Lean Capital

Lean Capital, formerly known as Revolution Learning, is a venture capital and private equity firm established in 2008 and based in San Mateo, California, with additional offices in Austin, Texas, and Beijing, China. The firm specializes in early to mid-stage investments in the education technology sector, focusing on innovative learning content, platforms, and services. Lean Capital primarily targets companies that have developed or are in the process of commercializing innovative products in their home markets, particularly in emerging markets such as Latin America. The firm is dedicated to funding entrepreneurs who aim to enhance learning experiences through new technology platforms and applications, believing that advancements in education will play a crucial role in shaping the future.

Maia Sharpley

Partner

Paul Strange

General Counsel

Vinit Sukhija

Partner

Susan Wang

Principal

Past deals in E-Learning

Nerdy

Post in 2021
Nerdy is a curated direct-to-consumer platform that specializes in live online learning, utilizing technology and artificial intelligence to connect learners of all ages with experts across a wide range of subjects. The platform offers various learning formats, including one-on-one instruction, small group classes, large group sessions, and adaptive self-study options. By focusing on delivering high-quality educational experiences, Nerdy aims to provide significant value to both learners and professionals in the gig economy, establishing itself as a comprehensive online learning destination.

SoloLearn

Series B in 2021
SoloLearn, Inc. operates a mobile learning platform that offers online courses. It provides courses in nine programming languages including HTML,CSS, JavaScript, PHP, C++, Java, Python, Swift, and SQL for Android, iOS, Windows phone, and Web. The company was founded in 2013 and is based in Pleasanton, California.

Udemy

Series F in 2020
Udemy, Inc. is an online learning platform that provides a diverse array of courses aimed at students, businesses, and governments worldwide. Established in 2010 and headquartered in San Francisco, California, Udemy offers courses in various fields, including development, business, finance, IT, personal development, design, marketing, and health. The platform connects students with instructors, allowing for self-paced, on-demand learning tailored to individual goals, whether for professional advancement or personal interest. For corporate clients, Udemy for Business provides subscription access to over 7,000 relevant courses in multiple languages, along with robust learning analytics and a centralized platform for content management. Additionally, Udemy offers a customizable learning solution for government entities to enhance workforce skills across various sectors. The company has offices in several locations, including Ankara, Dublin, São Paulo, Denver, and Gurgaon.

Udemy

Series F in 2020
Udemy, Inc. is an online learning platform that provides a diverse array of courses aimed at students, businesses, and governments worldwide. Established in 2010 and headquartered in San Francisco, California, Udemy offers courses in various fields, including development, business, finance, IT, personal development, design, marketing, and health. The platform connects students with instructors, allowing for self-paced, on-demand learning tailored to individual goals, whether for professional advancement or personal interest. For corporate clients, Udemy for Business provides subscription access to over 7,000 relevant courses in multiple languages, along with robust learning analytics and a centralized platform for content management. Additionally, Udemy offers a customizable learning solution for government entities to enhance workforce skills across various sectors. The company has offices in several locations, including Ankara, Dublin, São Paulo, Denver, and Gurgaon.

Springboard

Series B in 2020
Springboard is an online learning platform that prepares students for the tech industry’s most sought after careers. With expert mentorship from top professionals, a bleeding-edge curriculum, and a network of support from day one, they make sure students have everything they need to excel in their program and in their next job. The platform one-size-fits-one approach is made for working professionals who are ready to level-up or make a major career shift. And our tuition back guarantee means students can take charge and invest in themselves. Springboard data science career track comes with a job guarantee, ensuring students secure a job within six months of graduation or get a full refund. The platform's self-paced courses offer students the opportunity to develop job-ready skills that they display in an industry-worthy capstone or portfolio projects.

Coursera

Series F in 2020
Coursera is an online education company that serves over 20 million registered learners by partnering with 140 of the world’s best universities and education institutions. On Coursera, anyone, anywhere can access over 1,000 online courses and Specializations in dozens of fields in order to achieve meaningful career, educational, and personal enrichment goals throughout their lives. The company was founded in 2012 and is headquartered in Mountain View, California.

