Marathon Education
Marathon Education is a Vietnam-based EdTech platform founded in 2021 that delivers live interactive online tutoring to K-12 students, connecting them with top 1% teachers from prestigious Vietnamese high schools via curriculum-aligned courses, 1:1 tutoring, exam prep, and a premium unlimited subscription.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2021
- HeadquartersHo Chi Minh City, Vietnam
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Marathon Education does
Marathon Education is a Vietnam-based EdTech company founded in 2021 that delivers live, interactive online tutoring to K-12 students across the country. The platform uses ClassIn-powered two-way livestream classrooms to connect students with teachers sourced exclusively from Vietnam's top 1% — educators at prestigious specialized high schools such as Lê Hồng Phong, Trần Đại Nghĩa, and Phổ Thông Năng Khiếu with 20+ years of experience. Course content is curriculum-aligned to Vietnam's Ministry of Education framework and covers all core subjects (Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Literature, English, Biology) across grades 1-12, plus exam preparation for grade 10 entrance, THPT national high school, university entrance, and IELTS proficiency testing.
The product portfolio spans multiple modalities: large group classes (15-25 students per teacher), 1:4 small groups, 1:1 personalized tutoring, the Marathon Infinity premium unlimited subscription (priced at 108,864,000 VND / ~$4,400 annually), an extensive digital test bank (Ngân Hàng Đề Thi), and an AI-powered Q&A chatbot (Hỏi Đáp AI) integrated with ChatGPT for 24/7 academic support. Each student receives a personalized learning roadmap, daily progress tracking by dedicated academic advisors, and a written outcome guarantee (8+ scores or +3 points improvement per subject).
The company monetizes through a mix of subscription recurring revenue (Marathon Infinity, monthly group classes) and one-time course fees (intensive exam prep, individual course packs), with freemium trial classes (300,000 VND value) serving as the primary acquisition hook. Distribution is direct-to-consumer through marathon.edu.vn, supplemented by an affiliate/introducer program at partner.marathon.edu.vn and digital marketing across Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, Zalo, and SEO-optimized course pages. Marathon has cumulatively raised approximately $7.1 million across a 2021 pre-seed from Forge Ventures ($1.5M), 2022 Y Combinator backing ($500K), and a 2022 round led by Vulcan Capital ($5.1M), making it the 7th Vietnamese startup admitted to Y Combinator.
Marathon Education firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Marathon Education
- Legal name
- Công Ty TNHH Marathon Education (Marathon Education Company Limited)
- Website
- https://marathon.edu.vn
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2021
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Marathon Education is a Vietnam-based EdTech platform founded in 2021 that delivers live interactive online tutoring to K-12 students, connecting them with top 1% teachers from prestigious Vietnamese high schools via curriculum-aligned courses, 1:1 tutoring, exam prep, and a premium unlimited subscription.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Marathon Education industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Online K-12 Education and Tutoring
- NAICS
- Exam Preparation and Tutoring (611691), Educational Support Services (61171)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Academic Tutoring Services (Subject-Specific & General) (EDAJALAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Virtual Test Prep & Online Supplemental Instruction (K–12) (EDAJADAI), Homework Help & Study Skills Coaching (EDAJALAB)
Keywords
Where Marathon Education is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Ho Chi Minh City
- HQ country
- Vietnam
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices4 records
Markets served
Marathon Education business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Course Tuition Fees (Subscription): Marathon Education generates revenue primarily through course tuition fees charged on a subscription or course-pack basis. Students pay for access to live interactive online tutoring courses across multiple subjects and grade levels. Pricing varies by course type, with premium offerings like Marathon Infinity (unlimited courses) priced at 108,864,000 VND/year (approximately $4,400 USD). Regular courses are priced per subject/grade level with various tiers including group classes, 1:1 tutoring, and intensive exam preparation courses.
- One-time Course Fees: Individual course enrollments and intensive exam prep packages are sold as one-time purchases for specific subjects, grade levels, or exam preparation programs (e.g., luyện thi lớp 10, luyện thi THPT, IELTS courses).
