Aprende Institute

What Aprende Institute does

Aprende Institute is a private vocational education platform founded in 2019 by Martín Claure that delivers 100% online, Spanish-language training programs targeted at the U.S. Hispanic community and, increasingly, Spanish-speaking populations across Latin America. The platform is organized into six schools — Gastronomía, Emprendimiento, Belleza, Bienestar, Oficios, and Hospitalidad y Eventos — offering more than 40 programs (typically 3-course bundles) covering culinary arts, pastry and bakery, digital marketing, business creation, finance, real estate, beauty, wellness, trades (plumbing, electrical, mechanical, solar), and hospitality. Courses are self-paced with a recommended 30 minutes of daily study, are completed in roughly 3 months for a digital certificate, and are supplemented with live Zoom classes and WhatsApp-based expert support.

The product stack is built on a Moodle-based virtual campus (campus.aprende.com) accessed via web and native iOS/Android apps, with 51,000+ live classes delivered and 25,000+ WhatsApp queries answered to date. Beyond the consumer learner experience, Aprende operates a separate B2B workforce development platform (workforce.aprende.com) that sells the same curriculum to employers training Hispanic employees. Distribution is anchored by a flagship Univision partnership (250+ appearances on Despierta América) and a 1M+ Instagram following, supplemented by TikTok, Facebook, WhatsApp communities, and a content-marketing blog.

The business model is a subscription/annual-billing consumer model with quote-based, non-publicly-disclosed pricing per program bundle; payments are accepted via credit/debit cards, gift cards, Western Union, Zelle, and bank deposit. Aprende has raised approximately $27 million in disclosed funding across 2020-2021 (most recently a $22M Series A led by Valor Capital Group with Univision and ECMC Group), serves more than 300,000 cumulative students, and has been recognized by HolonIQ (2023 North America Startups Promise List) and Inc. Regionals Southeast 2024.

Name

Aprende Institute

Legal name

Aprende Institute

Website

https://aprende.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Aprende Institute is a Spanish-language online vocational training platform founded in 2019, serving the U.S. Hispanic community and Latin America with 40+ programs across gastronomy, entrepreneurship, beauty, trades, and hospitality, delivered via a Moodle-based virtual campus with live classes and expert support.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Online Vocational Education

NAICS

Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Entrepreneurship, Startup Incubation & Pitch Programs (EDAMAKAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Financial Literacy, Budgeting & Personal Finance (EDAMAHAE), Business Planning, Pitching & Competitions (Pitch Decks, Demo Days) (EDAMAHAB)

Keywords

• Online vocational training
• Spanish language education
• Career skills programs
• Digital learning platform
• Workforce development

Headquarters

HQ city

Salt Lake City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Online Course Subscriptions/Programs: Students pay for access to vocational training programs across categories like Gastronomy, Entrepreneurship, Beauty, Wellness, Trades, and Hospitality. Programs are self-paced with 30 minutes of daily study recommended, typically completed in 3 months for a certificate of completion.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Aprende Institute operates a 100% online vocational education platform delivered entirely in Spanish for the U.S. Hispanic community. It sells self-paced programs across six schools — Gastronomy, Entrepreneurship, Wellness, Beauty, Trades, and Hospitality & Events — combining video lessons, daily live classes, expert WhatsApp support, and a Moodle-based Virtual Campus. Students complete programs in roughly 3 months (30 minutes/day) and receive certificates of completion; a separate B2B Workforce Platform packages these programs for employer-led training.

Product overview

Aprende Institute is an EdTech platform providing vocational training exclusively in Spanish for the U.S. Hispanic population. The platform operates as a unified learning ecosystem centered around its Moodle-based Campus Virtual, supplemented by a dedicated B2B workforce platform (Aprende Workforce) for employer partnerships. The portfolio spans 40+ programs organized into 6 schools: Gastronomía (13 programs including Repostería, Cocina Internacional, Pastry Chef, Bakery Chef, Food and Beverage, Wine Programs, and Parrilladas), Emprendimiento (8 programs including Marketing Digital, Finanzas, Creación de Negocios, and Real Estate), Belleza (Nail Art, Maquillaje, Cosmetología, Estilismo), Bienestar (Masajes, Entrenamiento Personal, Nutrición, Mindfulness, Child Care), Oficios (Plomería, Electricidad, Mecánica, Energía Solar, Handyman Services), and Hospitalidad y Eventos (Bartending, Wedding Planning, Restaurantes). Programs are 100% online, self-paced with 30 minutes/day study recommendation, include live classes via Zoom, expert WhatsApp support, and result in digital completion certificates.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Aprende: Primary brand used for the platform URL and marketing - aprende.com

