Innovation

Conjuguemos is an online tool that helps students practice verb conjugations, vocabulary, and grammar in multiple languages. It all started when a Spanish teacher, Yegros, wanted a better way to teach conjugations. With zero coding experience, he teamed up with a tech-savvy student and slowly learned to program. After months of trial and error, he built the first version of Conjuguemos from scratch.

Since then, the platform has grown a ton—expanding to more languages and even incorporating AI to make learning more interactive. The idea has always been simple: make language learning easier and more engaging. By cutting down on tedious memorization, teachers can spend more time on real conversations, culture, and dynamic lessons. And as technology keeps evolving, so does Conjuguemos, always finding new ways to stay useful in classrooms.

Inspiration

As a teacher at Weston High School, Yegros was inspired to develop the platform out of both necessity and personal frustration with traditional teaching methods. "I liked teaching Spanish, but I didn’t like teaching conjugations," he explained. What started as a hobby quickly gained traction among fellow educators. "For eight years, I coded endlessly. It was a personal project until I realized it had real business potential."

Another pivotal moment was when legal challenges forced the founder to shift from treating Conjuguemos as a passion project to a structured business. "I had a lot of users, but I didn’t realize how insecure the code was. I had to decide whether to drop the project or fully commit, and I chose to commit. We rebuilt everything from scratch." According to Yegros, this is when Conjuguemos really became a business. 

This dedication to improving the tool has fueled its expansion and innovation. "I keep adding things I think are cool for my classroom. I don't build for a market; I build for people like me. If enough people like it, it works."

Overall impact

The impact of Conjuguemos extends beyond individual classrooms, affecting language learning at a broader scale. In the short term, it provides students with an engaging and accessible tool to practice grammar and vocabulary efficiently. For teachers, it saves time and enhances classroom instruction by automating exercises that may feel repetitive to students, freeing up class time for interactive activities and discussions.

In the long term, the platform has become a staple in language education, with thousands of users relying on it globally. The addition of AI-driven applications, such as tools for the Seal of Biliteracy exam preparation, further expands its reach and utility. The innovation continues to evolve, ensuring that language education remains dynamic, effective, and relevant to modern learning environments.

Business benefit

Transitioning from a hobby to a business was a turning point for Conjuguemos. Initially free for 15 years, the platform built a strong and loyal user base. "Teachers started encouraging me to charge for it because they valued the tool so much," the founder noted. The eventual monetization allowed for hiring permanent staff and improving security and functionality.

Today, the platform operates with a small but dedicated team, including two permanent employees and several part-time contributors. Revenue generated from subscriptions and premium features supports continuous development, ensuring that Conjuguemos stays ahead of competitors by integrating emerging technologies. Despite its success, the founder remains aware of the competitive landscape: "Tech is changing rapidly. If Google wanted to build their own version, they could. But we have a loyal community, and that gives us a head start."

Social and environmental benefit

Conjuguemos contributes to society by improving the quality of language education. By automating repetitive conjugation drills, the platform enables teachers to focus on more engaging and culturally enriching lessons. "The goal was always to eliminate conjugations from the classroom so that students can spend more time actually communicating," the founder stated. However, he acknowledges a paradox: "My best customers are sometimes the worst teachers—those who overuse drills. But for those who use it as intended, it makes a real difference."

The platform also offers inclusivity in education by offering free and low-cost language learning resources, making it accessible to students and educators worldwide. The founder's philosophy of "building for people like me" ensures that Conjuguemos remains a teacher-driven tool, constantly evolving to meet the needs of the educational community. With plans to incorporate AI-driven language assessment tools, the platform continues to push the boundaries of digital learning, helping students develop language skills in a meaningful and engaging way.

Interview

Alejandro Yegros, Founder