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Marathon Infinity (Premium Unlimited) - Annual subscription with unlimited access to all courses |
| Subscription | Monthly | Group Classes - 1 teacher : 15-25 students |
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | 1:1 Tutoring (Gia sư 1 kèm 1) - Premium 1-on-1 tutoring |
| Subscription | Monthly | 1:4 Small Group Tutoring |
| Subscription | Monthly | IELTS Courses |
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Free Trial Class |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels8 records
Marathon Education product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Marathon Education is a Vietnamese EdTech platform that delivers live, two-way interactive online tutoring to K-12 students across Vietnam using top-tier teachers recruited from the country's specialized high schools. Its core offering combines curriculum-aligned subject courses (grades 1-12), intensive exam preparation packages (grade 10 entrance, THPT national exam, university entrance), 1-on-1 and small group tutoring, IELTS preparation with native speakers, an AI-powered Q&A chatbot, and an extensive digital test bank — all delivered through its own ClassIn-based streaming platform with personalized learning paths and written outcome guarantees.
Product overview
Marathon Education is a unified online learning platform offering live interactive tutoring for K-12 students across Vietnam. The platform provides multiple integrated learning products: a core live streaming classroom with real-time teacher-student interaction (ClassIn-based), an extensive test bank (Ngân Hàng Đề Thi) with thousands of practice questions, an AI-powered Q&A feature (Hỏi Đáp AI), and a video library of recorded lessons. The company operates two main service models: group courses by grade level (Lớp 6-12) covering core subjects aligned with the Ministry of Education curriculum, and personalized 1-on-1 tutoring (Gia Sư Online) with guaranteed learning outcomes. The premium tier, Marathon Infinity, provides unlimited access to all courses and services under a subscription model. Additional offerings include specialized exam preparation courses (Grade 10 entrance, THPT, university entrance) and IELTS preparation courses with native speaker instruction.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Marathon Infinity: Premium subscription program offering unlimited access to all Marathon courses including supplementary classes from grades 3-12, tutoring, exam preparation courses, and Marathon IELTS Z, with personalized learning paths and guaranteed academic results.
- Gia Sư Online (Online Tutoring)
Products and services
- Marathon Education Online Tutoring Platform Vietnam's leading online learning platform offering live interactive tutoring for K-12 students, featuring real-time two-way interaction with top 1% Vietnamese teachers recruited from specialized high schools. Covers all core subjects (Math, Physics, Chemistry, Literature, English, Biology) for grades 1-12 with curriculum aligned to Vietnam Ministry of Education standards.
- Gia Sư Online (1-on-1 Online Tutoring) Premium one-on-one tutoring service connecting students with top 1% teachers from prestigious Vietnamese specialized high schools. Includes personalized learning plans, flexible scheduling, makeup classes for missed sessions, and contractually-backed academic outcome guarantees.
- Marathon Infinity (Premium Unlimited Subscription) Premium annual subscription offering unlimited access to all Marathon courses including supplementary classes, tutoring, exam preparation, and IELTS programs with personalized learning paths and guaranteed academic outcomes. Priced at 108,864,000 VND/year (~$4,400 USD) with 5% returning student discount.
- Ngân Hàng Đề Thi (Digital Test Bank) Comprehensive digital question bank with thousands of practice tests covering multiple subjects (Math, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Literature, English) across grade levels 1-12. Includes exam simulations and detailed answer explanations for student self-study and exam preparation.
- Subject Courses by Grade (Lớp 1-12) Comprehensive online courses covering core subjects (Math, Physics, Chemistry, Literature, English, Biology) for grades 1-12, with course content compiled in alignment with Vietnam's Ministry of Education curriculum. Delivered as live interactive group classes with top-tier teachers.
- Exam Preparation Courses (Luyện Thi) Specialized intensive exam preparation courses for Vietnam's high-stakes exams: Grade 10 entrance exams, National High School (THPT) exams, and university entrance exams. Designed as accelerated programs (cấp tốc) with intensive review and practice, taught by top-performing teachers.
- IELTS Preparation Courses Comprehensive IELTS exam preparation courses covering all four skills (Listening, Speaking, Reading, Writing) taught by native English-speaking teachers. Includes written score guarantee. Marathon Infinity tier includes unlimited IELTS access; standalone IELTS courses also available.
Quantifiable outcome
- 10,000+ students enrolled
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use Marathon Education
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Marathon Education technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration5 records
AI capability2 records
Feature5 records
Marathon Education partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- ClassIncoreMarathon Education uses the ClassIn online learning software platform to deliver its live interactive classes. Students are required to install ClassIn to participate in live sessions. Marathon provides ClassIn account credentials to students upon enrollment and offers technical support for setup.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Marathon Education competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Kyna.vn (Kyna For Kids): Kyna is a leading Vietnamese online tutoring platform offering live classes and 1-on-1 instruction for K-12 and language learning. Directly comparable in Vietnamese market, target customer (K-12 students and parents), and online live teaching model.
