Indian cricket icon MS Dhoni invests in SPEAKX; says, ‘Learning English is not about learning another subject’
Indian cricket icon and former India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni has invested an undisclosed amount in SpeakX, an AI-powered English-speaking platform focused on helping Indians build confidence in everyday communication.
SpeakX, which uses AI to help users practise spoken English through personalised and real-world situations, announced Dhoni as an investor on September 1. The company has not disclosed the financial details of the investment.
The investment comes as SpeakX expands its presence at the intersection of education, employability and consumer technology. Rather than relying only on traditional language lessons, the platform focuses on allowing learners to practise English in situations that reflect conversations they may encounter in their daily lives.
MS Dhoni on Why English Matters
For Dhoni, the appeal of SpeakX goes beyond learning the language itself.
“For many Indians, learning English is not about learning another subject. It is about becoming more confident in situations that can change their lives,” he said.
He added that this can be particularly meaningful for people from smaller towns and first-generation learner families, where greater confidence in English may open access to social and economic opportunities.
“I strongly resonate with SpeakX’s vision,” Dhoni said, adding that he believes the platform can make English learning more accessible, relevant and personal for the next generation of Indians.
Dhoni’s involvement will extend beyond his investment. SpeakX says he has also been integrated into the learner experience, appearing during onboarding and at key milestones to encourage and motivate users.
SpeakX Crosses 1 Crore Learners
Founded in 2024, SpeakX says it has crossed more than 1 crore learners, with 10 lakh subscribers added during the past six months. The company’s platform is built around practical speaking exercises and personalised learning rather than conventional classroom-style lessons.
The app currently offers spoken-English learning supported by AI, including daily practice and feedback on areas such as pronunciation and fluency. SpeakX’s own platform says it supports learning in multiple Indian languages, allowing users to learn English through a language they are already comfortable with.
The company’s traction comes as demand for English communication skills continues to extend beyond India’s largest cities. SpeakX has been targeting users across different regions and language backgrounds, with regional-language users becoming a larger part of its audience.
Founder Says Opportunity Should Not Depend on Where Someone Is From
Arpit Mittal, CEO and founder of SpeakX, said the company was created around the belief that a person’s opportunities should not depend on where they were born or which language they spoke at home.
“India’s next generation is ambitious, but opportunity should not depend on where you were born, what language was spoken at home or whether you grew up in a city where English was part of everyday life,” Mittal said.
He said SpeakX is attempting to address that gap by making communication practice personalised, practical and affordable through AI.
For the startup, Dhoni’s involvement provides both capital and a high-profile association with a product aimed at a mass Indian audience.
SpeakX Builds Beyond Traditional English Lessons
The platform’s approach centres on repeated practice in simulated real-life conversations. Users can practise speaking, receive feedback and improve through regular interactions rather than depending solely on grammar-focused lessons.
SpeakX also describes its offering as an AI-powered English coach, with short daily lessons, speech feedback and learning paths designed around individual progress.
The startup has also been expanding beyond its earlier Hindi-first audience. According to its founder, users speaking regional languages now make up around half of its user base, with stronger traction emerging in parts of South India.
Dhoni Investment Comes as SpeakX Expands
SpeakX’s latest move adds to a broader growth strategy for the startup. The company has previously raised more than $20 million, including a $16 million pre-Series B round led by WestBridge Capital, according to Inc42. It is also planning to expand into business-to-business English learning for sectors such as hospitality, pharmaceuticals and healthcare.
Dhoni’s investment gives SpeakX another prominent supporter as it attempts to reach a wider segment of India’s aspiring workforce and consumers.
For Dhoni, the investment reflects a broader interest in a problem that affects millions of Indians. For SpeakX, his involvement comes at a stage when the company is scaling its user base and trying to make spoken English practice more accessible across India’s diverse language landscape.
The company’s proposition is simple: English learning is not only about mastering a language. For many users, it is about having the confidence to speak when an opportunity arrives.
