Introduction to Coursera
Coursera is a US-based online education platform founded in 2012 by Stanford University computer science professors Andrew Ng and Daphne Koller. It offers online courses, certifications, and degrees from over 150 universities and organizations, with a total of over 4,000 courses available. It was founded after the success of offering Stanford courses online and was quickly joined by Princeton, Stanford, the University of Michigan, and the University of Pennsylvania.
Coursera's Financial Performance
Coursera saw an increase in revenue from $184 million in 2019 to $294 million in 2020, however, the company has not yet made a profit and reported a loss of $66 million in 2020 due to increased marketing and advertising efforts. In Q1 of 2021, Coursera reported a revenue of $88.4 million, a 64% increase from the previous year, with a net loss of $18.7 million. The company's revenue was split between consumer ($51.9 million, up 61%), enterprise ($24.5 million, up 63%), and degree programs ($12 million, up 81%). In Q3 of 2021, Coursera reported a revenue of $109.9 million, a 33% increase from the previous year, with a gross profit of $67.7 million (61.6% of revenue) and a net loss of $32.5 million (29.5% of revenue).
Funding and Investment in Coursera
Coursera was initially funded by a $16 million round backed by Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers and New Enterprise Associates. In 2013, GSV led a Series B investment of $63 million and in 2015 NEA led a Series C round of funding totaling over $60 million. The company raised $64 million in a Series D round in 2017, followed by a $103 million Series E round in 2019 led by the SEEK Group, Future Fund, and NEA. This round valued the company at over $1 billion. In 2020, Coursera raised $130 million in a Series F funding round, increasing its valuation to $2.5 billion.
Coursera's Evolution and Expansion
Coursera is a massive open online course provider founded in 2012 by Stanford University professors. It partners with universities to offer courses, certifications, and degrees in a variety of subjects. In 2013, the company earned $1 million in revenue through the sale of verified certificates and later rolled out fees for grades and assessments for its courses. In 2016, the company launched Coursera for Business and Coursera for Governments & Nonprofits. In 2018, it launched online degree courses and in 2021, it filed for an IPO with revenue of $293 million and net losses of $66.8 million. Coursera has raised over $470 million in venture funding, with a valuation of $2.5 billion in 2020.
FAQs:
Is Coursera as good as a degree?
Coursera certificates are widely accepted and hold equal value to a college certificate or degree. They can be listed on a resume just like any other college qualifications.
Can I get a job with Coursera certificate?
Yes, a Coursera certificate can enhance your resume and be beneficial in securing a promotion or job change. Coursera offers quality courses from top educators and universities that can assist individuals in finding employment.
What is the monthly fee for Coursera?
Coursera offers a range of pricing options for its services. Courses can be accessed for free, Guided Projects start at $9.99, Specializations and Professional Certificates start at $39.99 per month. The Coursera Plus subscription is priced at $399 per year, and full degrees start at $9,000.
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Can I get Coursera certificate for free?
A Coursera certificate can no longer be obtained for free. However, financial aid is available for most courses if a student is unable to pay for a certificate.
Is Coursera certificate verified?
To obtain a certificate from Coursera, a student must verify their identity. Some courses and programs require ID Verification, while others only require Name Verification. If ID Verification is required for a certificate in a particular course or program, Coursera will prompt the student to verify their identity during the course and through the Settings page.
