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Draft:GoStudent

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GoStudent
Company typePrivate
IndustryEdTech
Founded2016 (2016)
FoundersFelix Ohswald
Gregor Müller
Area served
Worldwide (primarily Europe: DACH, UK, France, Italy, Spain, Turkey, Poland, Greece, Netherlands)
ProductsGoClass, GoChat, Amelia, GoMigo, GoStudent Tutoring Studios
ServicesOnline tutoring, 1:1 tuition, online learning platform, AI-powered learning tools
Websitewww.gostudent.org

GoStudent is an online tutoring provider and education technology (EdTech) platform that connects students and their families with tutors for personalised, 1:1 tutoring lessons. The company was founded in Vienna, Austria, in 2016 and primarily offers online tutoring in various subjects for primary, secondary, and higher education students. GoStudent primarily operates in Europe, covering DACH (Germany, Austria, Switzerland), the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Spain, Turkey, Poland, Greece, and the Netherlands.

Introduction

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GoStudent was founded in 2016 in Vienna, Austria, by Felix Ohswald and Gregor Müller. Initially conceived as a platform for homework chat support, it evolved into a comprehensive online tutoring service offering live, 1:1 tutoring lessons in an online classroom. The platform provides accessible education by connecting students with private tutors through online tutoring and 1:1 tuition, aiming to make personalised online education more convenient, accessible and effective. GoStudent's services include personalised learning plans, flexible scheduling, with a focus on better grades, homework help, and student confidence, plus AI features such as magic quizzes to improve knowledge recall.

History

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GoStudent's journey began as a WhatsApp homework chat. Recognising the demand for more in-depth support, the founders pivoted to live, 1:1 online tutoring, with vetted tutors.

Key Milestones and Funding Rounds

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  • 2016: Founded in Vienna, Austria, by Felix Ohswald and Gregor Müller as a homework chat app.
  • 2017: Pivoted to live, 1:1 online video tutoring. 2017 also included a €456K Seed round with Pioneers.
  • 2018: Seed Funding: Raised €1.3 million from investors including Speedinvest.
  • 2019: Series A Funding: Secured €8.3 million in a round led by Left Lane Capital and DN Capital."Vienna-based GoStudent lands €8.3 million to take its affordable online school across Europe". EU-Startups. June 26, 2020. Retrieved May 28, 2025.
  • 2020: Series B Funding: Raised €13.9 million, again led by Left Lane Capital and DN Capital, with participation from new investors."GoStudent secures a €5 million series A extension in a round led by Left Lane Capital and DN Capital". Nordic 9. October 29, 2020. Retrieved May 28, 2025. Expanded into new markets, including Germany, France, and Spain.
  • 2021: Series C Funding: Achieved unicorn status with a valuation exceeding $1 billion after raising €205 million ($240 million) in a round led by Coatue, with participation from existing investors. This made GoStudent Austria's first EdTech unicorn."Vienna-based GoStudent nabs €70 million to expand its e-learning platform". EU-Startups. March 19, 2021. Retrieved May 28, 2025. Announced expansion into the UK and other European markets.
  • 2022: Series D Funding: Raised an additional €272 million ($226 million) in a round led by Prosus, bringing the company's valuation to €3 billion. This funding was aimed at further international expansion and product development."Press release: GoStudent Raises €300M in Series D Funding". GoStudent Official Website. January 20, 2022. Retrieved May 28, 2025. Launched operations in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, among other countries, aiming for a global presence.
  • 2023: Secured an additional $95 million in August 2023, though this was not a new equity round but rather an extension or follow-on to previous investments."GoStudent Raises $95M to Revolutionize Hybrid Learning". TechNews180. August 1, 2023. Retrieved May 28, 2025.
  • 2024: GoStudent introduced 'Amelia,' an AI-powered learning bot developed in collaboration with Seneca, to support students with smart, on-demand study help.
  • 2025: GoStudent implements GoMigo, a platform that connects you with personalised AI-tutors aimed at supporting language learning and self study. GoStudent introduces GoStudent Tutoring Studios, a franchise model that blends online 1:1 private tutoring with in-person and peer learning, creating a complete learning experience that supports every student's needs.

GoStudent Features

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  • GoClass: A collaborative virtual classroom called GoClass was introduced, developed by the team at Classgap. It features tools such as a notes section, glossary and digital whiteboard to support real-time collaboration between students and tutors.
  • GoChat: GoStudent launched its own messaging service, GoChat, enabling direct communication between tutors, parents and students.
  • Lesson summaries: Artificial intelligence automatically generates lesson summaries were introduced, offering instant feedback by recapping key topics, tracking progress and highlighting next steps for students, including revision.
  • GoStudent Learning: GoStudent Learning was added to the platform, providing access to thousands of interactive learning resources, including quizzes and practice questions, to support self-study and revision. Later updates introduced AI-powered Magic Quizzes, allowing tutors to automatically generate quizzes from lesson transcripts – reducing admin work and helping students review and retain what they’ve learned more effectively.

