OpenClassrooms, a mission-driven category leader in online education-to-employment programs announces today it has raised $80 million in a Series C round led by Lumos Capital Group, a leading EdTech investor.
Other investors include GSV Ventures, the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI) and Salesforce Ventures. Existing investors General Atlantic and Bpifrance also extended their commitment to OpenClassrooms, alongside the company’s CEO Pierre Dubuc and other shareholders. Alven Capital and Citizen Capital also remain shareholders.
The Covid 19 pandemic has accelerated a global shift towards online education; with its unique range of high-quality reskilling and upskilling programs, OpenClassrooms is well positioned to answer the growing demand for quality professional education, serving individuals and a growing number of companies and public authorities. OpenClassrooms also offers innovative solutions to train the right talent and foster diversity, from education-as-a-benefit programs to apprenticeships or stackable competencies.
As a mission-driven, BCorp-certified entity, OpenClassrooms is committed to executing its mission of making education accessible at scale; in pursuit of that mission the company is on a high-growth trajectory, with revenues for the first quarter of 2021 up 140% year-on-year, and bookings up 250%.
Founded in 2013 by Pierre Dubuc and Mathieu Nebra, the Paris-based online education platform offers 54 competency-based training programs with individual mentorship, leading up to nationally accredited bachelor’s and master’s level diplomas, in fields with high demand such as web and mobile development, UX design, data science, digital marketing or instructional design. OpenClassrooms currently has 300 team members and offices in Paris, London and NYC.
The additional capital investment will support OpenClassrooms as it further establishes its leadership in affordable digital education-to-employment programs. Victor Hu, Co-founder and Managing Partner of Lumos Capital Group will join the OpenClassrooms board of directors.
Pierre Dubuc, CEO and Co-founder of OpenClassrooms, said regarding this Series C funding round:
We are thrilled to welcome Lumos, GSV, CZI and Salesforce Ventures as new shareholders. The additional capital we’re raising today will allow OpenClassrooms to increase its impact by allowing even more individuals to access affordable upskilling and reskilling programs, at a global level.
Our new investors are much more than just financial powerhouses, they’re first and foremost partners with deep knowledge of education, human capital development or impact investing. We’re looking forward to their advice and support on our hyper-growth journey, making education accessible to everyone, everywhere.