Global EdTech Unicorns
25 July 2018 (Updated). Current Private Education Companies Valued at USD $1B+
11 June 2018
EdTech Unicorns
For a market forecast to be $10 trillion by 2030, education is arguably underweight compared to peer industries for Unicorns or private companies valued at $1B+ USD. Over 250 Unicorns exist around the world across all industries with education making up around ten overall on a like-for-like basis (Started in the prior decade or recently raising venture capital).
If you are looking for ‘Unicorn Elders’, more mature private companies valued at US$1B+, please keep reading and check out The Complete List of Global Education Stocks to find the 110 public education companies, many of whom have a market capitalization greater than US$1B as well.
5 Years of Unicorn Investment
Over US$3B has been invested in these 10 Unicorns over the last five years with China making massive investments over the period. US companies such as Pluralsight and Renaissance have graduated to join their listed or Unicorn Elder peers.
Unicorn Elders
In addition to the 10 EdTech Unicorns and 100 Global Education Stocks are a group of private education companies (not all strictly EdTech) that are valued at US$1B+.
The EdTech Unicorn List
| Company | Country | Cluster | Date | Round | Valuation | Comments |
| VIPKid | China | Language | Apr 2018 | Series D | $1.5B | – |
| 17zuoye (一起作业) | China | Tutoring | March 2018 | Series E | $1.0B | – |
| ByJu’s | India | Mobile | Aug 2017 | Growth | $1.0B | – |
| Yuanfudao | China | Tutoring | May 2017 | PE Round | $1.0B | – |
| Udemy | US | Proprietary Online | Jun 2016 | Series D | $1.0B | – |
| Age of Learning | US | Online Curriculum | May 2016 | Series A | $1.0B | – |
| iTutorGroup | China | Language | November 2015 | Series C | $1.0B | – |
| Udacity | US | Proprietary Online | Nov 2015 | Series D | $1.1B | – |
| HuJiang | China | Online Curriculum | October 2015 | Series D | $1.0B | – |
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Global Education Expectations. Q1 2019 Executive Panel
17 May 2019.806 executives from 63 countries report an overall positive short-term outlook for education but most expect sector disruption by 2025. Emerging markets expect the highest levels of short-term growth.
Global Education Apps & the Android Ecosystem
9 May 2019.Power to the Learner. Android Style.
44 Global Education Mega VC Rounds > $100M
3 May 2019.The fundraising evolution of every single education player globally that has raised a USD$100m+ VC round
35 National AI Strategies. The Global AI Strategy Landscape
26 April 2019.Education is the key enabler for nations to realize their AI ambitions, yet the shortage of skilled talent remains the number one barrier to innovation.
China and India now 70%+ of Global EdTech VC
18 April 2019.The major engines of change in a global world are knowledge and information. Education is the fuel for these changes and together, China and India are investing more in education innovation than anywhere else.
Q1 2019 Global Education Executive Brief
2 April 2019.$2B of EdTech Venture Capital was invested globally, $5B+ of education M&A, education stocks gained $30B of market cap
Adoption of AI in education is accelerating. Massive potential but big hurdles remain.
31 March 2019.The HolonIQ Global Executive Panel reports strong early adoption of artificial intelligence, emerging capability building, but still many barriers.
250 Global Education Stocks
21 March 2019.250 education companies with $192B market cap, $79B revenue, $10B EBITDA and 668 thousand teachers and professionals
Future of the OPM. Four Scenarios Later.
14 March 2019.Hundreds of industry experts assessed the likelihood and expressed their preferences about the future of the OPM model.
Five Applications of Artificial Intelligence in Education
7 March 2019.Despite its over-hyped status, below the surface lie five distinct applications of AI in education.
France Education Market- February 2019
5 March 2019.France leads EU in EdTech investments. Nineteen institutions of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI) open up to new investment resources. Odyssey network of schools raises €11 million.
United States Education Market- February 2019
5 March 2019.Regulatory changes could impact education quality and burden on student debt. Foreign student enrolments further decline. Education groups, publishers, LMS providers and tech giants strengthen digital focus.
