Preply raises USD $150m to scale AI-backed language app

Preply has raised USD $150 million in a Series D funding round led by WestCap, valuing the language learning platform at USD $1.2 billion.

The company operates a marketplace for online language tutoring. It connects more than 100,000 tutors with learners in 180 countries. The platform offers one-to-one lessons in more than 90 languages.

Goldman Sachs International acted as sole placement agent in the transaction. The round also included participation from investors including The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and Horizon Capital.

The funding comes as language learning products compete over how much of the learning process should rely on automation. Preply said it uses a "human-led, AI-enhanced model". It pairs tutors with an AI tutoring co-pilot suite.

Market growth

Preply pointed to data from HolonIQ. It said an estimated 1.8 billion people are actively striving to achieve proficiency in a second language. It said this represents roughly one in four people worldwide.

The company also cited projections for the sector. It said the global direct-to-consumer language learning market will reach USD $227 billion by 2035. It said the market has delivered three times growth over the last five years.

Preply linked the demand to changes in the labour market, including cross-border hiring and remote work. Those trends have direct relevance for Australia's workforce and education sector, particularly for migrants and employers building distributed teams.

Platform expansion

Preply said it has expanded since its Series C round. It said it has more than tripled the number of bookable tutors on the platform. It also said it added more than 40 new languages.

The company reported improved profitability metrics. It said it continued improving EBITDA and became EBITDA positive in the last twelve months.

Preply said it plans to invest in product and technical development. It said it will advance its AI and data work and expand product and engineering teams. It said it also plans to accelerate global growth and reach more learners and tutors.

Human plus AI

Preply said its approach places human instruction at the centre of the learning process. It said AI features sit alongside tutoring and administrative workflows. It described these as part of its tutoring co-pilot suite.

The company referenced its 2025 Efficiency Study, which it said it conducted with LeanLab Education. It said 96% of learners consider learning with a human tutor and engaging in real conversations as essential to their progress. It also said 97% said these interactions were key to boosting their confidence.

The study also reported progress measurements. Preply said learners progressed up to three times faster on its platform when compared to average benchmarks. It said one in three learners moved up a full CEFR level in 12 weeks.

Preply described the AI co-pilot in operational terms. It said the tools track progress, deliver actionable insights, and automate administrative tasks. It said this leaves tutors to focus on teaching.

Investor view

WestCap said it sees demand for products that combine technology and human instruction. Allen Mask, Partner at WestCap and former senior executive at Airbnb, is joining the Preply board.

"Preply is setting a new standard for personalised education at scale, and the opportunities are virtually limitless," said Allen Mask, Partner, WestCap.

"Data shows that learners thrive when real human instruction is supported by technology, and in today's increasingly connected world, there is a real demand for democratising access to high-quality learning in a modern and effective way. Preply has the market-leading product, the experienced leadership team, and the vision to shape how people communicate globally," said Mask.

Preply Co-Founder and CEO Kirill Bigai said the company plans to keep developing products at the intersection of tutoring and AI.

"We feel extremely fortunate and deeply responsible for shaping how people will learn in the future," said Kirill Bigai, Co-Founder and CEO, Preply.

"Today, we connect people with the world's best tutors, amplified by AI, bringing learning efficiency to a level that was previously unreachable. We are happy to partner with the WestCap team, who has deep expertise in helping founders to build legendary world-changing brands. This investment will help us to continue to innovate at the intersection of human tutoring and AI, creating opportunities everywhere for people to connect, belong, succeed, and ultimately to progress in their lives no matter where they are in the world," said Bigai.

The Series D round brings Preply's total funding to approximately USD $299 million, the company said. It said it plans to expand the marketplace and continue developing its AI-supported tutoring co-pilot tools.