Classplus: Revolutionizing the EdTech Space for Creators and Entrepreneurs

Company Highlights

Classplus is a leading B2B edtech platform that allows content creators, including educators and trainers, to build and scale their businesses online. The platform offers customizable mobile apps, websites, and a suite of tools to manage content delivery, course sales, payments, and student engagement. Classplus has become a major player in the growing creator economy, particularly in India, where it has empowered creators across diverse fields such as academics, fitness, coding, and culinary arts.

As of FY24, Classplus has shown impressive financial growth, with its revenue doubling to INR 213 crore from INR 102 crore in the previous year. The company has raised over $150 million in funding from investors like Tiger Global, Blume Ventures, and Sequoia Capital India. Classplus is also playing a significant role in bridging educational gaps, particularly in tier 2 and tier 3 cities, by offering creators the tools to reach students in underserved regions​.

About Us

Classplus was founded in 2018 by Vineet Rustagi and Ravi Choudhary with the vision of empowering educators and content creators to build scalable online businesses. Initially catering to academic educators, the platform now serves a wide range of professionals, including fitness trainers, language instructors, and creative experts. By offering customizable solutions that include mobile apps, websites, and integrated payment systems, Classplus has simplified the process of monetizing content and reaching a broader audience. The platform’s mission is to democratize education and enable creators to build sustainable businesses without needing technical expertise​.

Industry

Classplus operates within the rapidly growing EdTech industry, which has seen a dramatic rise in demand for digital learning solutions. The platform is particularly positioned in the creator economy, a sector that has expanded as individuals from various fields monetize their expertise. Classplus contributes to the transformation of traditional education by providing tools that make online learning accessible to a global audience.

The EdTech market in India is thriving, with increasing adoption of digital learning tools by students and professionals alike. Classplus is tapping into this market by offering a range of services to non-academic creators, such as fitness instructors, yoga coaches, and language trainers, all while ensuring that content delivery is accessible in remote, underserved areas. This aligns with the growing trend of non-academic content creation and helps further the reach of education beyond the traditional classroom​.

Founders and Team

Classplus was co-founded by Vineet Rustagi and Ravi Choudhary in 2018. They both recognized the gap in the market for educators and trainers looking for easy-to-use digital solutions to scale their businesses. Their vision was to create a platform that would empower content creators, including teachers, fitness coaches, and professionals in various other fields, to build sustainable online businesses without needing technical expertise. Vineet Rustagi, the CEO, and Ravi Choudhary, the Chief Technology Officer, have successfully led the company to significant growth, expanding its offerings and establishing strong partnerships with investors​.

The team behind Classplus consists of a blend of passionate individuals from diverse backgrounds, including technology, education, and business, who share the mission of democratizing education and making learning accessible. The company's leadership has been instrumental in navigating its growth in India’s expanding creator economy and educational technology market​.

Startup Story

Classplus started with the goal of providing a seamless and accessible digital platform for educators to manage their businesses. Initially, the company focused on offering tools for academic tutors, helping them go digital and streamline their operations, including course management, payments, and student engagement. However, recognizing the potential in the broader creator economy, Classplus expanded its offerings to include professionals from various fields, such as fitness, cooking, and programming​.

The startup gained traction quickly, especially in tier 2 and tier 3 cities in India, where there was a growing demand for digital learning tools but limited access to advanced technology solutions. Classplus allowed creators in these areas to build their brands with minimal upfront investment, further supporting its mission to democratize education. Over the years, the company has raised significant funding, including a $65 million Series D round, and is now valued at $565 million.​

Classplus continues to innovate, expanding its product offerings to include AI-driven marketing tools, campaign analytics, and no-code website builders, which have further cemented its place as a leader in India’s EdTech space.

Mission

Classplus’ mission is to empower content creators and educators by providing them with the tools to build and scale their businesses online. The platform’s goal is to democratize access to education and training across India, especially in underserved regions such as tier 2, 3, and 4 cities, by enabling creators to reach a wider audience. Classplus aims to simplify the process of going digital for educators, fitness trainers, language instructors, and other professionals, making it easier for them to monetize their skills and knowledge​.

