Golden Education

What Golden Education does

Golden Education (高顿) is a privately-held professional education and training company headquartered in Shanghai, China, founded in 2006. The company delivers a comprehensive multi-category education platform spanning six core verticals: professional financial certifications (CPA, ACCA, CFA, FRM, CMA, USCPA, Tax Agent, 中级/高级会计职称), academic advancement programs (考研, 保研, 专升本, 国际课程 including A-Level/AP/IB, and study-abroad counseling), public examination preparation (公务员考试, 事业单位, 央国企, 银行招聘, 教师招聘, 军队文职), corporate financial training (IPO advisory, CFO development, enterprise talent assessment via goldenfinance.com.cn), cultural tourism (有梧文旅, official tourism partner of Shanghai Disney Resort since 2025), and career placement services (小马学长). It serves a primary customer base of Chinese university students, recent graduates, and working professionals pursuing career credentials, supplemented by enterprise clients seeking customized finance training.

The company operates a hybrid online-offline delivery model anchored by nearly 150 campuses and learning centers nationwide, partnerships with 400+ Chinese universities, and a proprietary technology stack comprising the Epiphany AI-powered smart learning platform, SmartSchool integrated online-offline learning management system, Glive live streaming platform, the intelligent question bank (tiku.gaodun.com), and the Gaodun Financial Intelligence Assessment System. Under CEO and Chairman Feng Li, the organization employs 7,000+ full-time staff (with a 1,000+ dedicated student-service team and an average employee age of 26), and a research institute whose teachers are 83% overseas-educated.

Revenue is generated primarily through tiered multi-year VIP subscription packages for certification courses, one-time fees for academic and public-exam programs, professional services fees for corporate training, and transactional fees from education-travel offerings. Pricing is not publicly disclosed but is structured as basic-to-premium tiers with multi-year contracts at the high end. The company has raised over $150 million across disclosed funding rounds (notably a $115.24M Series 3 in November 2018 led by Hillhouse Investment and Morgan Stanley), with strategic backing from Tencent, Hillhouse Capital, New Oriental, and 51job. Golden Education has been consecutively recognized among Shanghai's Top 100 Private Service Enterprises (2013–2024) and received 2025 Forbes China Education Industry Summit awards, marking its 20th anniversary in 2026.

Name

Golden Education

Legal name

高顿教育

Website

https://gaodun.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

Golden Education (高顿) is a Shanghai-based professional training company, founded 2006, delivering CPA/ACCA/CFA/FRM certification prep, 考研/公考 exam preparation, study-abroad counseling, and corporate finance training to Chinese university students, professionals, and enterprises through ~150 learning centers, online platforms, and 400+ university partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Education and Training

NAICS

Educational Support Services (61171), Professional and Management Development Training (611430)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Accounting & Finance Certification Prep (CPA, CMA, CFA, FRM) (EDANAIAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Test Prep Learning Centers (SAT/ACT, AP/IB, State Exams) (EDANAHAH), AP/IB & Subject-Specific Standardized Exams Prep (AP, IB, SAT Subject legacy, subject exams) (EDANABAE), K–12 Standardized Test Prep & Practice Materials (EDAGADAA)

Keywords

• Professional certification training
• Exam preparation services
• Accounting and finance training
• Graduate exam preparation
• Vocational education programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Shanghai

HQ country

China

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Professional Certification Courses: Core revenue stream from certification exam preparation courses including CPA, ACCA, CFA, FRM, CMA, USCPA, and various accounting/finance professional credentials. Offers tiered course packages from basic to VIP programs with pricing ranging from basic to premium tiers.
2. Academic Advancement Programs: Undergraduate and graduate admission consulting including postgraduate recommendation (保研), graduate entrance exam (考研), study abroad services, international curriculum (A-Level, AP, IB), and adult education programs.
3. Public Examination Training: Civil service exam (公考), government positions (考编), bank recruitment exams, state-owned enterprise recruitment, and teacher certification preparation courses.
4. Corporate Training Services: Enterprise financial training services through www.goldenfinance.com.cn including IPO advisory, CFO training, corporate finance curriculum, and custom corporate learning solutions.
5. Education & Travel (文旅): Subsidiary brand 有梧文旅 providing educational travel, study tours, summer camps, and resort packages including Shanghai Disney partnership and international study tour programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Golden Education delivers paid professional training and certification exam preparation for individuals, alongside corporate finance training for enterprises. Its main products cover CPA, ACCA, CFA, FRM, Tax Agent, mid-level/senior accountant, economist, and ESG certification courses, plus postgraduate recommendation (保研), graduate entrance exam (考研), civil service exam (公考), on-the-job master's and doctoral degrees, study abroad consulting, and A-Level/AP/IB international curriculum. Courses are delivered via ~150 physical learning centers, the Gaodun Online School, the Glive live streaming platform, and proprietary AI personalization tools.

