based on the principles of integrity, quality, leadership and innovation, the company was founded in April 1950. It also has the largest press in Latin America with expertise in database marketing, subscription and distribution.

US Media
Morgan Bradley
Livemocha@Barokas.com
206-264-8220

Brazilian Media
Bruno Soares
11 30713494
bruno.soares@ciadainformacao.com.br
Sao Paulo

LiveMocha raises $5M

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LiveMocha Inc., which bills itself as the world’s largest online language learning community, has raised $5 million, according to regulatory filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Startup Spotlight: Livemocha lands $5 million, tops 10 million members

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Livemocha’s online community of language learners continues to spread worldwide. And now the four-year-old company — founded by former Microsoftie Shirish Nadkarni and led by CEO Michael Schutzler — has received some additional rocket fuel to propel the rival to Rosetta Stone forward.

Check It Out – Livemocha™ Launches Library Program, Offers Unlimited Access Through Public Libraries

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Livemocha Library Subscriptions provide patrons access to award-winning coursework in 38 languages; enough words to fill a million card catalogs