That's Mandarin
That's Mandarin is a Chinese language education school founded in 2005 in Beijing, operating seven campuses across China, Italy, and Australia, plus proprietary online platforms NihaoCafe and NihaoKids serving adult and child learners worldwide.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2005
- HeadquartersBeijing, China
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What That's Mandarin does
That's Mandarin is a Beijing-headquartered, privately-held Chinese language education school operating since 2005. The company delivers Mandarin instruction across seven physical campuses — five in China (Beijing, Shanghai, Suzhou, Hangzhou, Chengdu), plus Milan, Italy and Melbourne, Australia — and through two proprietary online platforms: NihaoCafe for adult learners and NihaoKids for children. Course formats span intensive group classes (5 days/week), part-time group classes, 1-on-1 private classes, HSK preparation, and corporate training, supplemented by summer and winter immersion camps, a Chinese Visa Program (X2 visa sponsorship as a Ministry of Education-licensed institution), and homestay accommodation services.
The technology backbone is the NihaoCafe platform, which handles self-serve class booking, lesson review, digital whiteboards, vocabulary videos, and online instruction with native Chinese teachers; NihaoKids adds 1-on-1 lessons and 50+ educational games for young learners. Content assets include an 8-book illustrated textbook series aligned to HSK levels 1-4 and the proprietary Chinese Link Words memorization method. Teacher quality is gated by a 5% acceptance rate, with all instructors holding TCSOL/CTCSOL certifications.
The business model is a hybrid of subscription-recurring course fees (group and private), one-time camp and program fees, professional services (visa documentation, accommodation), and event-driven lead generation via cultural programming. GTM combines direct-to-consumer sales, freemium trial classes, corporate outreach, and a 200+ partner organization referral network. The company has taught 200,000+ students cumulatively and is officially licensed by the Chinese Ministry of Education and IALC member.
That's Mandarin firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- That's Mandarin
- Legal name
- That's Mandarin Chinese Language School
- Website
- https://thatsmandarin.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2005
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- That's Mandarin is a Chinese language education school founded in 2005 in Beijing, operating seven campuses across China, Italy, and Australia, plus proprietary online platforms NihaoCafe and NihaoKids serving adult and child learners worldwide.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
That's Mandarin industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Language Education
- NAICS
- Language Schools (61163)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- General Language Schools & Institutes (EDAMAFAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- General Language Schools (Multi-Language) (EDAIAEAA), Overseas Summer School Programs (Secondary) (EDAIAHAC), Language School Accommodation & Student Services (School-Provided) (EDAIAEAO)
Keywords
Where That's Mandarin is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Beijing
- HQ country
- China
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices7 records
Markets served
That's Mandarin business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Group Chinese Language Courses: Small group Chinese language instruction (4-8 students per class) for adult learners. Courses include Intensive Group (5 days/week) and Part-time Group (2 sessions/week). Revenue is generated through course fees charged per term or subscription period. Customizable content options (Speaking, HSK, Business Chinese) may command premium pricing.
- Private 1-on-1 Chinese Classes: One-on-one personalized Chinese instruction with flexible scheduling. Available for adults and children. Premium pricing compared to group courses due to dedicated teacher attention.
- Chinese Summer & Winter Camps: Immersive language and cultural programs for kids and teens held in Chinese cities. Since 2009, over 10,000 international students have participated. Program fees cover instruction, activities, and often accommodation.
- Corporate Chinese Training: Customized Chinese language training programs for businesses and organizations. Private/group classes with flexible scheduling. The company mentions working with global companies, schools, and organizations worldwide.
- Chinese Visa Program Services: As an officially licensed institution by the Chinese Ministry of Education, the school provides visa sponsorship documents for international students. This service supports enrollment in longer-term on-campus programs.
- Accommodation Services: Various accommodation options including homestay programs, which represent the most popular option for students seeking cultural immersion. Revenue from accommodation serves as an ancillary stream supporting the core educational services.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | One time | Free Open Classes for New Students |
| Subscription | Monthly | Group Courses (Intensive and Part-time) |
| Subscription | Monthly | Private 1-on-1 Classes |
| Unit Pricing | One time | Chinese Summer & Winter Camps |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Corporate Training Programs |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels6 records
That's Mandarin product offering
Product offeringCore offering
That's Mandarin is a Chinese language education school founded in 2005 in Beijing, delivering in-person Mandarin instruction at five Chinese campuses (Beijing, Shanghai, Suzhou, Hangzhou, Chengdu) and international campuses in Milan and Melbourne, plus online classes through its proprietary NihaoCafe platform. The school offers group courses (intensive and part-time), private 1-on-1 lessons, HSK preparation, corporate Chinese training, summer/winter camps for kids, and immersion programs. Supplementary offerings include student visa sponsorship, accommodation services (homestays), and proprietary textbooks/methodology.
Product overview
That's Mandarin operates as a multi-campus Chinese language education company with both in-person and online delivery. The core offering is That's Mandarin Chinese Language School, a leading Mandarin education institution with physical campuses in 5 Chinese cities (Beijing, Shanghai, Suzhou, Hangzhou, Chengdu) plus Milan and Melbourne. Online learning is enabled through the NihaoCafe platform (for adults) and NihaoKids platform (for children). The company offers various course formats: Intensive Group Classes (5 days/week), Part-Time Group Classes (2 days/week), and Private 1ON1 Classes with flexible scheduling. Supporting programs include HSK Preparation Courses, Corporate Chinese Training, Chinese Visa Program, and Adult Summer Immersion. For younger learners, the company runs Chinese Summer & Winter Camps, Teen Immersion Programs, China School Trips, and Private Classes for Kids. Educational content includes the Chinese for Beginners: Illustrated Textbook Series (8 books) and Chinese Link Words vocabulary memorization method. All programs are officially licensed by the Chinese Ministry of Education.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- NihaoCafe: Online Chinese learning platform created by That's Mandarin, allowing students to book and manage classes, review lessons, test their Chinese, and take online classes.