Springboard

Series A in 2019
Springboard is an online learning platform that prepares students for the tech industry’s most sought after careers. With expert mentorship from top professionals, a bleeding-edge curriculum, and a network of support from day one, they make sure students have everything they need to excel in their program and in their next job. The platform one-size-fits-one approach is made for working professionals who are ready to level-up or make a major career shift. And our tuition back guarantee means students can take charge and invest in themselves. Springboard data science career track comes with a job guarantee, ensuring students secure a job within six months of graduation or get a full refund. The platform's self-paced courses offer students the opportunity to develop job-ready skills that they display in an industry-worthy capstone or portfolio projects.

Differ

Venture Round in 2019
Makers of Differ, a messaging app with chatbot teaching assistants. 19x increased student engagement and 3x increased course completion rates in online and blended courses.

SoloLearn

Series A in 2018
SoloLearn, Inc. operates a mobile learning platform that offers online courses. It provides courses in nine programming languages including HTML,CSS, JavaScript, PHP, C++, Java, Python, Swift, and SQL for Android, iOS, Windows phone, and Web. The company was founded in 2013 and is based in Pleasanton, California.

Varsity Tutors

Series C in 2018
Varsity Tutors is a Live Learning Platform that seamlessly connects experts and learners in any subject, anywhere, and at any time. We operate the largest tutoring and live instruction platform in the United States. At Varsity Tutors, we believe that learning matters and we believe that innovative technology and personalized learning can make all the difference. Students can learn live online in 1:1, small group, and large format scaled classes in more than 3,000 different subjects, tests, and topics. Personalization and AI is woven throughout the customer experience and learners seek out the platform as a learning destination where they go to excel, be inspired, and foster their creativity. To date, students have accessed more than 10 million hours of live 1:1 and group instruction on the platform.

Springboard

Series A in 2017
Springboard is an online learning platform that prepares students for the tech industry’s most sought after careers. With expert mentorship from top professionals, a bleeding-edge curriculum, and a network of support from day one, they make sure students have everything they need to excel in their program and in their next job. The platform one-size-fits-one approach is made for working professionals who are ready to level-up or make a major career shift. And our tuition back guarantee means students can take charge and invest in themselves. Springboard data science career track comes with a job guarantee, ensuring students secure a job within six months of graduation or get a full refund. The platform's self-paced courses offer students the opportunity to develop job-ready skills that they display in an industry-worthy capstone or portfolio projects.

Outschool

Seed Round in 2017
Outschool operates an online platform that facilitates live, interactive learning experiences for children through classes taught by independent teachers. Founded in 2015 and headquartered in San Francisco, the platform connects parents, motivated learners, and educators, allowing families to discover and book a variety of online classes tailored to their interests. The platform caters to a diverse range of educators, including certified teachers and individuals with expertise in various fields. Outschool's model enables parents to select classes and teachers based on their children’s needs, thereby expanding educational opportunities in a cost-effective manner compared to traditional tutoring. The platform emphasizes community building by allowing parents to collaborate on activities and share experiences.

Coursera

Series D in 2017
Coursera is an online education company that serves over 20 million registered learners by partnering with 140 of the world’s best universities and education institutions. On Coursera, anyone, anywhere can access over 1,000 online courses and Specializations in dozens of fields in order to achieve meaningful career, educational, and personal enrichment goals throughout their lives. The company was founded in 2012 and is headquartered in Mountain View, California.

extern

Seed Round in 2017
Extern is a developer of a remote externship platform that connects students with companies, allowing them to gain professional experience in various industries from any location. The platform transforms corporate work projects into scalable online learning opportunities, enabling students to explore career paths flexibly while enhancing their employability. For companies, this approach acts as an effective talent identification and training program, reaching diverse and underserved student populations. By facilitating collaboration between employees and students on real-world projects, Extern fosters meaningful engagement and supports companies in building their employer brand through impactful educational experiences.

Learners Guild

Venture Round in 2017
17 million young people in the United States are un(der)employed while the demand for technology related jobs exceeds the supply. At Learners Guild, we’re solving this problem by providing a software education fellowship with life-changing curriculum and community support. Our products are built upon the premise that life is a process of continuous learning, building, and perfecting pursuits of livelihood, community and purpose. Learners Guild, a California B-Corp following the principles of holocracy, is a network of guild-style professional schools that transform students into high-skilled workers in one year. We have a unique financing model that aligns student and institutional success, and allows us to profitably recruit & train the most ambitious students, regardless of financial background. Together, we can transform the trillion dollar higher education market and fix the gap for talented software developers in the coming connected device era.