Mission

Classplus’ mission is to empower content creators and educators by providing them with the tools to build and scale their businesses online. The platform’s goal is to democratize access to education and training across India, especially in underserved regions such as tier 2, 3, and 4 cities, by enabling creators to reach a wider audience. Classplus aims to simplify the process of going digital for educators, fitness trainers, language instructors, and other professionals, making it easier for them to monetize their skills and knowledge​.

Vision

Classplus envisions becoming a global leader in the EdTech space by continuing to serve as the go-to platform for creators looking to grow their online businesses. It seeks to build an ecosystem where creators from diverse fields, including education, fitness, culinary arts, and more, can thrive and scale their operations seamlessly. The company aims to be at the forefront of the creator economy, driving innovation in the digital learning sector and helping educators reach millions of students globally.

Goals

1. Expand creator base: Classplus aims to significantly increase the number of creators using its platform, especially in non-academic sectors, to further expand the scope of its offerings.

2. Enhance technological capabilities: The platform plans to continuously improve its suite of tools, adding more advanced features such as AI-driven marketing analytics and automated content management to help creators manage and grow their businesses more effectively.

3. Increase profitability: As the company continues to grow, it focuses on reducing losses and moving towards profitability by optimizing costs and focusing on operational efficiency​

4. Broaden market reach: Classplus is focused on increasing its footprint, particularly in underserved regions of India and globally, making high-quality online education and training available to more users, especially in smaller towns​

5. Build long-term partnerships: Strengthening relationships with investors, content creators, and educational institutions is also a key goal, ensuring continued growth and success in the EdTech space​.

Business and Revenue Model

Classplus operates on a B2B SaaS model, offering tools and solutions designed to help creators manage their online coaching and educational businesses. The core of its revenue model is based on subscription fees from educators and creators who use its platform for creating and managing their online courses. These tools include custom mobile apps, websites, payment processing, student management, and course delivery systems.

Classplus also generates revenue through the sale of value-added services like marketing tools and advanced analytics. These services allow creators to better manage their businesses, optimize their reach, and improve student engagement. The company also offers white-label solutions, allowing creators to brand the platform as their own, which increases the platform's value and boosts customer loyalty​

Additionally, Classplus monetizes through its premium tier plans, which offer enhanced features such as access to advanced marketing capabilities, automated reports, and business analytics. This allows the company to serve creators across a range of pricing tiers, accommodating both small, independent creators and larger coaching institutions.

Fundings and Investors

Classplus has successfully raised $160 million in total funding across multiple rounds. Some of its key investors include:

1. Tiger Global: One of the leading investors in the Indian startup ecosystem, providing significant capital to help Classplus scale and enhance its offerings.
2. Blume Ventures: A prominent early-stage venture capital firm that has supported Classplus from the beginning, helping the platform refine its business model.
3. Sequoia Capital India: A global venture capital giant that joined later to help fund Classplus's growth and product innovation.
4. RTP Global: Another key investor that has been instrumental in Classplus’s expansion plans.

In 2023, the company raised $65 million in Series D funding, which enabled Classplus to continue scaling its operations and enhance its technology stack, including launching new products designed to help creators with marketing and content management​

The company is also focused on becoming profitable as it continues to scale. Classplus is actively working to optimize its operations and improve its financial metrics, making sure that the focus shifts to sustainable growth and profitability while expanding its user base​

Shareholding & Growth and Revenue

Classplus has seen impressive growth since its founding in 2018. In FY24, the company’s revenue more than doubled to INR 213 crore from INR 102 crore in the previous year, demonstrating significant market demand and adoption of its platform. This growth is largely attributed to the rise of the creator economy, the increasing shift to digital education, and Classplus' expansion into tier 2 and tier 3 cities across India​.

