Preply is a multinational online language learning platform headquartered in Barcelona, Spain. The company connects learners with tutors for live, one-on-one lessons through its website and mobile app, using a recommendation algorithm to match students and teachers.[4]
Founded in 2012 by Kirill Bigai, Serve Lukyanov, and Dmytro Voloshyn, Preply operates on a subscription model that combines human tutoring with artificial intelligence-powered study assistance. Preply operates an online platform and mobile app for llive teaching and its own proprietary curriculum.[5]
As of 2024, Preply employed more than 678 people of over 50 nationalities, with offices in Barcelona, London, New York, and Kyiv, and users across more than 190 countries.
History
Founding and early growth
Preply was founded in 2012 by Ukrainian entrepreneurs Kirill Bigai, Serge Lukyanov, and Dmytro Voloshyn. Together they developed the first version of preply.com, which was launched in November 2012.[1][6] On August 31, 2013, Preply received an angel investment of $180,000. Some of the named investors in the funding round were Semyon Dukach, Borya Shakhnovich, Vadim Yasinovsky, Dan Pasko, Torben Majgaard and Vostok Ventures.[7] Preply's first expansion took place in its founding year, when it began expanding into the markets of other countries of Eastern Europe, including Belarus, Kazakhstan, Poland and Russia.[7]
In its first three years, Preply experienced a notable growth in both employee headcount and financial performance. In 2016, the employee count reached 100, marking a seven-fold increase in less than three years. In June 2016, Preply raised $1.3 million in funding from investors including Techstars, SMRK VCDigital and Arthur Kosten and the Preply platform was updated with a new ranking algorithm based on machine learning and used for classifying and recommending tutors..[8][9]
Expansion and funding
Preply Classroom, formerly known as Preply Space, was launched as the all-in-one language ecosystem. Classroom provided integrated video, online chat, screen sharing and other useful features.[10] The company also closed another round of funding during the same year.[11]
In 2019, Preply entered the Spanish market and opened an office in Barcelona, then expanded further in European, including the United Kingdom and Germany.[12] It also launched its B2B division, known as Preply Business. This followed growing demand in the sector from companies seeking tailored language training solutions that could be used by their employees.
In March 2020, TechCrunch reported that Preply saw record daily hours booked and spikes in tutor registrations in the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy and Spain during early COVID‑19 school closures.[13]
By March 2021, Preply had facilitated more than 10 million lessons and listed about 40,000 tutors across 190 countries,[14] and had raised a cumulative $50.6 million over eight funding rounds.[15][16] At the time, it employed about 250 people and operated offices in Kyiv and Barcelona.[15]
Preply raised its largest single amount to date of $50 million via a funding round in July 2022.[18][16][19] In July 2023, the company raised an additional $70 million via an extended Series C funding round, which was led by Horizon Capital.[16] Funds were to be used for an artificial intelligence-based assistant focused on grammar explanations and conversation starters.[20] Preply opened an office in New York City in October 2023.[21] An office was opened in London in July 2024.[22]
Services
Preply is a learning language app and online platform that combines human tutoring with artificial intelligence. It operates on a subscription model in which learners purchase lesson packages on a recurring basis.[23]
Tutor profiles typically include biographical information, introductory videos, and reviews from other learners, and users may contact tutors before booking.[24] A machine-learning algorithm matches students and tutors based on factors such as budget and schedule.[5] Tutors work as independent contractors and set their own rates and schedules.[1] Preply also offers a corporate language training program known as Preply Business.[25]
Awards and recognition
In May 2020, Preply won "The Revenue Hack of 2020" at the Ukrainian Startup Awards.[26]
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