Toko was founded by Jen Liu, Erica Du in 2021.

Who are Toko's investors?

Toko's investors include GSV Ventures, Pi Campus, Y Combinator, Progression.

Where is Toko headquartered?

Toko is headquartered in New York City, US.

Toko

New York City, US · Founded 2021 · 5 employees · 4 known investors

Toko is an AI-powered English conversation tutor that provides personalized speaking practice with real-time grammar and pronunciation feedback. It serves English learners globally with 1,000+ conversation topics, exam preparation modules, and workplace communication training.

AI & Machine Learning EdTech AI-Enhanced Learning Education Generative AI Machine Learning ConsumerUnited States of AmericaAmerica / Canada

Founders & leadership· Y Combinator alumni (W22)

Toko was founded in 2021 by Jen Liu and Erica Du.

Jen Liu inCofounder & CEOShe previously worked as an engineer and product manager at Quizlet, where she led initiatives in AI-powered learning, mobile subscriptions, and international expansion, and founded Uplevel, a coach-matching service. She holds a degree in Computer Science and Engineering from MIT.

Erica Du inCo-Founder & CTOShe previously worked in engineering roles at Palantir, Codecademy, and Google, and conducted research at MIT and Cornell Tech.

Investors · 4

GSV VenturesSan Francisco · $250K – $15M

Pi CampusRome · $55K – $540K

Y CombinatorSan Francisco · $500K

ProgressionreportedSan Francisco · $100K – $1M

Competitors · 4

by search overlap

Speak24 shared keywordsSpeak is an AI-powered language learning platform that uses a proprietary curriculum to teach users conversational language through personalized lessons, practice exercises, and real-time interaction with a tutor.

Magoosh23 shared keywordsMagoosh is an online test preparation service offering video lessons, practice questions, flashcard apps, and score predictors for standardized exams such as the GRE and TOEFL. It serves students preparing for graduate school and other admissions tests, positioning itself as a lower-cost alternative to classroom courses and prep books.

Hallo18 shared keywordsHallo provides AI-driven language proficiency assessments across speaking, writing, listening, and reading in over 80 languages for global hiring and candidate evaluation. The platform delivers instant CEFR scores and detailed feedback on fluency, vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation.

Fluently15 shared keywordsFluently is an AI-powered language learning platform that enables real-time conversation practice, pronunciation training, and interactive feedback for English learners. The service targets both individual learners and teams seeking to improve English speaking skills in a judgment-free environment.

Companies competing with Toko for the same Google search keywords, organic and paid, via search-intersection analysis.

In the news

Takaoka Toko Raises Target Dividend Payout Ratio on Strong Earnings and Stable Cash Flows - TipRanks.comtipranks.com · Apr 2026

‘Udhaar Book’ raises $6 million seed funding | Startup Storystartupstorymedia.com · Nov 2021

Toko Innovations Studios raises angel fundingtechcircle.vccircle.com · May 2016

Frequently asked questions

What does Toko do?: Toko is an AI-powered English conversation tutor that provides personalized speaking practice with real-time grammar and pronunciation feedback. It serves English learners globally with 1,000+ conversation topics, exam preparation modules, and workplace communication training.
Who founded Toko?: Toko was founded by Jen Liu, Erica Du in 2021.
Who are Toko's investors?: Toko's investors include GSV Ventures, Pi Campus, Y Combinator, Progression.
Where is Toko headquartered?: Toko is headquartered in New York City, US.