From Classroom Project to Startup: How Mostafa Afr Built Langmates.ai
Mostafa Afr (M&T’25) isn’t slowing down in his final year at Penn. A “super senior,” he’s on track to graduate this December with a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering, a B.S.E., in Electrical Engineering, and a B.S. in Entrepreneurship. Along the way, he’s turned his passion for language learning into Langmates.ai, an AI-powered app that helps users practice speaking new languages. This summer, he received the M&T Summer Entrepreneurship Award, giving him the resources to transform his senior project into a startup with real momentum. In this Q&A, Afr shares his journey, the evolution of his app, and the lessons he’s learned along the way.
Q: Why did you apply for the Summer Entrepreneurship Award?
A: I had previously built an RGB light-up cable as a project (please see past Q&A with Afr), but with the rapid changes in AI, I felt there were a lot of unique opportunities for impact that didn’t exist previously. I wanted to build something really impactful with that new wave of technology.
That led me to develop Langmates.ai, an AI-powered language learning app that holds conversations, tracks your strengths and weaknesses, and adapts to your needs. I originally created it for my senior project but wanted to turn it into a real startup. The award gave me the funding, mentorship, and structure to refine the app and take it from a fun prototype to something usable.
Q: What inspired you to focus on language learning?
A: I grew up speaking Arabic, and in high school, I took Latin. But at one point I wanted to learn another language. I became fascinated with Japanese and taught myself using YouTube and apps. It became such a big part of my life that I even wrote about it in my Penn application essay. At Penn, I joined the Japanese Student Association, attended cultural events, and spent some time in Japan. I also wrote a guide to learning Japanese that was the most upvoted resource on Reddit for two years.
The biggest challenge for me was speaking practice – I was nervous about making mistakes. Instead of avoiding that discomfort, I built an app to solve it.
Q: How has your app evolved since the early days?
A: The app has gone through several pivots. Initially, it was designed for children at schools, but I discovered that schools were reluctant to pay for the costs of advanced AI, and building for kids raised unique challenges.
Now, Langmates is designed for at-home learners. Instead of paying hourly for a tutor, users pay a monthly subscription and can practice unlimited conversations. The app remembers their preferences, provides personalized feedback, creates flashcards, plays interactive games, and even simulates natural accents. It’s affordable, convenient, and designed to make speaking practice accessible anytime.
Q: How were you able to apply what you learned in the classroom?
A: My business coursework was especially valuable. It gave me the confidence to sell, price, and position the app effectively. Beyond classes, the mentorship I received – particularly from Professor Gad Allon during the summer program – was invaluable in shaping the app’s direction.
On the technical side, my background in electrical engineering sharpened my problem-solving skills. Debugging complex hardware and software systems trained me to approach challenges methodically, which has been essential in developing the app.
Q: What have been the highlights of your time in the M&T Program?
A: Transferring into M&T was itself a highlight – it was a tough process but incredibly rewarding. The M&T India trip was another defining experience, offering the chance to connect deeply with alumni, students, and faculty.
I also loved the freshman seminar, where we met weekly with peers and professors. One memorable moment was a long walk after class with alumni Brian Kravitz, who also studied Japanese. Years later, he gifted me a print of one of his photographs from Japan – a reminder of how meaningful those connections can be.
Q: What advice would you give to younger M&Ts?
A: Take risks. With AI reshaping industries, there’s no better time to experiment. Failure is part of the process, and Penn provides an extraordinary level of support for entrepreneurship.
M&T looks for students who are passionate and committed to making an impact. Use your time here to pursue what excites you most, and don’t hesitate to ask for guidance from professors, alumni, and peers – the community is an incredible resource.