Varsity Tutors has raised $100.0M in total across 2 funding rounds.
Varsity Tutors's investors include 500 Global, Adams Street Partners, Fifth Wall, Hustle Fund, iNovia Capital, Kapor Capital, Learn Capital, Lightbank, Shawn Byers, Nyca Partners, Silvertech Ventures, Tamar Technology Ventures.
Varsity Tutors is a technology-driven live learning platform that connects learners with expert tutors across more than 3,000 subjects, including K-12 education, professional courses, languages, and test preparation. It serves individual students, families, and schools/districts by providing personalized, live virtual tutoring designed to improve educational outcomes through flexible, accessible formats. The platform addresses the challenge of finding high-quality, timely tutoring by leveraging advanced technology to match students with the right tutors anywhere and anytime, supporting diverse learning needs and schedules. Varsity Tutors has demonstrated strong growth momentum, having delivered over 10 million hours of instruction and partnering with more than 500 schools and districts nationwide[1][3][2].
Founded in 2007 by Chuck Cohn during his junior year at Washington University in St. Louis, Varsity Tutors emerged from Cohn’s personal struggles with accessing effective tutoring. His own experience of improving from an F to an A+ in honors geometry through private tutoring, coupled with difficulties finding quality tutors in college, inspired the creation of a platform that would seamlessly connect learners with expert tutors. Initially a self-funded side project while Cohn worked demanding finance jobs, the company evolved as he dedicated himself full-time to its growth by 2011. Over time, Varsity Tutors expanded from a modest startup in St. Louis to a major player in online education, now part of the parent company Nerdy, which achieved unicorn status with a valuation of $1.7 billion[1][4][5][2].
Varsity Tutors rides the wave of digital transformation in education, capitalizing on trends such as remote learning, personalized education, and the increasing demand for accessible tutoring solutions. The timing is favorable due to widespread adoption of technology in classrooms and homes, growing recognition of the importance of individualized learning support, and the expansion of online education markets accelerated by recent global events. By integrating technology with human expertise, Varsity Tutors influences the broader ecosystem by setting standards for live, personalized tutoring and expanding access to quality education beyond traditional geographic and socioeconomic barriers[1][2][3].
Looking ahead, Varsity Tutors is positioned to deepen its impact by expanding subject offerings and learning formats, aiming to serve even broader audiences and learning preferences. The company’s focus on innovation and scale suggests continued growth, especially as education increasingly embraces hybrid and digital models. Trends such as AI-enhanced tutoring, data-driven personalized learning, and increased investment in edtech will likely shape Varsity Tutors’ evolution. Its influence may grow not only in direct tutoring but also in shaping how educational institutions integrate technology to support student success. As the company continues to leverage its technology and expertise, it remains a key player in transforming education access and quality[2][1].
Varsity Tutors has raised $100.0M across 2 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $50.0M Series C in February 2018.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 1, 2018 | $50.0M Series C | 500 Global, Adams Street Partners, Fifth Wall, Hustle Fund, iNovia Capital, Kapor Capital, Learn Capital, Lightbank, Shawn Byers, Nyca Partners, Silvertech Ventures, Tamar Technology Ventures, TCV, Team8, Viola Ventures, Amit Gilon, Freada Kapor Klein, Fritz Demopoulos | |
| Nov 1, 2015 | $50.0M Series B | Adams Street Partners, Fifth Wall, Nyca Partners, Silvertech Ventures, Tamar Technology Ventures, TCV, Team8, Viola Ventures, Amit Gilon, Fritz Demopoulos |