Software University
Software University (SoftUni) is a Bulgarian EdTech company founded in 2013 that delivers software engineering, AI, and IT upskilling programs to career changers, IT professionals, and beginners, serving over 500,000 course participants across Bulgaria, Romania, and global markets.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2013
- HeadquartersSofia, Bulgaria
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Software University does
Software University (SoftUni) is a privately held educational technology company founded in 2013 and headquartered in Sofia, Bulgaria, operating as Bulgaria's largest IT training platform with over 500,000 cumulative course participants and approximately 30% penetration of Bulgaria's software industry workforce. The company delivers software engineering, AI/ML, data engineering, DevOps, cybersecurity, and adjacent technology education through a central learning management system (SoftUni Platform) that supports live and recorded video lessons, automated code evaluation via the proprietary SoftUni Judge system (which has processed over 25 million submissions), and community-driven mentorship. Its portfolio spans core programs (Software Engineer with Python/JavaScript, AI Engineer with Python, Data Engineer with Python, AI-First QA Engineer), upskill modules (AI/ML, DevOps/Cloud, Cyber Security, C++/C#/Java Development), more than 2,000 individual open courses, and seven sub-brands including SoftUni AI, SoftUni Digital, SoftUni Creative, SoftUni Foundation, SoftUni Global, Finance Academy, and СофтУни БУДИТЕЛ (a private IT high school).
The business model combines a freemium acquisition funnel (free introductory programming basics courses) with paid subscription and one-time programs priced between €63 per month and €420 one-time, plus EU-valid state-recognized professional certificates issued through its licensed vocational training center (SoftUni ЦПО, licensed by НАПОО). Distribution is primarily self-serve through softuni.bg with corporate partnerships spanning over 100 technology companies for curriculum alignment, mentorship, and employment pathways. The company claims a 97% graduate employment rate. Geographic footprint covers Bulgaria as the core market, Romania since 2020, and SoftUni Global for broader international expansion. Leadership transitioned in January 2023 with Ekaterina Temelkova appointed CEO, succeeding co-founder Ivan Nenkov who moved to a Board role, alongside co-founders Svetlin Nakov and Hristo Tenchev. No external institutional investors, private equity, or venture capital backing is disclosed.
Software University firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Software University
- Legal name
- Software University LTD
- Website
- https://softuni.bg
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2013
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Software University (SoftUni) is a Bulgarian EdTech company founded in 2013 that delivers software engineering, AI, and IT upskilling programs to career changers, IT professionals, and beginners, serving over 500,000 course participants across Bulgaria, Romania, and global markets.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Software University industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Professional IT Education and Training
- NAICS
- Computer Training (61142), Computer Training (611420), Business Schools and Computer and Management Training (6114)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Software Development (Programming, Frameworks, Dev Tools) (EDABAFAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Software Engineering & Application Development Training (Languages, Frameworks, Testing) (BPAEANAI), Information Technology & Software (EDAAAPAB), QA, Test Automation & Software Quality (Manual/Automated Testing, Performance) (EDABAFAL)
Keywords
Where Software University is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Sofia
- HQ country
- Bulgaria
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Software University business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Others
Revenue model
- Paid Course and Program Enrollment: Revenue from structured educational programs and individual courses. Programs include comprehensive curricula spanning multiple months with multiple courses. Payment options include one-time payment or monthly installments.
- Free Introductory Courses: Free programming basics courses serve as top-of-funnel acquisition to paid programs. These enable students to try programming before committing to paid education.
- Professional Certification: State-recognized professional certification through the licensed vocational training center (CPE), providing government-recognized credentials valid across the European Union.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Python Development module - 32 weeks, 3 courses |
| Subscription | Monthly | AI-First Programming module - 24 weeks |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Product Management course - 7 weeks |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | AI for Cybersecurity course - 6 weeks |
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Introductory Programming Basics courses |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | C++ Development Upskill program - 7 months, 4 courses |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Software University product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Software University (SoftUni) is a private for-profit educational technology company that delivers structured software engineering and IT training programs through its online learning platform. Its core offering includes comprehensive, multi-month professional programs in software development, AI/ML, data engineering, DevOps, cybersecurity, and QA, supplemented by a catalog of over 2,000 individual courses, free introductory programming courses, and state-recognized professional certifications issued via its licensed vocational training center (СофтУни ЦПО).
Product overview
Software University operates a multi-brand educational technology platform composed of a central LMS (SoftUni Platform) that delivers dozens of interconnected programs and over 2000 individual courses. The primary brand, Software University (Софтуерно инженерство), offers comprehensive software engineering programs organized by technology track: Software Engineer with Python, AI Engineer with Python, Data Engineer with Python, Software Engineer with JavaScript, AI-First QA Engineer, plus upskill programs in AI and Machine Learning, Data Engineering and Analytics, DevOps and Cloud, Cyber Security and Ethical Hacking, System Administration and Networks, C++ Development, C# Development, Java Development, and QA Automation. The Python Development module bundles Python Fundamentals, Python Advanced, and Python OOP. The AI-First Programming module is notable for its innovative vibe-coding approach using generative AI tools (Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Claude Code). The platform also hosts the open courses catalog, SoftUni Judge (an automated code evaluation system with 25M+ submissions processed), and hundreds of free seminars. Surrounding the core platform are sub-brands: SoftUni AI (AI skills), SoftUni Digital (digital marketing), SoftUni Creative (design), СофтУни БУДИТЕЛ (private IT high school), Finance Academy (finance education), SoftUni Foundation (free open-license content), and SoftUni Global (international expansion). SoftUni ЦПО is the licensed professional training arm issuing state-recognized certificates under Bulgarian law.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- SoftUni Foundation: Non-profit organization developing and distributing free educational content under open license
- SoftUni Digital
- SoftUni Creative
- SoftUni AI
- СофтУни БУДИТЕЛ
- Finance Academy
- SoftUni Global
Products and services
- Software Engineering Program (Софтуерно инженерство) Flagship comprehensive software engineering program covering multiple technology tracks (Python, JavaScript, C#, Java), databases, web development, DevOps, QA, and professional skills. Leads to state-recognized certificates and is targeted at beginners through career changers seeking professional software engineering roles.
