Skillshare Forays Into Indian EdTech Market

Skillshare, the world’s largest online learning community for creativity, plans to venture into India’s booming EdTech market. India is the second largest market for online learning and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 44%. This growth is backed by the phenomenal rise in the paid user base for online learning, making it the preferred choice for companies seeking to delve into the Indian market. Skillshare aims to tap into the demand for creative courses in India, especially at a time when half a billion new internet users are expected to come online by the end of 2022.

Skillshare has raised more than $108 million in venture funding from investors, including Union Square Ventures, OMERS Growth Equity, Amasia, Spero Ventures, Adobe, and Burda Principal Investors.

The platform has more than 13 million registered members and over 30,000 video-based classes spanning a wide range of creative disciplines from graphic design to photography to painting and illustration to interior design taught by experts in their fields.

Skillshare has a team of over 180 employees and continues to expand its operations globally. The brand has also been hiring talent locally with relevant experience in the space. As part of this plan, Aayur Kaul has been onboarded as the Market Head for India. Aayur Kaul is the co-founder of India’s first digital creative learning ecosystem, Chase, which was acquired by Bitclass in 2021.

“India has a flourishing edtech sector valued at over $15 billion. Combined with a growing population of millennials looking to pursue and monetize their creative passions, and the rising demand for creative classes, the Indian market presents huge opportunities for Skillshare to widen our online learning community,” said Matt Cooper, CEO, Skillshare. “We’re excited to launch our operations in India and we see this as a crucial part of our global growth strategy .”

“India is a unique market for Skillshare. The sheer number of new internet users coupled with the demand for microlearning, promises more growth opportunities,” said Aayur Kaul, Market Head, India, Skillshare, “Our focus in India is to bring our platform to the growing number of creators looking to level up in their careers or deepen their creative interests - as a hobby or as a step to monetize their passions. We also plan to invest in initiatives to recruit local talent to get started as teachers — creatively inclined people, who are experts in their areas of interest.”

Founded in 2010 by Micheal Karnjanaprakorn, Skillshare now sits firmly within the booming, $100 billion creator economy. Skillshare fosters a powerful global community of creators and learners. Its two-sided marketplace connects teachers, who create online video-based classes and related content, with members, who subscribe to Skillshare to further their career and passions. The company publishes original content and is an open platform, anyone who meets the editorial standards can upload a class and earn a passive income.

Skillshare already has over 1000 creators based in India producing authentic content that resonates with individuals locally. The company plans to add more teachers in the coming year by investing in a number of different initiatives to recruit local talents to be part of our platform - for them to monetize their passions and be an active part of the growing creative economy. Skillshare provides comprehensive resources and programs to support teachers wanting to create content and share their expertise. Not only that, but Skillshare helps them to earn passive income while doing what they love, grow their following, and give back to society by teaching other people skills so that they can also follow their passion. In 2021 Skillshare witnessed a growth of 35% in onboarding new local teachers.

Skillshare has already tapped into the market of creators and influencers in India in the Illustration, Film & Video, Fine Art and Lifestyle spaces. The platform has several creators, who are also social media influencers, teaching specialized segments related to their area of expertise.

Skillshare has Alicia Souza, artist, illustrator and co-creator of Chumbak, teaching an Illustration class for merchandising.. Ankit Bhatia and Lilly Singh teach classes under the film & video category; Chaytania Limaye and Khadija Karachiwala bring us into their imagination through their  compelling drawing and fine art classes; and Ekta Chaudhary imparts her expertise on gardening as a lifestyle. Regardless of the topic, Skillshare classes are personable and approachable and they seek to let people explore their creativity at different stages and different capacities. “On Skillshare, I get to share what I learned over the last decade in the illustration sphere, interact with new students and also see their wonderful work.   been a great experience so far,” Alicia Souza said.