Udemy, Inc.
American education technology company and massive open online course (MOOC) provider headquartered in San Francisco, California.
Company Type
public
Founded
2010
Headquarters
San Francisco, California, USA
Stock
NASDAQ: UDMY
Employees
Approximately 1,500
Primary Market
Global
digital learningaccessible education
About Udemy, Inc.
What does Udemy own?
Udemy owns its online learning platform, technology infrastructure, and marketplace business model. The company does not own the educational content, which remains owned by individual instructors who create and sell courses on the platform.
Udemy owns its online learning platform, technology infrastructure, and marketplace business model. The company does not own the educational content, which remains owned by individual instructors who create and sell courses on the platform.
Is Udemy publicly traded?
Yes, Udemy is publicly traded on NASDAQ under ticker UDMY. However, the company agreed to be acquired by Coursera in December 2025, and the transaction is expected to close in the second half of 2026.
Yes, Udemy is publicly traded on NASDAQ under ticker UDMY. However, the company agreed to be acquired by Coursera in December 2025, and the transaction is expected to close in the second half of 2026.
Who founded Udemy?
Udemy was founded in 2010 by Eren Bali, Gagan Biyani, and Oktay Caglar. Eren Bali previously created a live virtual classroom in Turkey in 2007, which inspired the concept for Udemy's online learning marketplace.
Udemy was founded in 2010 by Eren Bali, Gagan Biyani, and Oktay Caglar. Eren Bali previously created a live virtual classroom in Turkey in 2007, which inspired the concept for Udemy's online learning marketplace.
Where is Udemy headquartered?
Udemy is headquartered in San Francisco, California, USA. The company maintains additional offices in Australia, India, Ireland, Mexico, and Turkey to support its global operations.
Udemy is headquartered in San Francisco, California, USA. The company maintains additional offices in Australia, India, Ireland, Mexico, and Turkey to support its global operations.
How many brands does Udemy own?
Udemy operates primarily as a single brand with multiple product lines including Udemy Consumer, Udemy Business, and Udemy for Government. The company focuses on its core marketplace platform rather than owning multiple distinct brands.
Udemy operates primarily as a single brand with multiple product lines including Udemy Consumer, Udemy Business, and Udemy for Government. The company focuses on its core marketplace platform rather than owning multiple distinct brands.
Who owns Udemy?
Udemy is currently publicly traded with ownership distributed among public shareholders, institutional investors, and company insiders. The company is being acquired by Coursera in an all-stock transaction valued at $930 million, expected to close in H2 2026.
Udemy is currently publicly traded with ownership distributed among public shareholders, institutional investors, and company insiders. The company is being acquired by Coursera in an all-stock transaction valued at $930 million, expected to close in H2 2026.
What is Udemy's relationship with Coursera?
In December 2025, Coursera agreed to acquire Udemy in an all-stock transaction. The merger will combine Udemy's marketplace model with Coursera's university partnerships, creating a comprehensive online education platform with pro forma annual revenue exceeding $1.5 billion.
In December 2025, Coursera agreed to acquire Udemy in an all-stock transaction. The merger will combine Udemy's marketplace model with Coursera's university partnerships, creating a comprehensive online education platform with pro forma annual revenue exceeding $1.5 billion.
History of Udemy, Inc.
Udemy was founded in 2010 by Eren Bali, Gagan Biyani, and Oktay Caglar in San Francisco, California. The company's origins trace back to 2007 when Eren Bali and Oktay Caglar created a live virtual classroom in Turkey while developing software for online education. After moving to Silicon Valley in 2009, they teamed up with Gagan Biyani to launch Udemy in May 2010.
The founders initially bootstrapped development and were rejected by 30 venture capital firms before raising $1 million in August 2010. Within months of launch, 1,000 instructors had created about 2,000 courses, demonstrating strong early adoption of the marketplace concept.
Leadership transitions marked key milestones in Udemy's development. Dennis Yang succeeded Eren Bali as CEO in April 2014, followed by Gregg Coccari in February 2019, Greg Brown in early 2025, and Hugo Sarrazin as CEO later in 2025.
The company faced challenges including criticism in 2015 for hosting pirated courses, which led to enhanced anti-piracy efforts in 2018. Udemy expanded internationally, offering courses in Hindi starting in February 2023 and Arabic in August 2025.
Udemy held its IPO on October 29, 2021, after raising $273 million in funding with a $3.25 billion valuation as of November 2020. The company operated at a loss for several years, accumulating a deficit of $407.9 million by June 2021.