Teachable

Series A in 2017
Teachable (formerly Fedora) is changing education by making it easy to teach or sell courses online. Teacher entrepreneurs use Teachable to run their own courses work with almost half a million students online. In a matter of minutes, Teachable allows you to create a beautiful and powerful, payment-ready course from your own website without any technical knowledge. While many use Teachable for asynchronous video-based classes teachers have used it to sell books, services, offline-online classes, group coaching, tutoring and webinars.

SoloLearn

Seed Round in 2016
SoloLearn, Inc. operates a mobile learning platform that offers online courses. It provides courses in nine programming languages including HTML,CSS, JavaScript, PHP, C++, Java, Python, Swift, and SQL for Android, iOS, Windows phone, and Web. The company was founded in 2013 and is based in Pleasanton, California.

Teachable

Seed Round in 2016
Teachable (formerly Fedora) is changing education by making it easy to teach or sell courses online. Teacher entrepreneurs use Teachable to run their own courses work with almost half a million students online. In a matter of minutes, Teachable allows you to create a beautiful and powerful, payment-ready course from your own website without any technical knowledge. While many use Teachable for asynchronous video-based classes teachers have used it to sell books, services, offline-online classes, group coaching, tutoring and webinars.

BUILD ACADEMY

Seed Round in 2016
Build Academy, Inc. operates a professional development e-learning platform for the building industry. The company offers online and blended learning courses and programs for building professionals, companies, and governments operating in fields of architecture, engineering, real estate, and construction worldwide. Its professional e-learning programs enhance enterprise capability to achieve the goals of clients and the objectives of their companies. Build Academy, Inc. is based in New York, New York.

Coursera

Series C in 2015
Coursera is an online education company that serves over 20 million registered learners by partnering with 140 of the world’s best universities and education institutions. On Coursera, anyone, anywhere can access over 1,000 online courses and Specializations in dozens of fields in order to achieve meaningful career, educational, and personal enrichment goals throughout their lives. The company was founded in 2012 and is headquartered in Mountain View, California.

Savvy.is

Seed Round in 2015
Savvy is a global platform where learners and teachers connect for live, one on one video learning sessions. One on one learning is the most effective way to learn anything, from how to manage your personal finances to how to put on makeup. Savvy gives anyone with expertise the ability to teach, and makes it easy for learners to book, learn, and pay for sessions whenever and wherever they want.

Educents

Seed Round in 2015
Educents Inc. operates as an online marketplace for selling educational products to students, parents, homeschoolers, and educators in the United States. The company offers science kits, curriculum packs, books, art supplies, math and reading books, and others. It also provides digital products, such as downloads and online programs for international customers. The company was founded in 2013 and is based in San Francisco, California.

Teachable

Seed Round in 2015
Teachable (formerly Fedora) is changing education by making it easy to teach or sell courses online. Teacher entrepreneurs use Teachable to run their own courses work with almost half a million students online. In a matter of minutes, Teachable allows you to create a beautiful and powerful, payment-ready course from your own website without any technical knowledge. While many use Teachable for asynchronous video-based classes teachers have used it to sell books, services, offline-online classes, group coaching, tutoring and webinars.

Bloc

Series A in 2014
Bloc, Inc. is an online education company that specializes in intensive, mentor-led programs for aspiring developers and designers. Founded in 2011 and based in Palo Alto, California, Bloc offers courses focusing on web development, iOS, and web design. Its curriculum allows students to select their mentors based on various factors such as experience, language, location, and availability, enabling them to build skills through personalized assignments. By combining a structured, project-based approach with one-on-one mentorship, Bloc provides a flexible and effective alternative to traditional degree programs for career-oriented adults. As of April 2018, Bloc operates as a subsidiary of Thinkful, Inc.

Rockit

Seed Round in 2014
Rockit is an online education platform based in Vietnam that focuses on teaching courses in Math, Science, English, and test preparation. Initially targeting students and young professionals, Rockit provides an effective English language learning experience through live instruction by bilingual teachers combined with multimedia content. This approach allows learners to master the English language conveniently and at a lower cost, preparing them for opportunities in a globalized job market. The platform also shares and publishes information on various topics, including beauty, skincare, fashion, healthcare, and technology, enabling individuals to enhance their knowledge and skills through expert insights.

MasteryConnect

Series A in 2014
MasteryConnect is an educational technology company founded in 2009 and based in Salt Lake City, Utah. The company focuses on providing tools that help educators assess student understanding and tailor interventions to meet individual learning needs. By leveraging data, MasteryConnect enables teachers to personalize learning experiences and evaluate their instructional practices. Its services are designed to enhance educational outcomes through innovative solutions that support both teachers and students.