Products and services

• Gastronomy School (Escuela de Gastronomía) 13 culinary programs covering pastry (Repostería, Pastry Chef, Bakery Chef, Sweet Catering Chef, Repostería y Panadería Artesanal), cuisine (Cocina Tradicional Mexicana, Gastronomía Mexicana, Cocina Internacional, Técnicas Culinarias), wines (Todo Sobre Vinos, Vitivinicultura y Cata de Vinos), grilling (Parrilladas y Asados), and restaurant management (Food and Beverage). Designed for Hispanic learners seeking careers or businesses in food service.
• Cocina Tradicional Mexicana (Traditional Mexican Cuisine) Program A 3-course program teaching regional Mexican cuisine across 9 modules covering recipes from Northern, Bajío, Pacific Coast, Central, Gulf, and Southern regions of Mexico.
• Repostería (Pastry Arts) Program A 3-course program teaching pastry arts, covering techniques for doughs, creams, custards, decorating, and business creation for starting a pastry business.
• Gastronomía Mexicana (Mexican Gastronomy) Program A 3-course program covering Mexican gastronomy history from pre-Hispanic times through contemporary era, including the influence of French, English, and Italian cuisines.
• Cocina Internacional (International Cuisine) Program A 3-course program teaching international cooking techniques including sauce making, rice and pasta preparation, meat cuts, poultry, fish, seafood, and global cooking methods.
• Técnicas Culinarias (Culinary Techniques) Program A 3-course program teaching fundamental culinary techniques including knife skills, cooking methods, ingredient handling, and professional kitchen safety and hygiene.
• Todo Sobre Vinos (All About Wines) Program A 10-module program covering wine knowledge including purchasing, storage, grape varieties, wine regions (France, Italy, Spain, Mexico), wine cocktails, and pairing techniques.
• Vitivinicultura y Cata de Vinos (Viticulture and Wine Tasting) Program A 10-module program teaching professional wine tasting methodology, wine production, labeling, Old World and New World wines, and wine-food pairing.
• Parrilladas y Asados (Barbecue and Grilling) Program A multi-course program teaching global grilling styles including Mexican, US, Brazilian, Argentine, and Uruguayan techniques, plus side dishes and dessert preparation.
• Programa Food and Beverage A specialized program including 4 courses covering restaurant administration, food business development, cost control, and restaurant management strategies.
• Pastry Chef Program A 3-course, 12-week program teaching high-quality cake creation, advanced decoration techniques with creams, and business skills for selling pastry products.
• Repostería y Panadería Artesanal (Pastry and Artisan Baking) Program A combined pastry and artisan bread-making program teaching simple and enriched doughs, fermentation techniques, and bakery business planning.
• Sweet Catering Chef Program A 10-module program teaching dessert table design for events, chocolate work including tempering and decorating, and confectionery creation for weddings and celebrations.
• Bakery Chef Program A 9-module program covering bakery fundamentals including dough handling, fermentation techniques, simple and enriched breads, filled breads, and bakery business operations.
• Entrepreneurship School (Escuela de Emprendimiento) 9 programs covering business creation and entrepreneurship (Creación de Negocios, Profesionalismo), digital skills (Marketing Digital, Dominio Digital, Marketing para Emprendedores), finance (Finanzas para Emprendedores, Finanzas Personales), sales (Ventas y Negociación), and Real Estate licensing preparation. Designed for Hispanic individuals starting or growing U.S. small businesses.
• Marketing Digital (Digital Marketing) Program A 3-course, 12-week program teaching digital marketing skills including social media management, photography/video creation with smartphones, content creation with AI, and advertising strategies.
• Dominio Digital (Digital Literacy) Program A 3-course program in 3 weeks teaching digital skills including device operation, online safety, communication tools, productivity software, and AI basics for the workplace.
• Marketing para Emprendedores Program A 3-course program teaching marketing techniques for B2B businesses, market research methods, digital marketing tools, and marketing plan design.
• Finanzas para Emprendedores Program A 3-course program teaching business financial planning, pricing strategies, cash flow management, budgeting, US tax obligations, risk management, and financing options.
• Finanzas Personales (Personal Finance) Program A 3-course program covering income/expense management, debt and credit control, credit score improvement, and investment basics for personal financial stability.
• Ventas y Negociación (Sales and Negotiation) Program A 3-course program teaching sales strategies, customer acquisition, objection handling, social media selling, negotiation tactics, and post-sale service.
• Creación de Negocios (Business Creation) Program A 3-course program teaching business planning, market opportunity identification, pricing, minimum viable product creation, sales funnel development, business model canvas, and financing options.
• Real Estate Program A 9-module program preparing students as real estate agents, covering market analysis, lead generation, branding, sales strategies, marketing, AI tools, MLS, and real estate transactions.
• Beauty School (Escuela de Belleza) Programs covering Nail Art, Maquillaje (Makeup), Manicure (Nail Design), Cosmetología: Estética Facial y Corporal (Facial and Body Aesthetics), Estilismo y Peluquería (Hair Styling), Diseño de Cejas (Brow Design), and Extensión y Lifting de Pestañas (Lash Extensions). Designed for Hispanic learners entering the beauty-services industry or starting beauty businesses.
• Wellness School (Escuela de Bienestar) Programs covering Masajes y Terapias Holísticas (Massage and Holistic Therapies), Bienestar y Cuidado del Adulto Mayor (Elder Care), Entrenamiento Personal (Personal Training), Mindfulness, Inteligencia Emocional y Psicología Positiva, Alimentación Vegana y Vegetariana, Nutrición y Buena Alimentación, Nutrición y Salud, Child Care, Fitness Coach, Life Coach, and Entrenamiento Funcional y Calistenia. Designed for Hispanic learners entering wellness, fitness, and care professions.
• Trades School (Escuela de Oficios)