China Education Market- February 2019
4 March 2019.China sets long-term education modernization goals. Regulation on use of digital technologies is implemented in schools. K-12 players strengthen VC interest with new deals. Tomorrow Advancing Life (TAL) Education acquires Ready4.
Advanced Technology – February 2019
4 March 2019.VR adoption gathering momentum in defence training. U.S. government drafts national AI strategy to catch up with China and others. 11 new universities join university blockchain initiative.
South East Asia Education Market- February 2019
4 March 2019.Singapore ranks 2nd in 2019 Global Talent Competitiveness report. SEA countries double down on international education. EdTech startups in the Philippines are beginning to attract VC interest.
India Education Market- February 2019
3 March 2019.A total of $15B was earmarked for the education sector for 2019- 20. Four Indian startups are among the finalists for the Next Billion Prize. Byju’s acquires Osmo, a play- based learning start-up.
Australia Education Market- February 2019
3 March 2019.Australian international education sector grows by 15.3% over last year. Increased scrutiny on education agents and action against erring colleges on the cards. French and Hong Kong companies make valuable acquisitions.
Hong Kong Education Market- February 2019
2 March 2019.Interest in Artificial Intelligence drives investments and influences academic programs. HK universities impress in Times Higher Education Asia-Pacific rankings.
Brazil Education Market- February 2019
2 March 2019.Stocks tumble with Ministry of Education under investigation. Signa, an EdTech startup from Brazil, was a global finalist during the Next Billion Prize.
Russia Education Market- February 2019
2 March 2019.State owned VC funds and banks lead EdTech investments. Russia aspires to be among 10 leading countries in education quality. Web development and analytics skills demand shoots up by 140%.
Germany Education Market- February 2019
1 March 2019.The €5 billion K-12 Federal Funding package was passed in parliament. A centralized platform is planned for digital skill development. Largest education fair draws large numbers. Still, there are signs that show lack of digital leadership.
Global Giants – February 2019
1 March 2019.Amazon is set to train students across 1000 U.S. high schools in computer science education. Tencent continues its push into online education. Google invests $1 million in online tutoring startup.
Japan Education Market- February 2019
1 March 2019.Classi acquires stake in Educom to offer learning and school support package. Cram schools go digital. Mates EdTech raises 100 million JPY.
SDG4 and the Global Education Gap
28 February 2019.Mapping the conversation on the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals for Education
India Education Market – February 2019
25 February 2019.$15B identified for 2019/2010 education budget. India EdTech accelerating. Bilateral negotiations with the UK over academic equivalency.
The Anatomy of an OPM and a $7.7B Market in 2025
14 February 2019.Part 1. Deconstructing the Online Program Management Model. How we got here, where it’s at and where it might head.
2018 Mega EdTech Deals
7 February 2019.07 Feb 19. $3.2b, or almost 50% of all VC investment in 2018 occurred in just 27 deals each valued at over USD $50m.
Education Giants – 2019 Outlook
2 February 2019.Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) online plans to double students in 5 years. Harvard University closes a 5-year, $10b fundraising effort
Advanced Technology – 2019 Outlook
1 February 2019.Global spending of AI in education to hit $6b by 2025. Universities incorporating blockchain into programs. VR adoption gaining momentum in corporate training.
10 charts that explain the Global Education Technology market
30 January 2019.30 Jan 19. Everything you need to know about the Global Education Technology Market in 10 charts
Global Education Technology Market to Reach $341B by 2025
25 January 2019.24 Jan 2018. Press Release
Education Blockchain 50. The fuzzy front end.
24 January 2019.24 Jan 2018. 50 companies & 6 thematics for blockchain in education, learning and talent.
Capital Markets – 2019 Outlook
7 January 2019.19 education companies go IPO in 2018. Chinese regulations force companies to list on U.S. and Hong Kong exchanges. Pearson reports increase in profits in 2018.
South East Asia Education Market- 2019 Outlook
7 January 2019.Governments become more open to foreign players. Malaysian international students numbers jump up to 70% . Singapore moves away from testing and competition in schools. Startups focusing on ‘skills and jobs’ score high on VC investment.
