Who founded Read Bean?

Read Bean was founded by Maggie Zhang, Savannah Liu in 2023.

Who are Read Bean's investors?

Read Bean's investors include Y Combinator, 77 Partners, Amino Capital, GoodFin Ventures, Oasis Capital, Unpopular Ventures.

Where is Read Bean headquartered?

Read Bean is headquartered in New York City, US.

Read Bean

YC S23

New York City, US · Founded 2023 · 3 employees · 6 known investors

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Read Bean is a mobile app for learning Chinese through graded readings adapted from real news and authentic content, personalized to the learner's proficiency level from HSK 1 to 6. The app serves language learners of all levels with daily curated readings, vocabulary tools, and AI-refined content created by native speakers.

Also known as Refond, Inc. · Glace · Glaze · Refond · Refond, Glace, Glaze

Consumer EdTech AI-Enhanced Learning Education eLearningUnited States of AmericaAmerica / Canada

Founders & leadership· Y Combinator alumni (S23)

Read Bean was founded in 2023 by Maggie Zhang and Savannah Liu.

Maggie Zhang CEO/Co-FounderMaggie Zhang studied computer science at MIT and has held roles in quantitative trading at Virtu, software engineering at Bloomberg, management consulting at Bain & Company, and previously bootstrapped an e-commerce business. She is currently CEO of Read Bean.

Savannah Liu Co-FounderShe previously built payment infrastructure at Amazon and worked on security systems at Flatiron Health.

Pearl Li

Investors · 6

Y Combinatorlisted by Y CombinatorSan Francisco · $500K

How we know: the Y Combinator directory · open dataset · 5k.vc investor directory · Not right? Tell us

77 PartnersreportedBrisbane

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Amino CapitalreportedPalo Alto · $100K – $10M

How we know: Y Combinator's founder network · Not right? Tell us

GoodFin Venturesreported

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Oasis Capitalreported

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Related companies · 5

EdwinEdwin provides AI-powered English tutoring combining adaptive learning technology with human instructors, offering personalized one-on-one lessons to students seeking affordable language instruction. The company later merged with MyBuddy.ai to develop Buddy, a mobile voice-based English tutor targeting children globally who need conversational practice to reach fluency.

Miyagi LabsMiyagi provides an AI-powered test prep platform for standardized exams like the SAT, offering personalized study paths, diagnostic assessments, and adaptive tutoring. The platform targets high school students preparing for college entrance exams.

BloomyBloomy is an adaptive learning platform that uses AI to teach ELA, Math, and Writing to K-12 students through personalized lessons, live AI tutoring, and mastery-based assessments. The platform serves schools and districts seeking differentiated instruction grounded in learning science.

DarselDarsel provides a personalized learning chatbot that teaches mathematics to students in low-resource settings through simple, text-based channels like SMS, WhatsApp, and Facebook Messenger. The platform is designed for K-12 school systems and operates as a nonprofit, partnering with governments and schools to supplement classroom instruction with data-driven insights for teachers.

Spark StudioSpark Studio makes an AI conversational partner that helps children practice English speaking through voice interaction. The tool targets students in non-English dominant countries who have classroom exposure to English but lack confidence in real conversation.

Companies working in the same space as Read Bean.

Legal entities · 1

corporate structure

Refond, Inc.

In the news

🛍 Glaze - What would Barbie and Ken wear to an investor meeting?ycombinator.com · Aug 2023

Frequently asked questions

What does Read Bean do?: Read Bean is a mobile app for learning Chinese through graded readings adapted from real news and authentic content, personalized to the learner's proficiency level from HSK 1 to 6. The app serves language learners of all levels with daily curated readings, vocabulary tools, and AI-refined content created by native speakers.
Who founded Read Bean?: Read Bean was founded by Maggie Zhang, Savannah Liu in 2023.
Who are Read Bean's investors?: Read Bean's investors include Y Combinator, 77 Partners, Amino Capital, GoodFin Ventures, Oasis Capital, Unpopular Ventures.
Where is Read Bean headquartered?: Read Bean is headquartered in New York City, US.