Global technology leader Microsoft is acquiring TakeLessons, a San Diego, California-based education technology startup that lets people book paid online and in-person classes on a variety of subjects. Microsoft, which has become steeped in productivity software and cloud computing efforts, has recently been bolstering its stake in edtech with investments in properties like LinkedIn Learning and its own video-conferencing software, Microsoft Teams, which has become a popular platform for remote learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. TakeLessons offers unique live learning experiences in consumer-oriented subjects such as music, languages, and the arts.
The acquisition is the latest effort by Microsoft to respond to the need for innovative solutions and the growing demand for personalized hybrid-learning opportunities that have been in vogue since the beginning of the pandemic. Founded in 2006, TakeLessons pairs students with teachers based on their particular needs and the instructor’s specialty and teaching style. The startup has received growth investments from Crosslink Capital, Moore Venture Partners, SoftTech VC, and Triangle Peak Partners, to name a few. Although terms were not released and TakeLessons’ user numbers are unavailable, the move is seen as a productive means to build upon the edtech company’s existing infrastructure, providing a strategic advantage for Microsoft as a Fortune Top 20 company.