Bloc

Seed Round in 2013
Bloc, Inc. is an online education company that specializes in intensive, mentor-led programs for aspiring developers and designers. Founded in 2011 and based in Palo Alto, California, Bloc offers courses focusing on web development, iOS, and web design. Its curriculum allows students to select their mentors based on various factors such as experience, language, location, and availability, enabling them to build skills through personalized assignments. By combining a structured, project-based approach with one-on-one mentorship, Bloc provides a flexible and effective alternative to traditional degree programs for career-oriented adults. As of April 2018, Bloc operates as a subsidiary of Thinkful, Inc.

Coursera

Series B in 2013
Coursera is an online education company that serves over 20 million registered learners by partnering with 140 of the world’s best universities and education institutions. On Coursera, anyone, anywhere can access over 1,000 online courses and Specializations in dozens of fields in order to achieve meaningful career, educational, and personal enrichment goals throughout their lives. The company was founded in 2012 and is headquartered in Mountain View, California.

Verbling

Seed Round in 2013
Verbling, Inc. is an online platform that connects language learners with professional teachers through video chat, facilitating personalized language lessons. Founded in 2011 and based in Palo Alto, California, Verbling's mission is to empower individuals worldwide to achieve fluency in foreign languages. The platform allows users to interact directly with vetted teachers, who are available around the clock across various time zones. Verbling maintains high standards for its educators, resulting in an average student rating of 4.9 out of 5. As of January 2020, Verbling operates as a subsidiary of Busuu Limited, enhancing its reach in the e-learning space.

Coursera

Series B in 2013
Coursera is an online education company that serves over 20 million registered learners by partnering with 140 of the world’s best universities and education institutions. On Coursera, anyone, anywhere can access over 1,000 online courses and Specializations in dozens of fields in order to achieve meaningful career, educational, and personal enrichment goals throughout their lives. The company was founded in 2012 and is headquartered in Mountain View, California.

popexpert

Seed Round in 2013
Learn life and work skills directly from top experts for a happier, healthier, more productive you. From mindfulness to entrepreneurship and all the skills between, popexpert makes it easy to learn what you need to excel. Get access to original classes and personalized coaching from thousands of top experts at home or on-the-go, from anywhere in the world. Join people from more than 90 countries learning from hundreds of classes and thousands of experts. Ready to dive deeper? Subscribe to a learning institute for unlimited access to hundreds of original video and audio classes designed to help you master key topics whether you’re just getting started or already on your journey.

MasteryConnect

Series A in 2013
MasteryConnect is an educational technology company founded in 2009 and based in Salt Lake City, Utah. The company focuses on providing tools that help educators assess student understanding and tailor interventions to meet individual learning needs. By leveraging data, MasteryConnect enables teachers to personalize learning experiences and evaluate their instructional practices. Its services are designed to enhance educational outcomes through innovative solutions that support both teachers and students.

NovoEd

Seed Round in 2013
NovoEd, Inc. is a software company that operates a collaborative online learning platform designed to enhance the learning experience for diverse groups of learners. Founded in 2012 at Stanford’s social algorithm laboratory and headquartered in San Francisco, the company offers a software-as-a-service platform that fosters collaboration through project-based learning, mentorship, and feedback. NovoEd's solutions encompass a range of professional development areas, including leadership development, digital transformation, employee onboarding, and diversity and inclusion. The platform is utilized by various sectors, including consulting, retail, technology, healthcare, and education, both in the United States and internationally. NovoEd's unique approach combines experiential learning with analytical tools, enabling organizations to unlock collective knowledge and achieve measurable outcomes through purposeful practice and group collaboration. The company also provides consulting services such as instructional design and learning analytics to support its clients in maximizing their training initiatives.