The most significant development occurred in December 2025 when Coursera agreed to acquire Udemy for $930 million in an all-stock transaction, creating a combined company valued at $2.5 billion with pro forma annual revenue exceeding $1.5 billion.
Udemy, Inc. Sustainability & Ethics
Udemy has implemented sustainability initiatives focused on democratizing education access and reducing the environmental impact of traditional learning methods:
- Digital Learning: The company's online platform reduces the need for physical classrooms, printed materials, and commuting, significantly lowering the carbon footprint associated with education delivery
- Accessible Education: Udemy provides affordable learning opportunities globally, particularly serving learners in regions with limited access to traditional educational institutions
- Economic Opportunity: The platform enables instructors worldwide to monetize their expertise and create income streams, supporting economic empowerment and knowledge sharing
The company maintains ethical standards through content moderation, instructor verification processes, and policies against plagiarism and copyright infringement. Udemy has implemented enhanced anti-piracy measures following criticism about unauthorized content on the platform.
Awards & Recognition
Udemy has received recognition within the education technology and business communities for innovation in online learning:
- **EdTech Awards:** Multiple recognitions for platform innovation and user experience in online education
- **Business Excellence:** Acknowledgment for rapid growth and marketplace development in the education sector
- **Workplace Solutions:** Recognition for Udemy Business as a leading corporate training platform
The company's founders and leadership have been recognized for entrepreneurship and innovation in democratizing education access through technology.
Controversy, Regulation & Public Scrutiny
Udemy has faced several challenges and controversies throughout its history:
- Content Quality Issues: In 2015, the company faced criticism for hosting pirated courses and content of questionable quality, leading to enhanced content moderation and anti-piracy efforts implemented in 2018
- Instructor Compensation: Some instructors have criticized Udemy's revenue sharing model and marketing practices, leading to adjustments in commission structures and promotional policies
- Course Quality Control: The open marketplace model has resulted in variable course quality, prompting the company to implement quality standards and review processes
- Market Competition: As the online education market has grown, Udemy has faced increasing competition from university-affiliated platforms and specialized learning providers
The company has generally avoided major regulatory issues, though it operates in an increasingly scrutinized education technology market where consumer protection and data privacy regulations continue to evolve.
Brands Owned by Udemy, Inc.
Udemy, Inc. owns 0 brands in our database.
Stock Information
Udemy, Inc. Ownership: Pros & Cons
Advantages
- +Large global user base and brand recognition in online education
- +Diverse revenue streams from consumer and enterprise markets
- +Scalable marketplace model with low marginal costs for additional courses
- +Strong international presence and multilingual capabilities
- +Acquisition by Coursera provides resources for accelerated growth and innovation
Considerations
- -Historical operating losses and pressure to achieve profitability
- -Content quality challenges inherent in open marketplace model
- -Competition from both traditional educational institutions and specialized online platforms
- -Dependence on instructor acquisition and retention for course variety
- -Integration challenges and cultural alignment issues with Coursera acquisition
Frequently Asked Questions About Udemy, Inc.
What does Udemy own?
Udemy owns its online learning platform, technology infrastructure, and marketplace business model. The company does not own the educational content, which remains owned by individual instructors who create and sell courses on the platform.
Is Udemy publicly traded?
Yes, Udemy is publicly traded on NASDAQ under ticker UDMY. However, the company agreed to be acquired by Coursera in December 2025, and the transaction is expected to close in the second half of 2026.
Who founded Udemy?
Udemy was founded in 2010 by Eren Bali, Gagan Biyani, and Oktay Caglar. Eren Bali previously created a live virtual classroom in Turkey in 2007, which inspired the concept for Udemy's online learning marketplace.
Where is Udemy headquartered?
Udemy is headquartered in San Francisco, California, USA. The company maintains additional offices in Australia, India, Ireland, Mexico, and Turkey to support its global operations.
How many brands does Udemy own?
Udemy operates primarily as a single brand with multiple product lines including Udemy Consumer, Udemy Business, and Udemy for Government. The company focuses on its core marketplace platform rather than owning multiple distinct brands.
Who owns Udemy?
Udemy is currently publicly traded with ownership distributed among public shareholders, institutional investors, and company insiders. The company is being acquired by Coursera in an all-stock transaction valued at $930 million, expected to close in H2 2026.
What is Udemy's relationship with Coursera?
In December 2025, Coursera agreed to acquire Udemy in an all-stock transaction. The merger will combine Udemy's marketplace model with Coursera's university partnerships, creating a comprehensive online education platform with pro forma annual revenue exceeding $1.5 billion.
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