Meet Guanjiao(Summer) Long | Cathoven AI Co-founder | CMO

We had the good fortune of connecting with Guanjiao(Summer) Long and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Guanjiao(Summer), what do you attribute your success to?
Cathoven is an AI platform aimed at helping teachers craft language lessons with real-world content 10x faster. I believe the most important factor behind our success is that we didn’t start Cathoven with the primary goal of launching a business. Instead, our journey began with a deep-seated desire to solve a problem we intimately understood.
Our founding team is a unique blend of top talent in linguistics, machine learning, and teaching, with all of us having backgrounds in teaching English as a second language. This diverse expertise allows us to genuinely understand the needs of both teachers and learners, enabling us to develop solutions that resonate with their behaviors and cognitive processes.
Our commitment to addressing real-world challenges has led to Cathoven making a substantial impact in over 50 countries. We are proud to be adopted by more than 50+ esteemed institutions, including Columbia University, UC Berkeley, and the National University of Singapore. Our innovative work has been recognized and cited in over 10 academic papers, six of which are peer-reviewed and published.
We’re not just another app throwing AI into the mix. Our tools are meticulously designed and scientifically validated, earning us the prestigious QS Reimagine Education 2023 Global Sliver Award , right after Duolingo.

What should our readers know about your business?
Cathoven AI is all about transforming language learning by letting learners pursue their passions at their own pace. What sets us apart? We are laser-focused on language learning and have trained our own AI model specifically for our unique features. Our in-house model ensures unparalleled accuracy in assessing language difficulty—something large language models (like ChatGPT) struggle with. Our precision is top-notch in the market.

As a founder, I’ve learned that being real and objective is crucial. When faced with setbacks or challenges, I don’t shy away from reality. Instead, I analyze the situation, admit when changes are necessary, and develop a plan to move forward. This mindset is shared by all the founders at Cathoven. We’re committed to constant innovation because we know our product is already helping many teachers and learners, and we are confident it will continue to do so.

Cathoven is more than just a product; it’s a solution born from real educational needs. Our journey is one of focus, resilience, and a deep commitment to enhancing the language learning experience. We’re not just creating tools; we’re transforming how people learn languages, making it faster, more accurate, and tailored to each learner’s passion.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I’ll start in Koreatown with the fiery beef short ribs at Sun Nong Dan—trust me, you’ll crave more after the first bite! Near USC, we’ll hit up Northern Cafe for the most authentic Chinese dishes in town. For a dose of culture, we’ll dive into the Getty Center and LACMA, soaking in the incredible art and iconic installations. We’ll definitely save a day for shopping on Melrose Avenue, where trendy boutiques and cozy cafes make for the perfect afternoon. As we wind down our trip, we’ll bask in the sun at Santa Monica’s beach, stroll along the lively pier, and revel in the energy of the Third Street Promenade.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I definitely want to give my team a big shoutout first. We are such a wonderful and diverse team making Cathoven AI possible. Erdi Tac has been the driving force, blending technical expertise with sharp business acumen. His A.I. product development and leadership have been key in shaping our vision. Mingxi Liang, our CTIO, excels in AI and linguistics. His innovative work in computational linguistics and English teaching has been pivotal in developing our AI model. Josh Lee brings unparalleled product management and business insights, guiding our product strategies and market positioning with his strategic thinking.
I also want to thank my parents, especially my dad, for always giving me 100% trust and allowing me to be independent and confident in whatever I do. He always told me, “You only live once. Do what you want to do now. Don’t say you’ll come back later because you might lose the chance forever.”

Website: https://link.cathoven.com/3V9jHXI

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cathoven.ai/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/guanjiao-summerlong/

Twitter: https://x.com/Cathoven_AI

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/cathovenai/