- Snapask: Snapask operates an on-demand tutoring marketplace across Asia, connecting K-12 students with tutors via a chat-based platform. Comparable as a pan-Asian online K-12 tutoring model with similar target learner segment and live tutor interaction.
- TOPICA Edtech Group: TOPICA provides online university and language education across Southeast Asia and has expanded into K-12 tutoring in Vietnam. Comparable in regional online education focus and Southeast Asia expansion ambitions, though more diversified across higher education.
- Hocmai.vn (HOCMAI Education System): Hocmai is one of Vietnam's largest online K-12 tutoring and exam prep platforms, offering video courses, livestream classes, and study resources for grades 3-12. Directly comparable to Marathon in target audience, curriculum alignment with the Vietnamese MoET, and online delivery model.
Broad incumbents
- Zuoyebang (Yuanfudao): Zuoyebang and Yuanfudao are China's largest K-12 online tutoring and homework-help platforms (post-restructuring). Comparable as massive-scale online K-12 tutoring incumbents with live class and test prep products, though operating in a different (and now heavily regulated) market.
- Byju's: Byju's is a global K-12 and test prep edtech giant offering live classes, recorded lessons, and adaptive learning. Comparable as a broad incumbent in the online tutoring category with outcome-driven positioning, though at vastly greater scale and geographic reach.
Others
- ClassIn: ClassIn is the underlying live-classroom platform Marathon uses to deliver its lessons. Relevant as a strategic infrastructure/enabler — a critical technology partner rather than a direct competitor.
Emerging players
- Mathpresso (QANDA): QANDA (by Mathpresso) is an AI-powered K-12 tutoring and math problem-solving app popular across Asia. Comparable as an AI-native emerging player in Asian K-12 tutoring with overlapping use cases in test prep and homework help.
- Elsa Speak: Elsa is a Vietnam-founded AI-powered English pronunciation and speaking app. Comparable as a Vietnamese-origin edtech with AI-driven learning features; partial overlap given Marathon's IELTS offering.
Regional players
- Ruangguru: Ruangguru is Indonesia's largest edtech platform offering K-12 tutoring, test prep, and online learning services. Comparable in K-12 online tutoring focus and Southeast Asia market positioning, though operating in a different national market.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Marathon Education social profiles
Digital presenceMarathon Education compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Marathon Education financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Marathon Education leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Marathon Education funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds3 records
Investors9 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Marathon Education 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 Marathon Education
What does Marathon Education do?
Marathon Education is a Vietnamese EdTech platform that delivers live, two-way interactive online tutoring to K-12 students across Vietnam using top-tier teachers recruited from the country's specialized high schools. Its core offering combines curriculum-aligned subject courses (grades 1-12), intensive exam preparation packages (grade 10 entrance, THPT national exam, university entrance), 1-on-1 and small group tutoring, IELTS preparation with native speakers, an AI-powered Q&A chatbot, and an extensive digital test bank — all delivered through its own ClassIn-based streaming platform with personalized learning paths and written outcome guarantees.
Is Marathon Education a public or private company?
Marathon Education is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Marathon Education founded?
Marathon Education was founded in 2021. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Marathon Education based?
Marathon Education is headquartered in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, in the Asia region.
How does Marathon Education make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Course Tuition Fees (Subscription) is the primary driver. The others are one-time Course Fees.
Who are Marathon Education's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Kyna.vn (Kyna For Kids), Snapask, TOPICA Edtech Group and Hocmai.vn (HOCMAI Education System). Broad incumbents are Zuoyebang (Yuanfudao) and Byju's. ClassIn is listed as an others. Emerging players are Mathpresso (QANDA) and Elsa Speak. Ruangguru is listed as a regional player.
Does Marathon Education have an API?
No public API is recorded for Marathon Education.
What industry is Marathon Education in?
Marathon Education's product category is Online K-12 Education and Tutoring. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAJALAA, Academic Tutoring Services (Subject-Specific & General), with a secondary code of EDAJADAI, Virtual Test Prep & Online Supplemental Instruction (K–12). Its NAICS code is 611691 and its SIC code is 8200.