AI Translation unicorn DeepL launches in New York

Cologne-based AI translation unicorn DeepL has announced the launch of its first US tech hub, located in New York City.

This expansion comes as the company experiences rapid growth and increased investment in the US, where it already serves clients like Coursera and Morningstar. Earlier this year, DeepL established its first US office in Austin, Texas.

The New York hub will concentrate on research, product development, and engineering, supporting the company’s efforts to scale in the region.

“This strategic move places us at the heart of one of the largest talent pools and brings us closer to key clients, including numerous Fortune 500 companies,” said Jarek Kutylowski, DeepL’s CEO and founder.

DeepL is actively recruiting for product and engineering roles, with plans to double the size of its New York tech hub over the next 12 months.

To support its US expansion, the company has appointed Sebastian Enderlein as its new Chief Technology Officer. Enderlein brings extensive experience from leading software development and engineering teams at Uber and Salesforce.

Strategic Growth FocusFounded in 2017, DeepL has carved out a strong position against machine translation giants like Google Translate. Achieving unicorn status in 2022, the company’s valuation soared to $2bn in May this year following a $300m funding round.

A key driver of DeepL’s rapid growth is its singular focus on AI-powered translation, underpinned by proprietary neural network technology.

“Translate isn’t the core business of Google — it’s one of 100 side gigs,” CEO Jarek Kutylowski previously told TNW.“The same applies when comparing us to OpenAI and large language model developers. Translation is just one of many things they do. We’re dedicated to one specific area.”

DeepL’s strategy also prioritises the B2B market, where it sees the greatest demand for its services.

Currently, the startup supports translations in over 30 languages and serves a network of more than 100,000 business clients. Recent product launches tailored to business users include an AI writing assistant and an AI-powered glossary generator.