Total amount raised
$461M
Latest funding date
2021-07-22
Location
MasterClass has successfully raised funding over 9 rounds, with the latest being a Secondary Market round. The platform is backed by 48 investors, including Vershina Capital and Bracket Capital.
Keep reading to explore the intricacies of MasterClass's fundraising journey and the investors backing this innovative platform.
MasterClass has successfully raised funding over 9 rounds, with the latest being a Secondary Market round. The platform is backed by 48 investors, including Fidelity Management & Research Company, IVP, and New Enterprise Associates. Keep reading to explore the intricacies of MasterClass's fundraising journey and the investors backing this innovative platform.
Keep reading to explore the intricacies of MasterClass's fundraising journey and the investors backing this innovative platform.
What Is MasterClass?
MasterClass, headquartered in San Francisco, California, is an innovative online education platform that offers video-based courses taught by world-renowned experts and celebrities. Founded in 2015 by David Rogier and Aaron Rasmussen, the company operates in the EdTech industry under the legal name Yanka Industries, Inc. The platform allows users to learn from top-tier instructors across a wide range of topics, including arts, lifestyle, science, technology, cooking, and career development. MasterClass provides subscribers with unlimited access to a growing library of high-quality, pre-recorded lessons emphasizing learning from the best to be the best.
How Much Funding Has MasterClass Raised?
- Seed Round
- Amount Raised: USD 1,900,000
- Date: February 2013
- Lead Investors: Harrison Metal
- Participating Investors: Advancit Capital, Bloomberg Beta
- Series A
- Amount Raised: USD 4,500,000
- Date: January 2015
- Lead Investors: Javelin Venture Partners
- Participating Investors: Harrison Metal, Bloomberg Beta, Advancit Capital, WME Entertainment
- Series B
- Amount Raised: USD 15,000,000
- Date: February 2016
- Lead Investors: New Enterprise Associates (NEA)
- Participating Investors: Bloomberg Beta, Advancit Capital, WME Entertainment, Javelin Venture Partners, Harrison Metal
- Series C
- Amount Raised: USD 35,000,000
- Date: March 2017
- Lead Investors: IVP (Institutional Venture Partners)
- Participating Investors: New Enterprise Associates, Javelin Venture Partners, Bloomberg Beta, Advancit Capital, GSV Ventures
- Series D
- Amount Raised: USD 80,000,000
- Date: September 2018
- Lead Investors: IVP (Institutional Venture Partners)
- Participating Investors: Javelin Venture Partners, New Enterprise Associates, Advancit Capital, Atomico, Evolution Media
- Series E
- Amount Raised: USD 100,000,000
- Date: May 2020
- Lead Investors: Fidelity Management & Research Company
- Participating Investors: NextEquity Partners, Atomico, New Enterprise Associates, 01 Advisors, Owl Ventures, IVP
- Series F
- Amount Raised: USD 225,000,000
- Date: May 2021
- Post-Money Valuation: USD 2,750,000,000
- Lead Investors: Fidelity Management & Research Company
- Participating Investors: Baillie Gifford, Eldridge Industries, Balyasny Asset Management, IVP, Owl Ventures, Javelin Venture Partners, New Enterprise Associates, Cleo Capital, Outlier Ventures, Powerhouse Capital, 01 Advisors, NextEquity Partners, Atomico, NewView Capital, RPS Ventures, Bonnier Capital, UTA, Family Office of Ronald Lauder
- Secondary Market (Round 1)
- Amount Raised: Undisclosed
- Date: May 2021
- Lead Investors: Undisclosed
- Secondary Market (Round 2)
- Amount Raised: Undisclosed
- Date: July 2021
- Lead Investors: Undisclosed
Total Amount Raised: At least USD 461,400,000 based on disclosed funding (Secondary Market round amounts undisclosed).
Key Investors
- Fidelity Management & Research Company
- Details: Fidelity Management & Research Company is a large-scale investment management firm that led both the Series E ($100M, May 2020) and Series F ($225M, May 2021) rounds for MasterClass. Fidelity's participation signaled strong institutional confidence in MasterClass's growth trajectory and valuation of $2.75 billion.
- IVP (Institutional Venture Partners)
- Details: IVP is a US-based, later-stage venture capital firm founded in 1980, focused on fast-growing technology companies. IVP led the Series C ($35M, March 2017) and Series D ($80M, September 2018) rounds and continued participating through Series F, cementing its role as a long-term backer of MasterClass.
- New Enterprise Associates (NEA)
- Details: NEA is a global venture capital firm founded in 1977 that invests in technology and healthcare companies across multiple stages of development. NEA led the Series B round for MasterClass and has continued participating as an investor through the Series F round.
- Javelin Venture Partners
- Details: Javelin Venture Partners is a San Francisco-based early-stage venture capital firm investing in tech companies with high-growth potential. Javelin led the Series A round for MasterClass and has continued participating across multiple subsequent rounds through the Series F.
- Harrison Metal
- Details: Harrison Metal is a seed-stage investment firm founded by Michael Dearing, focused on early-stage, technology-driven companies. Harrison Metal was MasterClass's earliest institutional backer, leading the Seed round in 2013 and participating in the Series A.
- Atomico
- Details: Atomico is a leading European venture capital firm founded in 2006, investing across seed to growth stages with a focus on technology companies. Atomico participated in MasterClass's Series D, Series E, and Series F rounds.
- Owl Ventures
- Details: Owl Ventures is the world's largest EdTech-focused venture capital firm, with over $2.2 billion in committed capital across seven funds. Owl Ventures participated in the Series E and Series F rounds, reflecting its conviction in MasterClass's leadership position in online education.
What's Next for MasterClass?
MasterClass is poised to capitalize on the growing demand for online education by expanding its class offerings and experimenting with new formats like audio-only mode and augmented reality. With a recent $100 million funding round, the platform aims to produce one new class per week, enhancing its already diverse library of celebrity-taught courses. Future fundraising opportunities seem promising as the company continues to innovate and attract a global audience. The increased valuation and backing from prominent investors suggest that additional funding rounds could be on the horizon to support further growth and international expansion. However, MasterClass may face challenges such as maintaining high-quality content while scaling up production and competing with other edtech platforms. Navigating these hurdles will be crucial for sustaining its growth trajectory and meeting the evolving needs of its users.
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