- Software Engineer with Python End-to-end Python-focused software engineering program covering Python fundamentals, advanced Python, OOP, web development with Python, and DevOps. Designed to produce job-ready Python developers and is targeted at aspiring professional developers.
- AI Engineer with Python Comprehensive AI and machine learning engineering program focused on Python, covering AI fundamentals, machine learning, deep learning, and applied AI development. Targeted at learners aiming for AI engineering roles.
- Data Engineer with Python Python-focused data engineering program covering data pipelines, ETL processes, databases, data warehousing, and analytics. Targeted at learners pursuing data engineering roles.
- Software Engineer with JavaScript Full-stack JavaScript development program covering front-end (React), back-end (Node.js), web core technologies, and JavaScript frameworks. Targeted at aspiring full-stack JavaScript developers.
- AI-First QA Engineer QA engineering program with a heavy emphasis on AI tools and AI-assisted testing, combining manual and automated QA with modern AI practices. Targeted at learners pursuing QA engineering roles.
- QA Engineering Program (QA инженерство)
Quantifiable outcome
- 97% of graduates secure IT employment after completing their studies
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Software University
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments7 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Software University technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
Feature1 record
Software University partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor.
- XS SoftwareminorTechnology company partner listed among SoftUni's corporate partners for collaboration in education and employment pathways
- SuperHosting.BGminorBulgarian hosting company partner providing industry collaboration and potential employment opportunities for graduates
- IndeavrminorTechnology company partner collaborating with SoftUni for education and industry alignment
- Post Bank (Пощенска Банка)minorFinancial institution partner providing industry connections and potential employment for graduates
- Coca-Cola HBC BulgariaminorCorporate partner collaborating with SoftUni for talent development and employment pathways
- CreateXminorTechnology company partner listed among SoftUni's corporate partnership network
- AmbitionedminorTechnology company partner collaborating with SoftUni for education and industry alignment
- Encorp.aiminorAI-focused technology company partner in SoftUni's ecosystem
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves12 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Software University competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Le Wagon: Global coding bootcamp operating in 40+ cities across Europe, Asia, and Latin America offering full-stack web development and data science bootcamps with similar career-changer positioning and employer partnership model.
- Code Institute: Online coding bootcamp offering full-stack software development programs with mentor support and career services, comparable in delivery model (online, mentor-led, structured curriculum) and learner outcomes focus.
- Codecademy: Online, self-paced programming education platform with freemium courses, interactive coding environments, and career tracks — most direct digital-only comparable for SoftUni's self-serve online learning and free introductory programming basics.
- Ironhack: Global bootcamp offering web development, data analytics, UX/UI, and cybersecurity courses with career services across Europe, the Americas, and online — directly comparable in format, audience, and employer-driven placement outcomes.
- Telerik Academy: Bulgaria-based software training and career-switching program (now part of Progress), offering structured software engineering, QA, and DevOps tracks with employer partnerships — the most direct local competitor to SoftUni for the same Bulgarian career-changer segment.
Broad incumbents
- Udemy: Massive open online course marketplace with a broad catalog of programming, IT, AI, and cybersecurity courses — competes on price and breadth across many of SoftUni's individual-course segments.
- Coursera: Global online learning platform partnering with universities and tech companies (Google, IBM, Meta) for professional certificates and degrees — competes for the same IT upskilling and career-changer audience with credentialed programs.
- Pluralsight: Technology skills platform offering video courses, skill assessments, and learning paths for IT professionals — directly comparable in audience (IT professionals seeking upskilling) and content format (video-based, skill assessments).
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Software University social profiles
Digital presenceSoftware University compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Software University financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Software University leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Software University subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries7 records
Software University funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Software University 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 Software University
What does Software University do?
Software University (SoftUni) is a private for-profit educational technology company that delivers structured software engineering and IT training programs through its online learning platform. Its core offering includes comprehensive, multi-month professional programs in software development, AI/ML, data engineering, DevOps, cybersecurity, and QA, supplemented by a catalog of over 2,000 individual courses, free introductory programming courses, and state-recognized professional certifications issued via its licensed vocational training center (СофтУни ЦПО).
Is Software University a public or private company?
Software University is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Software University founded?
Software University was founded in 2013. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Software University based?
Software University is headquartered in Sofia, Bulgaria, in the Europe region.
How does Software University make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Paid Course and Program Enrollment is the primary driver. The others are free Introductory Courses and professional Certification.
Who are Software University's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Le Wagon, Code Institute, Codecademy, Ironhack and Telerik Academy. Broad incumbents are Udemy, Coursera and Pluralsight.
Does Software University have an API?
No public API is recorded for Software University.
What industry is Software University in?
Software University's product category is Professional IT Education and Training. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDABAFAA, Software Development (Programming, Frameworks, Dev Tools), with a secondary code of BPAEANAI, Software Engineering & Application Development Training (Languages, Frameworks, Testing). Its NAICS code is 61142 and its SIC code is 8200.