MasterClass
MasterClass is a San Francisco-based online education platform streaming premium video courses from 200+ celebrity instructors, serving individual subscribers, corporate teams via MasterClass at Work, and executives via AI-native MasterClass Executive cohorts.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2015
- HeadquartersSan Francisco, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What MasterClass does
MasterClass is a San Francisco-based online education platform that streams premium video courses taught by an exclusive roster of 200+ world-class instructors spanning business, creative arts, science, wellness, and lifestyle categories. The platform is operated by Yanka Industries, Inc. (founded 2015) and led by founder and CEO David Rogier, with a global direct-to-consumer footprint across web, iOS, Android, Roku, Amazon, and smart TV apps, localized in 15 languages. Its product portfolio has expanded from the core subscription streaming service into MasterClass On Call (AI-powered voice conversations with instructor personas powered by ElevenLabs and Collinear), MasterClass Certificates (15-20 hour credentialed programs), MasterClass at Work (enterprise learning and development at $180/seat), and MasterClass Executive (a cohort-based AI-native business school developed with the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and OpenAI at $2,500 per participant).
The underlying technology is a streaming video-on-demand platform augmented with AI features: real-time voice-based tutor personas, AI-based certificate project evaluation, and live AI labs in the Executive program. Revenue is generated primarily through annual individual subscriptions ($96-$120/year after promotional discounts), supplemented by enterprise seat licensing, gift subscriptions sold direct and through retail partners, optional paid certificate add-ons, and the premium Executive cohort program. Go-to-market combines self-serve DTC subscription with heavy reliance on seasonal promotional discounting (Memorial Day, Black Friday, holidays), instructor-led organic social amplification, and a separate enterprise field-sales motion targeting HR and L&D buyers, with Deloitte and Google cited as named enterprise customers.
The company has raised approximately $461 million in disclosed venture funding through a 2021 Series F led by Fidelity, with prior participation from NEA, IVP, Atomico, Javelin Venture Partners, Bloomberg Beta, and others. MasterClass is a private company with no announced IPO, headcount of 101-250, and a product strategy increasingly oriented around AI-era business education, executive credentials, and AI-augmented interactive learning.
MasterClass firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- MasterClass
- Legal name
- Yanka Industries, Inc.
- Website
- https://masterclass.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2015
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- MasterClass is a San Francisco-based online education platform streaming premium video courses from 200+ celebrity instructors, serving individual subscribers, corporate teams via MasterClass at Work, and executives via AI-native MasterClass Executive cohorts.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
MasterClass industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Online Education Platform
- NAICS
- Professional and Management Development Training (611430), Business Schools and Computer and Management Training (6114), All Other Schools and Instruction (61169), Exam Preparation and Tutoring (611691)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Creator Course Marketplaces (Multi-Instructor Catalogs) (MPACALAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Learning Content Bundling & Subscription Passes (All-Access Libraries) (MPACALAL), Core Digital Curriculum & Courseware (Full Programs & Units) (EDAFACAA), Digital Learning & Course Subscriptions (CRAFAIAD), Virtual Training, Workshops & Masterclasses (Interactive Sessions) (MPAGAOAJ)
Keywords
Where MasterClass is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Francisco
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
MasterClass business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations
Revenue model
- Individual Annual Subscription: MasterClass generates primary revenue through annual subscription plans for individual consumers. Subscribers pay upfront for annual access to the full catalog of 200+ classes, audio-only lessons, and offline downloads (on select plans). The platform uses frequent promotional discounting (30–50% off) to acquire and retain subscribers.
- Enterprise / B2B Licensing (MasterClass at Work): MasterClass sells team and enterprise licenses to organizations for employee learning and development. Two tiers: Corporate Gifting ($120/individual for up to 50 bulk memberships) and Skills Learning & Development ($180/seat for 5–50 seats). Includes admin analytics, content sharing, and L&D features. Deloitte is a named enterprise customer.
- MasterClass Executive (Premium Business Education): Cohort-based AI-native business education program developed with University of Chicago Booth School of Business and OpenAI. The inaugural cohort costs $2,500 per participant, payable in installments. Includes live AI labs, instructor sessions with world-class leaders, and a certificate of completion.
- Gift Subscriptions: MasterClass sells gift memberships allowing purchasers to give annual subscriptions to others. Supports bulk corporate gifting (up to 50 memberships at a time) with custom messages and pre-scheduled delivery. Also sold through third-party retailers during holiday promotions.