France Education Market – 2019 Outlook
7 January 2019.An EdTech accelerator was launched in Paris. The French extra-curricular learning market is estimated to grow by 67% come 2022. Corporate learning, lifelong learning and technology education are driving multiple investments.
Content and Publishing Giants – 2019 Outlook
6 January 2019.Pearson partners with Microsoft and IBM Watson for AI capabilities. Wiley Education Services acquires OPM provider, The Learning House, for $200 Million.
Japan Education Market – 2019 Outlook
6 January 2019.Three major changes in Japanese education are due by 2020. Tech companies are helping schools prepare for mandatory coding curriculum. Japan’s talent mismatch is identified as most acute in Asia-Pacific.
China Education Market – 2019 Outlook
6 January 2019.Education sector faces heavy regulations. Twelve companies IPO in Hong Kong and U.S. exchanges. $5.2b in venture capital investments totals more than all other countries combined. Tech giants foraying into education space.
Technology Giants – 2019 Outlook
5 January 2019.Facebook launches its education site. Tencent invests $300m into Yuanfudau. Apple continues hardware push for education.
United States Education Market – 2019 Outlook
5 January 2019.Government policies in 2018 target all levels of education. Education philanthrophy sees considerable activity. Moody’s maintaines a negative outlook for universities throughout 2018. USA ranks second to Hong Kong among most popular IPO destinations.
India Education Market- 2019 Outlook
5 January 2019.Significant portion of educational content can now be accessed through smartphones. Government announces three-fold increase in the annual budget for interest-free education loans. Regional language publishing is also on the rise.
Brazil Education Market – 2019 Outlook
5 January 2019.Policy change to drive common national curriculum and technology development. K-12 market begins to consolidate. Brazil’s Ministry of Education launches USD $160M line of credit for launching of innovation projects.
Australia Education Market – 2019 Outlook
4 January 2019.International education revenue increases by 15.5%. A total of $30m was invested in EdTech firms through 15+ deals. Australian higher education regulator, TEQSA, tightens up private provider market.
United Kingdom Education Market- 2019 Outlook
4 January 2019.Education institutions brace up for further cuts in funding. Immigration policies lead to waning interest from foreign students. EdTech sector continues to grow, with over $500m in investment raised in 2018.
Hong Kong Education Market – 2019 Outlook
4 January 2019.8 Chinese companies IPO’d or files on HKEX. HK pivoting away from a financial center to an innovation hub. AI startup SenseTime raises $600 million.
Africa Education Market – 2019 Outlook
3 January 2019.Africa’s first EdTech incubator graduates first two cohorts. UNICAF’s online degree platform raises $28 million. Private school attraction in the continent is creating more market opportunities.
Germany Education Market – 2019 Outlook
3 January 2019.A €5b fund for digitization of school infrastructure is expected in Q2 of 2019. Acquisitions and partnerships drive EdTech investments rather than VC funding. Reform plans to address severe shortage of teachers.
Investment Trends – 2019 Outlook
2 January 2019.China’s venture capital (VC) investments have grown more than two-fold over the previous year. India is also hitting the strides with new players coming through the ranks.
$6B+ EdTech VC in 2018 – where did all the money go?
14 December 2018.13 Dec 2018. Where did all the money go? Mapping all 1,000+ Global EdTech Venture Capital Investments for 2018.
Russia Education Market – November 2019
5 December 2018.EdTech startups present two months of work under accelerator to industry expert practitioners. Micro-learning start-up wins at Russia’s largest tech startup competition.
Germany Education Market- November 2019
5 December 2018.National Council for Education omits key representatives. Germany faces shortage of vocational school teachers. State and federal education ministries reach agreement on funding deal.
Latin America Education Market – November 2019
4 December 2018.LATAM EdTech startups gain international recognition. Brazilian Ministry of Education launches $160 million credit line.
France Education Market- November 2019
4 December 2018.Largest public bank opens first open data panorama of EdTech in schools. Ministry of Education and Caisse des Dépôts sign partnership for digital transformation in schools. EdTech giant is set to train software developers in Africa.
