Venture capital investments in Edtech reached $512 million in Q1 2026, a substantial decrease since a peak in 2021, and 10% lower in volume in comparison to the same period in 2025. However, this is not across the board; workforce language learning app Preply raised $150 million, suggesting investors are prepared to devote large amounts of capital where demand is global, outcomes are job‑aligned, and usage is repeatable.

Additionally, workforce training made up 70% of venture capital in Q1, aligning with Speak's enterprise product. 

Market Vulnerabilities 

As EVAs must maintain a degree of skepticism, potential investors in Speak must be mindful of the lowered barrier for entry into the AI conversational agent field. While Speak's proprietary software is a current strength, the explosive rise of AI platforms means competitors both larger and smaller than Speak could potentially minimize their core value proposition by offering an improved experience at a lower price point. An investor must consider if Speak’s competitive edge is sustainable, or if it risks being displaced by other tech companies.

Furthermore, the notable decrease in total venture capital investment in Edtech since the 2021 peak suggests similar success may be more difficult to maintain moving forward. Speak’s strategy that has succeeded in Asia may be less straightforward in Western markets where consumer habits differ and a much larger proportion of the population already speaks English, their main language offering.