Preply
Category: AI in Education
A global AI-powered language learning marketplace that connects students with private tutors through a 'human-led, AI-enhanced' educational model. Preply was founded in 2012. The company is led by Kirill Bigai. Based in Barcelona, Spain. Team size: 500-1000. Total funding raised: $299.0M. Latest round: Series D ($150M, Jan 2026). Key investors include WestCap, Owl Ventures, Horizon Capital, Hoxton Ventures, Reach Capital, Techstars, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), Indico Capital Partners.
- Founded
- 2012
- Headquarters
- Barcelona, Spain
- Team size
- 500-1000
- Total funding
- $299.0M
Value proposition
Accelerates language fluency by combining the personalized accountability of human tutoring with generative AI tools that automate lesson planning and track progress.
Products and solutions
1-on-1 Live Tutoring Marketplace (90+ languages, 100K+ tutors), Preply Business (Enterprise-grade language training for 1,000+ companies), Preply Assistant / tutoring co-pilot suite (AI-powered learning companion), Tutor AI Toolkit (Lesson Insights, curriculum generation, lesson summaries), Self-study mobile app with vocabulary, Daily Exercises, and Scenario Practice modules
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.
Target customer
Individual language learners (B2C), global enterprises seeking corporate training (B2B), and professional freelance tutors.
Industries served
Education Technology (EdTech), Corporate Training & Development, Artificial Intelligence, Language Services
Technology advantage
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.
How they differentiate
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.
Main competitors
Italki, Cambly, Duolingo, Babbel
Key partnerships
Techstars (Accelerator alumnus), Strategic investors (WestCap Series D lead; Horizon Capital; Owl Ventures; EBRD; Indico Capital Partners), B2B Enterprise partners (1,000+ companies including Mondelēz, Bain & Company, Prudential, GroupM, Bayer)
Notable customers
Mondelēz, Bain & Company, Prudential, GroupM, Bayer
Major milestones
Achieved Unicorn status with a $1.2B valuation in January 2026 ($150M Series D led by WestCap), Completed first employee tender offer at $1.2B valuation (May 2026), Launched AI-powered Preply Assistant / tutoring co-pilot suite for tutors and students, Expanded Preply Business to 1,000+ companies worldwide, Operates four global hubs: New York, London, Kyiv, and Barcelona
Growth metrics
Achieved unicorn status with a $1.2B valuation in January 2026; 10x revenue growth over recent years; 100,000+ tutors teaching 90+ languages across 180 countries; 700+ employees; became EBITDA positive (as of Series D announcement).
Market positioning
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.
Geographic focus
Global, with four hubs in New York (USA), London (UK), Kyiv (Ukraine), and Barcelona (Spain). Significant growth focus on North American and European enterprise markets.
Patents and IP
No registered public patents disclosed; relies on proprietary machine learning algorithms and trade-secret data architectures.
About Kirill Bigai
Kirill Bigai is the Co-founder and CEO of Preply. He has over 12 years of experience leading the company from a local startup to a global AI-powered EdTech unicorn. Prior to Preply, he served as a Project Manager at Nokia Siemens Networks (2008–2012) and an Engineer at MTS Group (2007–2008). He is a prominent figure in the European EdTech ecosystem and a member of the Edtech Founders Club.
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Official website: https://preply.com