Capital Markets – November 2019
4 December 2018.Leading education companies release quarterly reports with mixed results across the board.
Japan Education Market – November 2019
3 December 2018.Robodan raised $1.6 million. Ministry of Education releases second guide on programming education. Edion is set to offer robotics classes.
China Education Market- November 2019
3 December 2018.China’s VC investments in 2018 surpass the combined total of all other countries. Ministry of Education exercises strict regulations on after-school learning centers.
Investment Outlook- November 2019
3 December 2018.Asian countries surge ahead in VC/PE investments. Africa’s UNICAF raises $28 million.
United States Education Market – November 2019
2 December 2018.Department of Education undertakes overhaul of federal loan program. University insures itself againt drop in revenue from Chinese students.
India Education Market- November 2019
2 December 2018.India becomes the third biggest EdTech VC investment market. Higher education in U.S. strengthens its appeal on Indian students. Laureate education exiting India business.
Australia Education Market- November 2019
2 December 2018.International education grows at twice the rate of overall exports. EdTech market is gaining traction. Education stocks face uncertainty.
Advanced Technology – November 2019
2 December 2018.AI, VR/AR technologies find increasing traction in defence sector. Institute of Ethical Artificial Intelligence in Education (IEAIED) in the UK is set to examine and address data privacy concerns for AI in education.
United Kingdom Education Market – November 2019
1 December 2018.Challenger universities hoping to enter UK see positive signs. Four EdTech’s announce funding rounds of over $1 million.
Hong Kong Education Market- November 2019
1 December 2018.Hong Kong steps up efforts for AI push. BabyTree IPOs on Hong Kong Stock Exchange. Game developer NetDragon launches digital education portal.
Africa Education Market- November 2019
1 December 2018.Africa’s largest online learning platform raises $28 million. EdTech incubator Injini holds demo days while its alumni raises R500K.
Global Giants – November 2019
1 December 2018.Tech giants move further into education delivery with free courses. Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) aims to become a mega-university. Udacity hunts for a sustainable business model.
Robo Revolution 4x Education-as-Usual
9 November 2018.9 Nov 2018. Four times as many folks prefer ‘Robo Revolution’ over ‘Education-as-Usual’ and they think it’s more likely.
United Kingdom Education Market – October 2019
6 November 2018.Government’s plan to address language and literacy skills in 5-year olds heats up competition. MooC course gaining wider acceptance among employers.
India Education Market- October 2019
6 November 2018.Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in higher education set to rise. Tutoring and learning content EdTechs raise early-stage VC funding.
Australia Education Market- October 2019
6 November 2018.Increased scrutiny on international education amid non-compliance to regulatory standards. Navitas in the midst of an AUD $2b private equity bid. Review of higher education provider category standards commences.
SNHU, Udacity, FANGs shake out the Global Giant Battleground
5 November 2018.Major online providers are rethinking their strategies to boost their bottom lines as the and tech giants continue to tap into the education market
South East Asia Education Market- October 2019
5 November 2018.Singapore abolishes testing system in schools. Private and international schools in Vietnam can now now enroll up to 50% Vietnamese students.
Hong Kong Education Market- October 2019
5 November 2018.Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) to build a new science and tech-focused campus in Guangzhou. Hong Kong’s Science and Technology Park (HKSTP) seeks more EdTechs to its programs.
Germany Education Market- October 2019
5 November 2018.Government finalizes proposal for mobility of education across Europe. Union leaders demand higher education to be a legal right. Shortage of teachers to push reform plans.
Africa Education Market- October 2019
4 November 2018.Report finds Education quality on a decline in Africa. Government and businesses come together to address challenges facing education.
Russia Education Market – October 2019
3 November 2018.Technological startups in the field of education, social and IT are to benefit from Ministry of Education’s $100m fund. A number of education-related seminars and conferences were also held this month.
France Education Market – October 2019
3 November 2018.Ministry of Education hosts European Code Week. Apple partners with social enterprise to teach coding skills to underprivileged students.
Investment Outlook- October 2019
3 November 2018.EdTechs focusing on arts and creative subjects raise funding. Fragmented markets in India and Europe are gaining traction.
Education-as-Usual: 45% Likely. 5% Prefer.