- Professional Certificates: MasterClass offers certificate courses (15–20 hours) taught by industry leaders with real-world projects. These are optional paid add-ons to the base subscription, targeting career-focused learners seeking credential proof.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Standard Plan — core catalog access |
| Subscription | Annual | Plus Plan — enhanced with offline access |
| Subscription | Annual | Premium Plan — maximum household access |
| Subscription | Annual | Holiday Promo — Premium Plan |
| Per seat | Annual | MasterClass at Work — Corporate Gifting |
| Per seat | Annual | MasterClass at Work — Skills Learning & Development |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | MasterClass Executive — AI-Native Business School |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels6 records
MasterClass product offering
Product offeringCore offering
MasterClass operates a subscription-based online streaming platform that delivers 200+ pre-produced video classes and 3,500+ bite-sized lessons taught by world-class instructors across business, cooking, science, technology, music, arts, and lifestyle. It complements the core catalog with MasterClass Certificates (career-credential programs), MasterClass at Work (per-seat enterprise L&D licensing), MasterClass Executive (a cohort-based AI-era business program with University of Chicago Booth and OpenAI), and MasterClass On Call (AI-powered voice tutoring with instructor personas).
Product overview
MasterClass is an online learning platform offering unlimited access to 200+ world-class instructors across 3,500+ bite-sized video lessons. The portfolio consists of the MasterClass Core streaming product (individual subscription), MasterClass On Call (AI-powered voice interaction with instructors), MasterClass Executive (AI-native business school with Chicago Booth and OpenAI), MasterClass Certificates (career-credential programs), and MasterClass At Work (corporate training solution). The platform spans diverse categories including business, cooking, science, technology, music, writing, and arts, with new AI-focused offerings expanding into 2026.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- MasterClass Certificates: Career-accelerating certificate programs taught by industry leaders, featuring 15-20 hours of focused lessons with real-world projects.
- MasterClass Executive
- MasterClass On Call
- MasterClass at Work
Products and services
- MasterClass Core Subscription streaming platform offering unlimited access to 200+ instructors and 3,500+ bite-sized video lessons across business, cooking, science, technology, music, arts, and lifestyle, with audio-only mode and offline downloads on select plans.
- MasterClass On Call AI-powered experience that delivers real-time voice conversations with AI-generated versions of MasterClass instructors, built using ElevenLabs Text to Speech and custom AI instructor personas developed with Collinear.
- MasterClass Certificates Career-credential programs taught by industry leaders, requiring 15-20 hours of focused lessons with real-world projects evaluated using AI-based systems and a certificate of completion shareable on LinkedIn.
- MasterClass at Work Corporate learning and development solution providing per-seat access to 200+ instructor classes and 3,500+ lessons for employee upskilling, leadership development, and corporate perks, with admin analytics and content sharing.
- MasterClass Executive Cohort-based AI-native business education program developed with the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and OpenAI, featuring live AI labs, instructor sessions with world-class leaders, and a certificate of completion including OpenAI certifications.
Quantifiable outcome
- 353% ROI on training investment — for every $1 spent on training, companies receive $4.53 in return
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use MasterClass
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
MasterClass technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration5 records
AI capability7 records
Feature4 records
MasterClass partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.
- MicrosoftcoreMasterClass launched 'Lead With AI: Adapt, Implement and Transform Your Organization' in partnership with Microsoft. The course features insights from ten Microsoft executives and offers a personal AI transformation roadmap for business professionals.
- ElevenLabscoreMasterClass partnered with ElevenLabs to power MasterClass On Call using ElevenLabs' Text to Speech technology. This enables real-time voice conversations with AI-generated versions of MasterClass instructors. The collaboration resulted in over 75% voice interaction rate and increased retention.
- University of Chicago Booth School of BusinessflagshipMasterClass Executive is developed in collaboration with the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. Chicago Booth provides academic credibility, research-informed frameworks, and several faculty instructors (including Dean Madhav Rajan, Douglas Diamond, Paul Krugman, and others) for the AI-native business education program.
- OpenAIflagshipMasterClass Executive includes collaboration with OpenAI, featuring live AI labs where participants work directly with OpenAI practitioners and build real AI tools. OpenAI certifications are offered upon program completion. The partnership positions the program as a credible AI business credential.
- EdovominorMasterClass partnered with Edovo to provide incarcerated learners in the U.S. access to the Kim Kardashian 'New Rules of Business' course, demonstrating social impact and expanding reach to underserved educational populations.