Product overview

Golden Education (高顿) operates as a comprehensive multi-category education platform offering a broad portfolio of products and services across professional qualifications (CPA, ACCA, CFA, FRM,税务师), academic exam preparation (考研, 保研, 公务员考试), international education (留学, 国际课程), and career services. The platform architecture includes the core 高顿网校 online learning platform with integrated Glive直播平台 for live streaming, an intelligent question bank (智能题库), and AI-powered subject selection tools. Sub-brands like 去保研, 上岸鸭公考, 高顿考研, and 小马学长 serve specific market segments, while subsidiaries including 贝页图书 (publishing), 有梧文旅 (tourism), and international education operations (布克, 紫藤国际教育) extend the ecosystem into adjacent markets. The company also offers enterprise-level financial training through 金程教育企业服务中心 and specialized practical training (财税实操) combining AI tools like Power BI, Excel, and ChatGPT for finance professionals.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• 上岸鸭公考: Public examination training platform for civil service and government exams
• 去保研
• 布克
• 紫藤国际教育
• 小马学长
• 贝页图书
• 有梧文旅
• Epiphany智能学习平台
• SmartSchool
• Glive
• 高顿财智评测系统

Products and services

• Gaodun Online School (高顿网校) Online learning platform delivering comprehensive educational services including a course selection center, live streaming integration with Glive, and the intelligent question bank — accessible 24/7 for distance learners across all Golden Education programs.
• Glive Live Streaming Platform (Glive直播平台) Live streaming platform that enables real-time online classes with both live and recorded playback modes, designed to deliver learning effectiveness equivalent to physical classroom attendance.
• CPA Exam Preparation (注册会计师) Comprehensive Certified Public Accountant exam preparation courses and tutoring services in China, including basic, premium, and VIP packages with 1V1 coaching and AI essay grading.
• ACCA Exam Preparation (特许公认会计师) ACCA exam preparation courses covering the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants qualification, including exemptions, study materials, and tutor support.
• CFA Exam Preparation (特许金融分析师) Chartered Financial Analyst exam preparation and training programs including review courses, mock exams, and personalized tutoring for the CFA qualification.
• FRM Exam Preparation (金融风险管理师) Financial Risk Manager certification exam preparation courses covering risk management principles, quantitative methods, and FRM-specific exam strategies.
• Tax Agent Exam Preparation (税务师) Tax Agent certification exam preparation and training services, including review courses and standardized exam registration at 93 yuan per subject nationwide.
• Gaodun Graduate Exam Preparation (高顿考研) Graduate school entrance exam (考研) preparation services including the Dream School Plan (梦校计划) and dedicated 27/28 考研 preparation tracks with full and part-program study plans.
• Qu Baoyan Postgraduate Recommendation (去保研) Postgraduate recommendation (保研) counseling and guidance services for undergraduate students seeking top university admissions, including the 澎湃计划 and 璀璨计划 packages.
• Shanganyan Gongkao Civil Service Exam Prep (上岸鸭公考) Civil service exam (公务员考试) preparation platform covering national exams (国考), provincial exams (省考), public institution tests (事业单位), teacher certification (教师资格证), military civilian positions (军队文职), and central/state-owned enterprise recruitment.
• On-the-Job Master's and Doctorate Programs (在职硕博) Programs for working professionals seeking master's and doctoral degrees including management joint exams (管理类联考), international MBA/exempt-from-exam programs, and 同等学力申硕 tracks.
• Ziteng Study Abroad and Language Training (紫藤留学语培) Study abroad counseling and language test preparation including IELTS, TOEFL, GRE/GMAT preparation, and overseas study consulting services under the Ziteng (紫藤) international education brand.
• International Curriculum Programs (A-Level, AP, IB) International academic programs including A-Level, AP, and IB curricula plus international competitions such as AMC, delivered under the Ziteng (紫藤) international education brand.
• AI Education Courses (AI教育) AI industry product expert courses and AI side-business training programs designed to help learners monetize AI tools and transition into AI-related roles.
• Finance and Tax Practical Training (财税实操) Practical accounting and tax training including zero-basics accounting, financial management, tax compliance, and applied AI tools (Power BI, Excel, ChatGPT) for finance professionals.
• Corporate Finance Training Services (企业财务培训) Enterprise financial training services delivered via goldenfinance.com.cn, including IPO advisory, CFO development programs, corporate finance curriculum, and the Gaodun Financial Intelligence Assessment System for workforce certification.
• Internship and Employment Services — Xiaoma Senior (小马学长) Internship and career services for college students under the Xiaoma Senior (小马学长) sub-brand, including resume guidance, interview coaching, campus recruitment support, and job search assistance.
• Educational Tourism — Youwu Cultural Tourism (有梧文旅) Educational tourism, study tours, summer camps, and resort packages operated under the Youwu Cultural Tourism (有梧文旅) subsidiary, including the official Shanghai Disney Resort partnership and international study tour programs.