Quantifiable outcome

• 6 of 10 graduates report increased income in the short term
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• UnivisionflagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 October 2021Strategic partnership for market expansion in the U.S. Hispanic market. Univision provides media exposure through Despierta América show where Aprende has made over 250 appearances showcasing student success stories and expert advice.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Crehana: Spanish-language online platform for creative, tech, and business skills across Latin America. Closest direct peer: same subscription-led model, same Spanish-language audience, same vocational/skills orientation — competing for the same Hispanic learner wallet.
• Domestika: Online creative skills marketplace with strong Spanish-language catalog and global reach. Comparable to Aprende's gastronomy/beauty/craft verticals via a course-purchase model with celebrity/expert instructors.
• Platzi: Spanish-language online platform for tech, business, and soft skills, popular across Latin America. Comparable subscription model and target learner (Spanish-speaking, self-improvement motivated) though weighted toward tech rather than vocational trades.
• Skillshare: Subscription-based online learning platform for creative and practical skills. Same PLG, self-paced, project-driven learning model as Aprende, though English-language and broader/less vocationally specific.

Broad incumbents

• Coursera: Large global MOOC platform offering vocational and professional programs from accredited universities. Comparable in EdTech category, with growing Spanish-language content, but operates as a multi-category aggregator rather than a niche Hispanic specialist.
• edX: Global MOOC platform founded by Harvard and MIT offering vocational and professional credentials. Comparable in self-paced online learning with certificates, though English-dominant and accreditation-led rather than Hispanic-community-targeted.
• LinkedIn Learning: Major professional skills platform offering business, tech, and creative courses. Comparable in B2B workforce training (overlapping with Aprende Workforce), though English-dominant and targeting white-collar professional development rather than trades/beauty.
• Udemy: Global marketplace for self-paced online courses across vocational and professional categories. Comparable in self-paced, certificate-bearing, multi-category model with growing Spanish-language catalog and B2B (Udemy Business) offering similar to Aprende Workforce.

Emerging players

• Mindvalley: Online personal-development and wellness learning platform with a strong presence in Hispanic/Latin American markets. Overlaps with Aprende's Bienestar (wellness, mindfulness, life coaching) verticals and shares the self-paced, celebrity-instructor model.
• Alison: Free online vocational and workplace skills platform with multilingual content including Spanish. Targets similar income-mobility learner demographics, though free/ad-supported rather than subscription.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/aprendeinstitute
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/aprendeinstitute
• Instagraminstagram.com/aprendeinstitute
• TikToktiktok.com/@aprende_institute

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds5 records

Investors14 records

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Aprende Institute