Udemy

Series B in 2012
Udemy, Inc. is an online learning platform that provides a diverse array of courses aimed at students, businesses, and governments worldwide. Established in 2010 and headquartered in San Francisco, California, Udemy offers courses in various fields, including development, business, finance, IT, personal development, design, marketing, and health. The platform connects students with instructors, allowing for self-paced, on-demand learning tailored to individual goals, whether for professional advancement or personal interest. For corporate clients, Udemy for Business provides subscription access to over 7,000 relevant courses in multiple languages, along with robust learning analytics and a centralized platform for content management. Additionally, Udemy offers a customizable learning solution for government entities to enhance workforce skills across various sectors. The company has offices in several locations, including Ankara, Dublin, São Paulo, Denver, and Gurgaon.

eduClipper

Seed Round in 2012
eduClipper, Inc. operates an educational digital platform that allows teachers and students to create and manage virtual clipboards. Users can post links, images, videos, and documents, facilitating collaboration and content sharing in educational settings. Founded in 2012 and based in New York, the platform serves as a social web resource where users can collect, organize, and discuss educational content. It also supports the creation of digital portfolios, enabling users to showcase their work and foster social connections through the material they curate. By providing tools for exploring and sharing various resources, eduClipper aims to enhance the learning experience both inside and outside the classroom.

eSpark

Series A in 2012
eSpark, Inc. is an educational technology company that develops iPad-based applications aimed at enhancing the learning experience for elementary school students. Founded in 2007 and headquartered in Chicago, with an additional office in San Francisco, eSpark focuses on creating engaging tools that motivate students to write and provides differentiated instruction in mathematics and English Language Arts. The company's flagship product, eSpark, offers personalized learning services tailored to individual student needs. eSpark is committed to ensuring that all students, regardless of their backgrounds, have the opportunity to achieve their educational aspirations.

Bloc

Seed Round in 2012
Bloc, Inc. is an online education company that specializes in intensive, mentor-led programs for aspiring developers and designers. Founded in 2011 and based in Palo Alto, California, Bloc offers courses focusing on web development, iOS, and web design. Its curriculum allows students to select their mentors based on various factors such as experience, language, location, and availability, enabling them to build skills through personalized assignments. By combining a structured, project-based approach with one-on-one mentorship, Bloc provides a flexible and effective alternative to traditional degree programs for career-oriented adults. As of April 2018, Bloc operates as a subsidiary of Thinkful, Inc.

LearnZillion

Seed Round in 2012
LearnZillion provides educators with curricular products for the new standards in digital and print. Its platform offers access to instructional materials for mathematics and literacy, as well as provides task-implementation guides for teachers that enable students and teachers to get benefited from each other through interactive learning. LearnZillion was founded in 2011 and is based in Washington, District of Columbia.

Verbling

Seed Round in 2012
Verbling, Inc. is an online platform that connects language learners with professional teachers through video chat, facilitating personalized language lessons. Founded in 2011 and based in Palo Alto, California, Verbling's mission is to empower individuals worldwide to achieve fluency in foreign languages. The platform allows users to interact directly with vetted teachers, who are available around the clock across various time zones. Verbling maintains high standards for its educators, resulting in an average student rating of 4.9 out of 5. As of January 2020, Verbling operates as a subsidiary of Busuu Limited, enhancing its reach in the e-learning space.

MasteryConnect

Seed Round in 2011
MasteryConnect is an educational technology company founded in 2009 and based in Salt Lake City, Utah. The company focuses on providing tools that help educators assess student understanding and tailor interventions to meet individual learning needs. By leveraging data, MasteryConnect enables teachers to personalize learning experiences and evaluate their instructional practices. Its services are designed to enhance educational outcomes through innovative solutions that support both teachers and students.

Udemy

Series A in 2011
Udemy, Inc. is an online learning platform that provides a diverse array of courses aimed at students, businesses, and governments worldwide. Established in 2010 and headquartered in San Francisco, California, Udemy offers courses in various fields, including development, business, finance, IT, personal development, design, marketing, and health. The platform connects students with instructors, allowing for self-paced, on-demand learning tailored to individual goals, whether for professional advancement or personal interest. For corporate clients, Udemy for Business provides subscription access to over 7,000 relevant courses in multiple languages, along with robust learning analytics and a centralized platform for content management. Additionally, Udemy offers a customizable learning solution for government entities to enhance workforce skills across various sectors. The company has offices in several locations, including Ankara, Dublin, São Paulo, Denver, and Gurgaon.

OpenStudy

Seed Round in 2008
OpenStudy is a social learning network designed to facilitate collaboration among students. It allows users to ask questions, provide assistance, and connect with peers who are studying similar subjects. The platform aims to create an inclusive environment where students can engage with one another, regardless of their school, location, or background. By fostering a community-driven approach to learning, OpenStudy seeks to transform the educational experience into a collective and interactive study group.