2 November 2018.1 Nov 2018. Thousands of responses later, we check the pulse of Education-as-Usual in 2030.
Advanced Technology – October 2019
2 November 2018.AI adoption to flourish in China’s afterschool market. Massachusetts Institute of Technology makes $1 billion investment to setup new AI college.
United States Education Market – October 2019
1 November 2018.Publishing house Wiley acquires Learning House for $200 million. Higher education adapting to the gig economy . Department of Education unveils unofficial version of of plan to setup neg-reg committee.
Japan Education Market – October 2019
1 November 2018.Softbank offers JPY 100 million in scholarships for AI research. Tokyo-based VC firm, Mistletoe, invests $4 million in South Korean startup.
China Education Market- October 2019
1 November 2018.VC funding in online education extends to creative and thinking skills. Digitization of homework still under criticism.
Global Giants – October 2019
1 November 2018.Three of the top universities impress in endowment returns. LinkedIn marches ahead for global talent platform dominance. Apple integrates university student ID cards into Wallet.
The Anatomy of an EdTech Unicorn
17 October 2018.15 Oct 2018. Mapping the evolution of EdTech Unicorns and four growth archetypes they are following
Series-A Global EdTech Trends
10 October 2018.10 Oct 2018. The evolution of the Global EdTech Series-A round over the last ten years
Japan Education Market – September 2019
7 October 2018.Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) launches Future Classroom-Learning Innovation portal for latest EdTech trends. Japanese and American universities collaborate for online learning program.
China Education Market- September 2019
7 October 2018.MoE regulations ban use of competitions for admissions. Tsinghua University ranked best in Asia. Coding startups for kids raise investment.
India Education Market- September 2019
6 October 2018.India witnessing a surge of EdTech startups and investment interest. Enrolments of Indian students in UK universities are on the decline. Interest-free education loans to see massive spike.
Brazil Education Market- September 2019
6 October 2018.Three hundred and sixty-four EdTech startups identified in mapping exercise. Kroton lays out ambitious merger and acquisition plans. Arco Educação raises around $220 million in NASDAQ IPO.
Hong Kong Education Market- September 2019
5 October 2018.Additions of new private and international schools likely to cause surplus and outpace demand. School fee regulation favors local institutions.
Education in 2030 – Russia Votes
5 October 2018.3 October 2018. Teachers, Entrepreneurs, Chancellors, CEOs and Investors from across Russia vote on Education in 2030.
Two $5m+ edtech deals every day
5 October 2018.3 October 2018. Two $5m+ edtech deals every day
Australia Education Market- September 2019
5 October 2018.Role of migration agents recognized. VISA policy to be amended to attract international students in regional areas. Australian universities and TVET providers provided avenues to expand in Indonesia.
United States Education Market – September 2019
4 October 2018.U.S. second most popular IPO destination for global education. MooCs testing the market with new models. Philanthropic and Foundation investment in education outpacing venture investment.
Africa Education Market- September 2019
4 October 2018.Strong private school growth and acquisition activity. African EdTech startups selected to join 2018 MIT Solver Class. UK government announces $38 milllion funding for school partnerships.
United Kingdom Education Market – September 2019
3 October 2018.Three EdTech companies raise over $10m between them. UK universities’ struggle for international students likely to continue. AI agenda in education gathering pace.
Germany Education Market- September 2019
3 October 2018.Stumbling blocks for the ‘digital pact’ Federal Funding Package. €8.7b annual spend required to ensure continuing quality of kindergarten schools.
Investment Outlook- September 2019
3 October 2018.Global EdTech volume skyrockets in Q3 of 2018. Indian’s only EdTech unicorn raises $100 million. Aggressive mergers and acquisitions activity on the cards in the education market.
South East Asia Education Market- September 2019
2 October 2018.Singapore ranked 13th worldwide in a study on human capital and productivity. Myanmar draws interest of foreign education providers. Philippines initiates review of its K-12 rollout.
Advanced Technology – September 2019
2 October 2018.Growing number of cyberattacks on EdTech companies and institutions. Kidsense launches automatic speech recognition technology targeted for the benefit of children. VR acceptance on the rise.