Quantifiable outcome

• 83% of research institute teachers have overseas academic background, ensuring high-quality instruction
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• 上海迪士尼度假区 (Shanghai Disney Resort)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Golden Education subsidiary 有梧文旅 officially became Shanghai Disney Resort's official tourism industry partner, providing educational travel and resort services to customers.
• 广发证券 (Guangfa Securities)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Co-organized the Third National College Student Simulated Investment Competition, combining financial education with practical investment experience for university students.
• 乡村笔记 (Village Notes)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerCSR partnership bringing AI career planning education to youth in rural areas, supporting social impact initiatives.
• 合作高校 (Partner Universities)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOver 400 partner universities for academic cooperation, student referrals, campus recruitment, and joint education programs.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• 51Talk / New Oriental (在线教育 group): Adjacent Chinese education company with cross-sell into adult professional development and language test prep (IELTS/TOEFL), similar to Golden Education's study abroad and language training sub-brand (紫藤国际教育).
• TAL Education Group (好未来): Major Chinese K-12 and adult education company with growing exposure to professional certification and adult learning; broadly incumbent across the same customer segments that Golden Education targets post-university.

Regional players

• Becker Professional Education: U.S.-based leader in CPA and CMA exam prep serving accounting professionals globally. Comparable professional certification prep model and content positioning to Golden Education's core CPA/ACCA/CFA franchise.
• Wiley Efficient Learning: U.S.-based CPA, CMA, and CFA exam prep brand leveraging proprietary adaptive learning technology. Comparable content-and-technology approach to Golden Education's Epiphany AI personalization engine.
• Kaplan Professional (Kaplan Inc.): Global professional training provider with strong CPA, CFA, and financial services certification programs; useful international comparable for Golden Education's growing English-language certification offerings (ACCA, USCPA).

Direct peers

• New Oriental Education & Technology Group (新东方): Largest Chinese private education company offering overlapping K-12 international curriculum (A-Level/AP/IB), study abroad consulting, and adult professional development. New Oriental is also a Gaodun investor, making the relationship both strategic and competitive.
• Koolearn (新东方在线): Online education arm of New Oriental focused on university students and graduate exam prep (考研) plus professional certification. Direct overlap with Golden Education's online certification and graduate school preparation offerings.
• Open Edutainment / Fenbi (粉笔教育): Leading Chinese online education platform for civil service exam (公考) and public institution test prep — a direct competitor to Golden Education's 上岸鸭公考 subsidiary and shared public examination candidate segment.
• China Distance Education Holdings (正保远程教育 / CDEL): Pioneer in Chinese distance learning for professional certifications including CPA, ACCA, CFA, and other accounting credentials. Directly competes with Golden Education in online certification prep, especially for working professionals.

Emerging players

• East Money Education (东方财富): Major Chinese financial information platform that has expanded into investor education and CFA-adjacent certification content, partially overlapping with Golden Education's financial analyst and securities exam prep offerings.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xweibo.com/gaodun

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 records

Investors6 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments2 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Golden Education