Edtech firm LingoAce names ex-NBA player Jeremy Lin as first global ambassador

Singapore headquartered global edtech company LingoAce has appointed former NBA player Jeremy Lin (pictured) as its first-ever global brand ambassador. Lin will collaborate with LingoAce to promote language learning and cross-cultural understanding through education technology. 

According to LingoAce, Lin knows firsthand the struggles of having to learn a second language – growing up in the United States, with family living in Asia, Lin learnt Chinese as a child through traditional experiences. Through working with LingoAce, the company said that Lin recognises the value of applying technology to create immersive learning experiences, and wants to help more children learn languages in this manner.

LingoAce's CEO and founder, Hugh Yao, said Lin's personal story, passion for education and bridging cultures, as well as his impact for society, make him the most ideal brand ambassador for LingoAce. “We’re proud to partner with Lin who has shattered entrenched stereotypes through hard work, compassion, and no small amount of grit. We hope our global students learn from his example and aspire to dream like Lin," he added.

While Yao declined to comment on the monetary value of the partnership, he told MARKETING-INTERACTIVE a brand video produced with Lin, which showcases the benefits of language learning for children using LingoAce, will be launched soon. LingoAce is also partnering with The Asian American Foundation to bring awareness to the film 38 at the Garden, to better tell the story about Asian Americans' experiences. The film tells the story of Lin’s ascent from anonymity to global superstardom and the cultural significance that he had as it continues to have for both Asian Americans and Asians globally.

Meanwhile, Lin explained that growing up and playing basketball in California, he personally knew many kids that had to navigate through inequities in terms of access to education. “No matter what a child’s situation is, I believe that education is always valuable and is the cornerstone of opportunities for individuals – I’ve always believed that talent is universal but opportunity is not. It’s why I started my foundation and have been engaging in impact investing to support mission-driven companies," he explained. 

Lin, who is currently a player with the Chinese Basketball Association, exploded onto the scene 10 years ago when he was still playing with the New York Knicks. Unexpectedly, he led a winning turnaround with the Knicks, creating a cultural phenomenon known as Linsanity.

Established in 2017, LingoAce is a Singapore-headquartered global edtech company and leading language learning platform, offering an immersive language learning experience tailored to meet the needs of K-12 learners across a range of language proficiency levels and diverse cultural backgrounds, spanning across 100 countries and regions.

With offices in the US, Southeast Asia and China, LingoAce is backed by investors including Sequoia Capital India, Owl Ventures, Tiger Global, Shunwei Capital, SWC Global and Decent Capital. It is also currently hiring for roles including VP of global marketing, social media brand specialist, marketing manager, regional marketing manager, and SEO manager.