Acquisitions

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GoStudent has made several strategic acquisitions to expand its online and in person learning services for students, growing its presence in international markets.

Business Model and Operations

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As of 2025, GoStudent states it has helped over 11 million families worldwide. The company has received more than 20,000 Trustpilot reviews, with a 4.4 star rating. GoStudent also reports a student rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars on their platform. GoStudent operates on a subscription-based model, where parents purchase lesson packages, after completing a free trial lesson. With 30+ subjects to choose from, lessons are conducted live via video conferencing on GoStudent's proprietary platform, GoClass. Tutors are primarily self-employed, connected with students based on subject needs and availability. GoStudent states that tutors undergo a multi-stage screening process, with approximately 8% of applicants passing.

Controversies and Criticisms

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GoStudent has faced criticisms, particularly concerning its business practices and operational transparency. These include:

  • 2024: Contractual Issues: Some users and tutors have reported issues with contract terms, including difficulties with cancellation policies and automatic renewals that were not clearly communicated. GoStudent has since revised its terms and conditions to make key details more visible and accessible."Trustpilot Reviews". Trustpilot. July 2024. Retrieved June 27, 2025.
  • 2022, 2023: Tutor Relations and Employment Status: There have been reports and accusations from tutors regarding changes to terms and conditions, late payments, and disputes over their self-employed status, with some feeling that GoStudent exerts control typically associated with employment while denying an employment relationship."Startup GoStudent struggled to vet tutors, laid off hundreds". Business Insider. October 26, 2023. Retrieved June 27, 2025.
  • 2022: Tutor Vetting and Quality: Instances of concerns regarding the vetting process for tutors have been reported in some media, leading to questions about the consistency of tutor quality and safety. GoStudent has stated it has strengthened its processes in response to such concerns."Startup GoStudent struggled to vet tutors, laid off hundreds". Business Insider. October 26, 2023. Retrieved June 27, 2025.
  • 2022, 2024: Valuation and Layoffs: After rapid growth and achieving unicorn status, the company faced significant valuation adjustments by investors and conducted multiple rounds of layoffs, leading to internal and external scrutiny of its growth strategy and financial sustainability."GoStudent: SoftBank-backed edtech unicorn carries out more layoffs". Business Insider. January 31, 2024. Retrieved June 27, 2025.
  • 2024, 2025: Sales Practices: Some reports have suggested aggressive sales tactics employed by GoStudent's sales teams."Trustpilot Reviews". Trustpilot. 2025. Retrieved June 27, 2025.

GoStudent has generally denied or responded to these allegations by emphasising its efforts to improve processes, communication, and focus on sustainable growth and profitability.

Awards

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  • 2021: Mumsnet Rated - Mumsnet is a UK based online platform, aiming to make parents’ lives easier. Mumsnet Rated’ badges are awarded to brands, products or services that have received especially positive feedback from the Mumsnet testers."GoStudent embraces the euphoria of getting good grades". FE News. January 25, 2021. Retrieved June 27, 2025.
  • 2021: Felix Ohswald and Gregor Müller nominated under companies with responsibility in the ‘Austrian of the Year Awards’."%C3%96sterreicher des Jahres". Wikipedia (de). Retrieved June 20, 2025.
  • 2021: Cas d'Or EdTech - GoStudent received an award in the category tutoring from Les Cas d'Or EdTech to reward our innovative way of providing customised education.
  • 2022: EdTechX Scale-up Award, GoStudent received the 2022 EdTechX Scale-Up Award which recognises education or training companies for innovation and growth momentum."2022 Award Winners". Impact X2050. Retrieved June 27, 2025.
  • 2022: TOP digitaler Bildungsanbieter - WirtschaftsWoche published its 'Best Digital Education Providers' ranking for the German market. Based on 10,274 user assessments collected by the market research institute ServiceValue, 111 education providers were evaluated across 9 categories. GoStudent took second place in the category "Learning apps (for school, interdisciplinary)"."GO-Customer-service awarded TOP again". General-Overnight. Retrieved June 27, 2025.
  • 2022: Talent Award by France Digitale - GoStudent received the "Welcome To France" Talent Award by France Digitale which recognises a company and a team that has successfully entered the French market and the French Tech ecosystem."Talent Awards 2022". France Digitale. Retrieved June 27, 2025.
  • 2022 - 2024: Deutscher Kunden-Award - GoStudent has taken the 1st place in the “Online Tutoring” category for price-performance."Preisgünstige Leistungen und Produkte bevorzugt". Mynewsdesk / ServiceValue. March 1, 2024. Retrieved June 27, 2025.

References

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