- X, The Moonshot FactorycoreMasterClass launched a Certificate course in partnership with X, The Moonshot Factory, focusing on moonshot thinking and innovation strategies. The course includes lessons from X's key leaders to equip professionals with tools to develop and scale innovative ideas.
- CollinearcoreMasterClass partnered with AI company Collinear to develop AI instructor personas for MasterClass On Call. The collaboration used a framework of custom quality judges, knowledge infusion through continual pre-training, and alignment fine-tuning, achieving 15% improvement in safety and reliability scores. Pilot case used former FBI hostage negotiator Chris Voss.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
MasterClass competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Skillshare: Subscription-based online learning marketplace with thousands of creator-led video classes across creative, business, and technology topics. Closely comparable to MasterClass in the all-access subscription model and multi-instructor catalog structure, though positioned at a lower price point.
- CreativeLive: Online learning platform offering celebrity and expert-led video courses across creative disciplines like photography, design, music, and entrepreneurship. Direct competitor to MasterClass's premium creator-led catalog model.
Broad incumbents
- Coursera: Large online learning platform partnering with universities and companies to offer courses, certificates, and degree programs. Comparable to MasterClass in digital course subscriptions and B2B enterprise offerings, with broader academic credentialing.
- Udemy: Global online learning marketplace with multi-instructor course catalog spanning business, tech, and personal development. Similar creator-course marketplace model to MasterClass but at broader scale and lower price points.
- LinkedIn Learning: B2B-focused online learning platform offering professional development video courses, integrated with LinkedIn's professional network. Direct comparable to MasterClass at Work in the enterprise L&D space.
- edX: University-backed online learning platform offering courses, certificates, and degree programs from top institutions. Comparable to MasterClass Executive in academic-caliber online education with broader credentialing and institutional depth.
- Pluralsight: Technology-focused online learning platform offering expert-led video courses, skill assessments, and labs primarily to enterprise customers. Comparable to MasterClass at Work in the B2B skills training space, though narrower in tech focus.
- GetSmarter (2U): Premium online short courses from top universities like MIT, Wharton, and Cambridge. Direct competitor to MasterClass Executive in the credential-bearing executive education space.
- Skillsoft: Enterprise learning platform offering a wide catalog of video courses, books, and skill development tools targeting corporate L&D buyers. Comparable to MasterClass at Work in the enterprise training market.
Emerging players
- Maven: Cohort-based learning platform founded by Wes Kao and Gagan Biyani featuring short, applied courses taught by practitioners. Closely comparable to MasterClass Executive's cohort-based premium business education positioning.
Market position
Strengths1 record
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
MasterClass social profiles
Digital presenceMasterClass compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
MasterClass financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
MasterClass leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
MasterClass funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds9 records
Investors44 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
MasterClass M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about MasterClass
What does MasterClass do?
MasterClass operates a subscription-based online streaming platform that delivers 200+ pre-produced video classes and 3,500+ bite-sized lessons taught by world-class instructors across business, cooking, science, technology, music, arts, and lifestyle. It complements the core catalog with MasterClass Certificates (career-credential programs), MasterClass at Work (per-seat enterprise L&D licensing), MasterClass Executive (a cohort-based AI-era business program with University of Chicago Booth and OpenAI), and MasterClass On Call (AI-powered voice tutoring with instructor personas).
Is MasterClass a public or private company?
MasterClass is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was MasterClass founded?
MasterClass was founded in 2015. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is MasterClass based?
MasterClass is headquartered in San Francisco, United States, in the North America region.
How does MasterClass make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Individual Annual Subscription is the primary driver. The others are enterprise / B2B Licensing (MasterClass at Work), masterClass Executive (Premium Business Education), gift Subscriptions and professional Certificates.
Who are MasterClass's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Skillshare and CreativeLive. Broad incumbents are Coursera, Udemy, LinkedIn Learning, edX, Pluralsight, GetSmarter (2U) and Skillsoft. Maven is listed as an emerging player.
Does MasterClass have an API?
No public API is recorded for MasterClass.
What industry is MasterClass in?
MasterClass's product category is Online Education Platform. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPACALAA, Creator Course Marketplaces (Multi-Instructor Catalogs), with a secondary code of MPACALAL, Learning Content Bundling & Subscription Passes (All-Access Libraries). Its NAICS code is 611430 and its SIC code is 8200.