Skillshare, the world’s largest online learning community for creativity, plans to venture into India’s booming EdTech market. India is the second largest market for online learning and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 44%. This growth is backed by the phenomenal rise in the paid user base for online learning, making it the preferred choice for companies seeking to delve into the Indian market. Skillshare aims to tap into the demand for creative courses in India, especially at a time when half a billion new internet users are expected to come online by the end of 2022.
Skillshare has raised more than $108 million in venture funding from investors, including Union Square Ventures, OMERS Growth Equity, Amasia, Spero Ventures, Adobe, and Burda Principal Investors.
The platform has more than 13 million registered members and over 30,000 video-based classes spanning a wide range of creative disciplines from graphic design to photography to painting and illustration to interior design taught by experts in their fields.
Skillshare has a team of over 180 employees and continues to expand its operations globally. The brand has also been hiring talent locally with relevant experience in the space. As part of this plan, Aayur Kaul has been onboarded as the Market Head for India. Aayur Kaul is the co-founder of India’s first digital creative learning ecosystem, Chase, which was acquired by Bitclass in 2021.
“India has a flourishing edtech sector valued at over $15 billion. Combined with a growing population of millennials looking to pursue and monetize their creative passions, and the rising demand for creative classes, the Indian market presents huge opportunities for Skillshare to widen our online learning community,” said Matt Cooper, CEO, Skillshare. “We’re excited to launch our operations in India and we see this as a crucial part of our global growth strategy .”
“India is a unique market for Skillshare. The sheer number of new internet users coupled with the demand for microlearning, promises more growth opportunities,” said Aayur Kaul, Market Head, India, Skillshare, “Our focus in India is to bring our platform to the growing number of creators looking to level up in their careers or deepen their creative interests – as a hobby or as a step to monetize their passions. We also plan to invest in initiatives to recruit local talent to get started as teachers — creatively inclined people, who are experts in their areas of interest.”
Founded in 2010 by Micheal Karnjanaprakorn, Skillshare now sits firmly within the booming, $100 billion creator economy. Skillshare fosters a powerful global community of creators and learners. Its two-sided marketplace connects teachers, who create online video-based classes and related content, with members, who subscribe to Skillshare to further their career and passions.