- NihaoKids
- Chinese Summer Camp
- China School Trip
Products and services
- Intensive Group Chinese Classes
Quantifiable outcome
- Accelerated learning: one month at That's Mandarin equals one semester at university
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use That's Mandarin
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles3 records
That's Mandarin technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration2 records
AI capability3 records
Feature4 records
That's Mandarin partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- International Association of Language Centres (IALC)coreOfficial member of IALC, an international association of language centres. This membership provides quality assurance recognition and access to a network of language learning institutions worldwide.
- Chinese Ministry of EducationcoreOfficially licensed by the Chinese Ministry of Education, ensuring highest standards in Chinese language education. This licensing enables the school to provide official documentation for student visas.
- CEIBS (China Europe International Business School)minorPartnership to provide Chinese language instruction for CEIBS MBA programme students.
- GoAbroadminorGoAbroad is an international education platform that recognizes top language schools through annual awards. That's Mandarin and NihaoCafe have received multiple Top Rated recognitions (2021-2025).
- Partner Organizations (200+)minorOver 200 partner organizations worldwide, including schools, agencies, and organizations that refer students to That's Mandarin programs. These partnerships support both on-campus and online learning programs.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
That's Mandarin competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- HelloChinese: Mobile-first Mandarin learning app with gamified lessons. Represents the low-cost, app-based alternative that competes for casual learners and could erode demand for entry-level paid courses.
- Italki: Global marketplace connecting language learners with online tutors including native Mandarin teachers. Competes for the online 1-on-1 segment of NihaoCafe at a different price point and with a broader teacher base.
- eChineseLearning: Online-only 1-on-1 Mandarin tutoring platform with native teachers. Overlaps with NihaoCafe/NihaoKids online private offerings and represents the digital-native threat to in-person immersion schools.
Direct peers
- GoEast Mandarin: Online and on-site (Shanghai, Shenzhen, Hangzhou) Mandarin school offering 1-on-1 and group classes plus HSK prep. Closely matches That's Mandarin's hybrid in-person + online GTM and course structure.
- Chinese Language Institute (CLI): Guangzhou-based immersive Mandarin program with strong online offering, small-group and 1-on-1 classes. Competes for adult international learners seeking study in China or online private lessons.
- Keats School: Kunming-based Mandarin school famous for small 1-on-1 intensive classes and teacher-training programs. Competes in the same small-group/private immersion segment for adult foreign learners in China.
- Mandarin House: Globally accredited Mandarin school (IALC member) with campuses in China and online delivery. Directly comparable in product mix (group, private, corporate, HSK) and target audience (adult international learners).
- LTL Mandarin School: Beijing-based Mandarin immersion school offering group, private, and HSK courses with on-campus homestay and cultural activities. Operates a similar teacher-led, immersion-focused model competing head-to-head for international students in China.
- Hutong School: China-based Mandarin school with immersion programs, homestay, and cultural activities in Beijing, Shanghai and Chengdu. Closely overlaps That's Mandarin on small-class immersion and adult + kids programs.
Broad incumbents
- Berlitz: Global language-training incumbent offering in-person and online corporate and individual Mandarin instruction. Competes primarily for the corporate-channel revenue and broader adult learner segment.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
That's Mandarin social profiles
Digital presenceThat's Mandarin compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
That's Mandarin financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
That's Mandarin leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
That's Mandarin subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
That's Mandarin funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
That's Mandarin 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 That's Mandarin
What does That's Mandarin do?
That's Mandarin is a Chinese language education school founded in 2005 in Beijing, delivering in-person Mandarin instruction at five Chinese campuses (Beijing, Shanghai, Suzhou, Hangzhou, Chengdu) and international campuses in Milan and Melbourne, plus online classes through its proprietary NihaoCafe platform. The school offers group courses (intensive and part-time), private 1-on-1 lessons, HSK preparation, corporate Chinese training, summer/winter camps for kids, and immersion programs. Supplementary offerings include student visa sponsorship, accommodation services (homestays), and proprietary textbooks/methodology.
Is That's Mandarin a public or private company?
That's Mandarin is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was That's Mandarin founded?
That's Mandarin was founded in 2005. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is That's Mandarin based?
That's Mandarin is headquartered in Beijing, China, in the Asia region.
How does That's Mandarin make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. Group Chinese Language Courses are the primary driver. The others are private 1-on-1 Chinese Classes, chinese Summer & Winter Camps, corporate Chinese Training, chinese Visa Program Services and accommodation Services.
Who are That's Mandarin's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are HelloChinese, Italki and eChineseLearning. Direct peers are GoEast Mandarin, Chinese Language Institute (CLI), Keats School, Mandarin House, LTL Mandarin School and Hutong School. Berlitz is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does That's Mandarin have an API?
No public API is recorded for That's Mandarin.
What industry is That's Mandarin in?
That's Mandarin's product category is Language Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAMAFAA, General Language Schools & Institutes, with a secondary code of EDAIAEAA, General Language Schools (Multi-Language). Its NAICS code is 61163 and its SIC code is 8200.