Rosetta Stone (company)
 |
|
| Public | |
| Traded as | : RST |
| Industry | Software development |
| Predecessor | Fairfield Language Technologies |
| Founded | Harrisonburg, Virginia, USA (1992) |
| Headquarters | Arlington, Virginia, USA |
|
Area served
|
Worldwide |
|
Key people
|
John Hass (CEO) Tom Pierno (CFO) |
| Products | Rosetta Stone Language Learning software, Rosetta Stone Kids Reading software, Fit Brains, Lexia Learning, Tell Me More software |
| Revenue |
 $264.6 million (2013)
|
|
($18.4) million (2013)
|
|
|
($16.1) million (2013)
|
|
| Total assets |
 $290.8 million (2013)
|
| Total equity |
$131.2 million (2013)
|
| Owner |
ABS Capital Partners Northwest Equity Partners |
|
Number of employees
|
1,375 (2014) |
| Website | rosettastone.com |
Rosetta Stone Inc. is an education technology software company that develops language, literacy and brain-fitness software. Best known for its language-learning products, in 2013 the company expanded beyond language into education-technology with its acquisitions of Livemocha, Lexia Learning, Fit Brains and Tell Me More.
According to the company, founder Allen Stoltzfus learned German through immersion while living in Germany and found it relatively easy. In the 1980s, Stoltzfus began learning Russian in a classroom setting, but found the classroom setting much more difficult. He wanted to simulate the German experience, and he decided to use computer technology to create a similar learning experience. He enlisted the aid of his brother-in-law, John Fairfield, who held a PhD in computer science.
By 1992 CD-ROM technology made the project possible. They formed a company known as Fairfield Language Technologies in Harrisonburg, Virginia. Allen and John hired Eugene Stoltzfus (Allen's brother), Greg Keim and Michael Silverman. They released their software product under the title The Rosetta Stone. In 2003 the company announced the hiring of Tom Adams, a businessman with international experience, as President and CEO.
In 2006 the company changed names to Rosetta Stone, Ltd., and converted from an S corporation to a C corporation. Ownership transferred to investment firms ABS Capital Partners and Northwest Equity Partners. On September 23, 2008, Rosetta Stone Inc. filed an Initial public offering with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
On April 15, 2009, the company was listed as the Rosetta Stone on the New York Stock Exchange. Since 2016, the company's president and CEO has been John Hass. Rosetta Stone is transitioning to a cloud-based business model that goes beyond language learning and deeper into education technology. In 2013, it acquired four companies—Vivity Labs Inc (creators of the Fit Brains Trainer),Livemocha,Tell Me More, and Lexia Learning.
...
Wikipedia