The company’s shareholding structure is primarily composed of venture capital investors, with some involvement from angel investors and early-stage backers. Classplus has raised $160 million in funding over multiple rounds, with key investors like Tiger Global, Blume Ventures, Sequoia Capital India, and RTP Global. These funds have supported the company in scaling its operations, enhancing its technology stack, and expanding its product offerings​

Classplus is also focusing on moving toward profitability by reducing its losses and optimizing operational costs, ensuring that its growth is sustainable in the long term​

Competitors

Classplus operates in a competitive EdTech SaaS space, and its key competitors include:

1. Teachmint: A direct competitor offering similar tools for educators to create their online coaching businesses. Teachmint also provides a range of products including a mobile app, virtual classrooms, and teaching management tools.

2. Zoomcar: While a different type of platform, it competes indirectly in terms of providing tech-based tools to enable educators to grow their businesses online.

3. Byju's (for certain market segments): Though Byju's primarily focuses on K-12 education and competitive exam preparation, it also competes with Classplus in the broader educational content delivery market.

4. Vedantu: A major player in the live tutoring space, Vedantu offers similar online teaching tools, but focuses more on live lessons rather than providing a full range of services for creators like Classplus.

5. Khatabook: Competes in the space of small business management tools, providing services that can indirectly overlap with Classplus' creator-business solutions​.

Future Plans

Classplus has ambitious plans for continued growth and product innovation. Key future goals include:

1. Expansion into New Markets: Classplus is aiming to expand its footprint beyond India, targeting other emerging markets where the creator economy is growing, such as Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and parts of Africa​

2. Enhancing Technological Capabilities: The company plans to invest heavily in improving its platform with AI-driven features, including automated content recommendations, personalized learning paths, and advanced student engagement analytics. These innovations are expected to enhance user experience and drive creator success​

3. Expanding Product Offerings: Classplus is also focused on launching new products and features that help creators manage their businesses more efficiently, such as tools for automated marketing, lead generation, and financial management. They are working on introducing additional value-added services that can provide creators with a comprehensive suite of business solutions​

4. Monetization and Profitability: Classplus plans to optimize its revenue streams, focusing on premium subscription models and additional services like branded apps for educators. Achieving profitability while maintaining growth remains a core objective as they scale their operations​

5. Focus on Creator Community Building: The platform aims to create a strong community of creators, providing networking opportunities, mentorship programs, and even access to investors, further nurturing a thriving ecosystem for creators​

FAQ

Q1: What is Classplus?
Classplus is a B2B edtech platform that offers tools for creators, including educators, fitness coaches, and other professionals, to build and scale their online businesses. It provides solutions such as customizable mobile apps, websites, content management systems, and payment processing tools​

Q2: Who can use Classplus?
Classplus serves a wide range of content creators, including academic tutors, language instructors, fitness trainers, and creators in fields like coding, cooking, and more. The platform is ideal for those looking to monetize their content online, whether they are individuals or institutions​

Q3: How does Classplus generate revenue?
Classplus operates on a subscription-based model, offering various plans for creators to access its suite of tools. It also generates revenue through premium services such as AI-driven marketing tools, automated analytics, and customizable websites and apps for creators​

Q4: What are the future plans for Classplus?
Classplus plans to expand into new markets, enhance its platform with AI-driven features, and introduce additional services to help creators manage their businesses. The company is also focused on scaling its operations and improving profitability​

Q5: Who are the key competitors of Classplus?
Classplus competes with other edtech platforms such as Teachmint, Vedantu, Byju's, and Khatabook, especially in the areas of online teaching tools and business management for creators.

Latest News

Here are some of the latest updates about Classplus:

1. Series D Funding: Classplus, a leading B2B edtech platform, raised $70 million in Series D funding, co-led by Tiger Global and Alpha Wave Global. This round brought its valuation to $600 million. The company plans to use this investment to enhance its product and expand globally​

2. Expansion into Southeast Asia: The company has made notable strides in international markets, expanding into Southeast Asian countries like Singapore, Malaysia, and Vietnam​

3. Employee Stock Buyback (ESOP): In a milestone for its employee engagement, Classplus announced its second Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) buyback for over 150 employees. This initiative highlights the company's commitment to creating wealth-building opportunities for its workforce