Preply

Preply, a global leader in the language learning market, announced today that it has closed its Series D round and secured $150 million, led by WestCap (a strategic operating and investment firm with more than $6 billion in assets under management). Goldman Sachs International participated in this transaction as the sole placement agent.

In the recently completed round, Preply was valued at $1.2 billion, marking a significant milestone in the company mission to deliver innovative learning experiences to people around the world.

A pioneer in online language learning, the Preply platform connects learners in 180 countries with more than 100,000 tutors and supports one-to-one lessons in over 90 languages. Based on a distinctive approach that combines human-led instruction with an AI-supported suite of tutoring copilots, it is redefining learning by delivering high quality, flexible, and tailored experiences designed to drive tangible progress in every session.

According to the global education data platform HolonIQ, this Series D raise comes at a time when about 1.8 billion people, roughly one in four worldwide, are actively working toward second language proficiency. The global D2C language learning market is projected to reach $227 billion by 2035. The market has already tripled over the past five years, and sustained, exponential growth is expected for years to come.

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Since its Series C raise, Preply has more than tripled the number of bookable tutors and expanded its service by adding about 40 new languages to the platform. It has also steadily improved EBITDA over the past 12 months and has now reached positive EBITDA.

With the newly raised capital and support from existing and new investors, including EBRD and Horizon Capital, Preply plans to reinforce its promise to deliver the most sophisticated personalized lessons in the world at scale. As it reshapes traditional education systems, the company will advance its AI and data capabilities, expand product and engineering teams to enhance the platform experience, and accelerate global growth to attract more learners and tutors. The WestCap team, drawing on a strong record of building and scaling global marketplaces such as Airbnb and StubHub, will support the expansion of Preply on a global scale.

Kirill Bigai, cofounder and CEO of Preply, said, “We feel both very fortunate and deeply responsible as we help shape the future of learning.” He said, “Today, by connecting learners with the best tutors in the world empowered by AI, we are delivering levels of learning efficiency that were previously out of reach.” He continued, “We are pleased to partner with the WestCap team, which has deep expertise in helping founders build iconic brands that change the world,” and, “With this investment, we will continue to innovate at the intersection of human tutors and AI, creating opportunities for people everywhere to connect, belong, succeed, and ultimately grow in life.”

While other learning platforms are increasingly shifting toward automation, Preply continues to value the power of human connection, using AI to enable and enhance tutor-led learning and to power its tutoring copilot suite. In fact, according to the Preply 2025 effectiveness study conducted jointly with the nonprofit LeanLab Education, 96% of learners considered studying with a human tutor and having real conversations essential to progress, and 97% said such interactions were key to building confidence.

The study also found that Preply learners improved up to three times faster, and one in three advanced by one CEFR level in only 12 weeks. This indicates that human guidance is a powerful driver of meaningful learning, and that the effect can be maximized when it is combined with AI. In practice, Preply Tutoring Copilot, one such AI, tracks learner progress, provides actionable insights, and automates administrative work so that tutors can focus on teaching and learners can reach goals faster.

Allen Mask, a partner at WestCap and former senior executive at Airbnb who is joining the Preply board, said, “Preply is setting a new standard for large scale personalized education, and its potential is essentially limitless.” He continued, “Data show that when guidance from real people is combined with technology, learning outcomes are maximized. And in the world today, there is real demand to democratize access to high quality learning in modern and efficient ways,” adding, “Preply has market leading products, a seasoned leadership team, and a vision that will shape how people communicate around the world.”

With this funding, the total capital raised by Preply to date amounts to about $299 million, clearly demonstrating long term investor confidence in the company mission and growth trajectory. As it continues to expand in the global marketplace on the strength of proven learning outcomes, Preply is well positioned to broaden its influence and solidify its leadership in ‘human-led, AI-augmented’ learning.