Russia Education Market – September 2019
1 October 2018.Russian EdTech platforms get international attention. Shares on online education in Russia three times lower than world average. Language learning a promising area for EdTech investments.
France Education Market- September 2019
1 October 2018.French bank to promote vocational education with € 2.5m in loans. French universities rise in world university rankings. Immersive EdTech start up Manzalab raises €2m.
Global Giants – September 2019
1 October 2018.Giant universities in U.S. to close mega donor campaigns. Regular universities struggle financially. Facebook launches more education initiatives in coding, robotics and VR.
Top 500 Education Mobile Apps
29 August 2018.Power to the Learner. Education App Teardown – Part 1
Japan Education Market – July 2018
27 August 2018.METI and MEXT launch new initiatives. A new Japanese Education CVC. Tech + Gaming = New Curriculum.
6.7 million US job openings
22 August 2018.Post-secondary education design meets labor market analytics
$5m+ EdTech Deal Every Day
16 August 2018.15 Aug 2018. It’s not just the mega-deals in edtech setting new records. Q3 is on track to close one US$5m+ deal per day on average.
Global EdTech Investment projected to reach US$6 Billion
10 August 2018.8 Aug 18. July 2018 saw over $1 billion in EdTech investment. 2018 is set to be a record year of investment, projected to reach $6 billion.
Global Giants – July 2018
1 August 2018.Apple, Facebook and Google shaping up for a 2019 K-12 battle. Moodle and Blackboard Split.
Capital Markets and Education Stocks – July 2018
27 July 2018.Strayer-Capella Merger Complete. Reporting Season and Chegg, Pluralsight and 2U shining bright.
Global International Student Flows
25 July 2018.International Education in 2030
Education in 2030 – K12 China Votes
16 July 2018.16 Jul 2018. K12 Leaders from across China vote on Education in 2030.
2030 Scenarios Voting Summary
11 July 2018.12 Jul 2018. 1,000 teachers, entrepreneurs, executives and investors from Beijing, Tel Aviv, Berlin, Paris, London, Boston, New York, San Francisco and Sydney all voted on Education in 2030.
HIQ Global 100 Education Index
11 July 2018.A market-capitalization-weighted index of the 100 largest publicly traded companies in the education sector around the world by market value.
The Complete List of Global Education Stocks
10 July 2018.12 July 2018. 110 public education companies from around the world valued at US$156B, generating $64B in revenue and driven by 420,000 teachers and professionals.
Global Voting Part 2 – Education in 2030
6 July 2018.6 July 2018. Boston, New York, San Francisco and Sydney vote on the Five Scenarios for Education in 2030.
China Education Market – July 2018
2 July 2018.China out-investing the US 3:1 in EdTech. MoE announces final accounts for 2017. Regulation Tightening.
Half a million K12 schools and counting
28 June 2018.28 June 2018. Putting every school on the map
Global Voting Part 1 – Education in 2030
28 June 2018.28 June 2018. Beijing, Tel Aviv, Berlin, Paris and London vote on the Five Scenarios for Education in 2030.
Education Blockchain Market Map
26 June 2018.26 June 2018. 30+ Blockchain StartUps working on alternative models for education, learning and skills
The Complete List of Global EdTech Unicorns
11 June 2018.25 July 2018 (Updated). Current Private Education Companies Valued at USD $1B+
$10 Trillion Global Education Market in 2030
3 June 2018.Education in 2030
Global Drivers for Education in 2030
2 June 2018.Five Scenarios for Education in 2030
Building Scenarios for Education in 2030
2 June 2018.Top-Down and Bottom-Up Methodology
Scenario #1. Education-as-Usual
2 June 2018.Five Scenarios for Education in 2030
Scenario #2. Regional Rising
2 June 2018.Five Scenarios for Education in 2030
Scenario #3. Global Giants
2 June 2018.Five Scenarios for Education in 2030
Scenario #4. Peer-to-Peer
2 June 2018.Five Scenarios for Education in 2030
Scenario #5. Robo Revolution
2 June 2018.Five Scenarios for Education in 2030
Reimagining Education: Innovation at the Edge
23 May 2018.How innovation at the edges will change the shape of education
