SoloLearn Raises $24M for Mobile Coding Education

The Expanding Need for Coding Skills

The demand for coding proficiency is no longer limited to traditional tech roles. As technology becomes increasingly integrated into all aspects of work, individuals in diverse fields will require at least a foundational understanding of coding principles to effectively perform their jobs.

Sololearn Secures $24 Million in Funding

Responding to this growing need, Sololearn, a mobile-first education platform boasting over 21 million users and a curriculum encompassing 25 categories – including Python, JavaScript, Java, C++, HTML, and SQL – has announced a $24 million funding round.

This investment was spearheaded by Drive Capital, with contributions from previous investors Learn Capital and Prosus Ventures, who participated in Sololearn’s $1.2 million Series A round in 2016.

A Startup Originating from Yerevan, Armenia

Drive Capital, established by former Sequoia partners based in Columbus, Ohio, focuses on supporting founders outside of established tech hubs. Sololearn exemplifies this strategy, originating from Yerevan, Armenia – a region known for its strong engineering talent, but historically less prominent in startup creation.

PicsArt, headquartered in San Francisco, remains one of the most notable companies to emerge from Armenia.

From Bootcamp to Platform

Sololearn was founded and is currently led by Yeva Hyusyan. The company’s origins trace back to a startup accelerator program Hyusyan managed while working at Microsoft in Armenia.

A coding bootcamp, initially designed to upskill potential entrepreneurs, gained traction with local tech companies seeking qualified candidates. These companies subsequently requested Sololearn to provide specialized training for their employees. This evolution led to the development of tools applicable beyond the classroom setting, ultimately inspiring the creation of Sololearn.

Addressing a Crowded Market

The online coding education landscape is already populated with numerous courses and tools. However, Sololearn differentiates itself through its mobile-first approach.

Recognizing the preference for concise content consumption on mobile devices, Sololearn delivers coding education in bite-sized modules, easily completed in minutes. The platform caters to both dedicated coding learners and professionals seeking specific skills for their roles.

Mobile-First Coding Education

Hyusyan addressed initial skepticism regarding mobile coding by developing an in-app compiler. She noted the growing trend of younger generations embracing mobile coding as a standard practice.

“Users are now creating thousands of lines of code directly on their phones,” she stated.

Community-Driven Learning

Sololearn’s curriculum mirrors the Duolingo model, eschewing traditional teachers in favor of a community-based learning environment. Users can seek assistance from fellow community members, who are incentivized through recognition and learning opportunities.

Community influencers and experts contribute their expertise voluntarily, providing invaluable support to other users.

Rapid Growth and Future Potential

Sololearn is experiencing substantial growth, adding 200,000 to 300,000 new users monthly, and witnessing a 300% increase in active users year-over-year. The platform’s growth has been largely organic, driven by word-of-mouth referrals.

Hyusyan estimates that billions of individuals will require reskilling in the next decade, positioning Sololearn to play a crucial role in this process. She believes the traditional model of institutional learning is insufficient to meet this massive demand.

Expanding Curriculum and Job-Specific Training

The funding will be allocated to expanding Sololearn’s language offerings and developing more targeted learning paths for specific job categories. The company is already seeing strong engagement with platform-specific languages like C#, Swift, Kotlin, and Go.

A Promising Future in Educational Technology

The success of Duolingo and other platforms offering bite-sized content highlights the potential within the educational technology sector. Sololearn is uniquely positioned to capitalize on this trend.

Masha Khusid, partner at Drive Capital, emphasized Sololearn’s strengths: “Sololearn provides bite-sized, habit-forming instruction at scale, a warm and supportive community, and amazing user-generated content.” She added that the company’s impact on users’ financial futures makes it a particularly rewarding investment.