Preply raises $150m in $1.2bn funding to scale human-led, AI-enhanced learning
Preply has raised $150 million in a Series D funding round led by WestCap, targeting the $1.2 billion global language learning market and marking its transition to a single platform.
The round, on which Goldman Sachs International acted as the sole agent, will be used to accelerate product development, expand Preply’s AI and data and fuel international growth as the company seeks to reshape education through personalized, teacher-led learning supported by artificial intelligence.
Founded as an online language teaching marketplace, Preply now connects more than 100,000 teachers and students in 180 countries, offering one-on-one tuition in more than 90 languages. Its model combines human teaching with an AI-powered teaching driver designed to track progress, track data and automate administrative tasks, allowing teachers to focus on teaching and students to improve faster.
The funding comes amid strong growth in demand for language learning around the world. According to data from HolonIQ, approximately 1.8 billion people worldwide are working on learning a second language. The global direct-to-consumer language learning market is expected to reach $227 billion by 2035, following three-fold growth over the past five years.
Since its Series C round, Preply has more than tripled the number of bookable instructors on its platform and expanded its offerings by adding more than 40 new languages. Last year, the company continued to improve profitability and had a positive EBITDA.
Alongside WestCap, the round was supported by existing investors including the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and Horizon Capital. The WestCap team, which has backed and scaled global marketplaces such as Airbnb and StubHub, will partner with Preply as it enters its next phase of growth.
Kirill Bigai, founder and CEO of Preply, said the investment underscores the company’s belief that the future of education lies at the intersection of human interaction and AI.
“We feel very fortunate and have a deep responsibility to shape how people will learn in the future,” Bigai said. “We’re connecting the world’s best students and teachers, powered by AI, bringing learning efficiency to a level previously unattainable. This partnership will help us continue to innovate and create opportunities for people everywhere to improve their lives.”
Preply said it will use the new capital to expand its product and engineering teams, deepen AI-driven personalization and accelerate global expansion to reach more students and educators. The company stands out against fully automated learning platforms by doubling down on human-led instruction, using AI as an enabler rather than a replacement.
Research published in Preply’s 2025 Efficiency Study, conducted with LeanLab Education, found that 96 percent of students believe that real conversations with human instructors are important to their progress, while 97 percent say such interactions are key to building confidence. The study also found that students progressed up to three times faster on Preply compared to averages, with one in three progressing to a full CEFR level within 12 weeks.
Allen Mask, a partner at WestCap and former CEO of Airbnb, who will join Preply’s board, said the platform sets a new benchmark for personal education at scale.
He said: “Students thrive when real human learning is supported by technology. “Preply has a market-leading product, experienced leadership and a vision to shape the way people communicate around the world.”
The Series D brings Preply’s total funding to nearly $299 million to date, bolstering investor confidence in its growth trajectory. With a growing global footprint and a focus on measurable learning outcomes, the company says it is well-positioned to solidify its role as a leader in the human-led, AI-powered education segment.
