Preply

A global AI-powered language learning marketplace that connects students with private tutors through a 'human-led, AI-enhanced' educational model.

Category: EdTech

Location: Barcelona, Spain

Founded:

CEO: Kirill Bigai

Total Funding: $316.6M

Stage: Late-stage growth (Series D); Unicorn status with a $1.2B valuation as of January 2026.

Team Size: 500-1000

Target Customer: Individual language learners (B2C), global enterprises seeking corporate training (B2B), and professional freelance tutors.

Value Proposition: Accelerates language fluency by combining the personalized accountability of human tutoring with generative AI tools that automate lesson planning and track progress.

Unique Value: Pioneered the 'human-in-the-loop' AI model for language learning, where AI does not replace the teacher but acts as a co-pilot to personalize the curriculum in real-time.

Technology: Proprietary matching algorithm utilizing 400+ variables to pair students with tutors; leverages a massive proprietary dataset of millions of hours of human-to-human learning interactions to train specialized pedagogical AI models.

Differentiation: Preply differentiates through a 'human-led, AI-enhanced' model. Unlike Duolingo's self-paced app or Italki's pure marketplace, Preply provides tutors with proprietary AI tools (Preply Assistant) to automate lesson planning, track student progress, and personalize curricula using data from millions of hours of learning interactions.

Market Position: Premium global EdTech leader and unicorn ($1.2B valuation) positioning itself as the bridge between traditional 1-on-1 tutoring and scalable AI educational technology.

Competitors: ["Italki","Cambly","Duolingo","Babbel"]

Website: