Preply Hits Unicorn Status with $150M Boost for Human-AI Language Learning
Preply's Human-Centric Approach Propels It to Unicorn Status
In a significant milestone for online education, language learning platform Preply has secured $150 million in Series D funding, catapulting its valuation to $1.2 billion. The investment, led by WestCap with participation from existing investors, brings Preply's total funding to nearly $300 million.
The Human Edge in Digital Learning
Founded in 2012, Preply has grown into a global marketplace connecting language learners with over 100,000 tutors across 180 countries. What sets them apart? A stubborn commitment to keeping humans at the heart of digital education.
"Our AI doesn't replace teachers - it makes them better," explains Kirill Bigai, Preply's CEO. "Imagine freeing tutors from paperwork so they can focus on what really matters: those magical 'aha' moments when a student finally grasps a tricky grammar rule or nails their pronunciation."
Smart Tools for Smarter Learning
The platform's latest AI toolkit acts as both teaching assistant and study buddy:
- For students: Automated class summaries, instant grammar feedback, and personalized practice exercises
- For tutors: AI-powered content creation that cuts lesson prep time in half
The results speak for themselves: Preply has tripled its revenue over five years while maintaining sky-high satisfaction rates. Their internal research reveals that 96% of learners credit human interaction as crucial to their progress.
Funding Fuels Global Ambitions
The fresh capital will accelerate three key areas:
- Expanding engineering teams to enhance AI capabilities
- Improving data infrastructure for more personalized learning paths
- Growing market reach with help from WestCap's experience scaling platforms like Airbnb
With the global language learning market projected to hit $227 billion by 2025 and about 1.8 billion people currently studying foreign languages worldwide, Preply is positioning itself at the intersection of two explosive trends: online education and human-AI collaboration.
The company proves that in an age of chatbots and virtual assistants, there's still no algorithm quite like human connection.
Key Points:
- $150M Series D raises Preply's valuation to $1.2B (unicorn status)
- 100K+ tutors offering instruction in 90+ languages worldwide
- AI complements rather than replaces human teaching
- 96% of learners value real conversation partners
- Market opportunity: $227B language learning sector by 2025
