Cobo
Cobo (上海功途) is a Shanghai-based enterprise E-Learning SaaS provider, founded in 2002, operating the ELAFS cloud platform with tiered subscriptions (¥0–¥52/user/month) across PC, mobile, and WeChat. It serves primarily Chinese financial services, pharmaceutical, and high-tech enterprises with learning, examination, and training management tools.
- Company typePublic
- Founded2002
- HeadquartersShanghai, China
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What Cobo does
Shanghai Gongtu Education Technology Co., Ltd. (Cobo / 上海功途), founded in 2002 and headquartered in Shanghai, is one of the earliest enterprise E-Learning cloud service providers in China. The company operates the ELAFS (Enterprise Learning Application Full Service) platform — a SaaS-based learning management system first launched in 2006 — delivering online learning, online examinations, surveys and 360-degree evaluations, face-to-face and blended training management, live virtual classroom, course store, and training vendor management across PC, mobile app (ShiXi / 时习), and WeChat access points under a unified backend. The platform is organized into four pricing tiers ranging from a free version (¥0/user/month) through Professional (¥13), Enterprise (¥26), and Unlimited (¥52) per user per month billed annually, supplemented by professional services for implementation, customization, content conversion, and integration with enterprise systems including SAP, Oracle, Microsoft, IBM, UFIDA, Kingdee, and multiple Chinese eHR vendors.
Cobo monetizes through tiered annual SaaS subscriptions, professional services, and custom course development, with a channel partner/reseller program complementing direct enterprise sales. Its customer base is anchored in Chinese financial services (Guotai Junan Securities, CITIC Securities, Everbright Securities, Huaxia Fund, CITIC Futures, China Universal Trust, among others), with additional penetration in pharmaceutical (Wyeth Nutrition) and high-tech (Ricoh China, Fujifilm China, UTStarcom) industries. The company reports 390K+ platform users, 5,935 standard courses, 43,089 customer courses, and 15,200K+ minutes of learning activity, alongside a stated customer retention rate exceeding 95% and continuous platform operation since 2006 without information security complaints. Cobo listed on China's New Third Board (NEEQ) in 2016 under stock code 836974, making it one of the earliest E-Learning cloud service companies to go public on that exchange.
Cobo firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Cobo
- Legal name
- 上海功途教育科技股份有限公司
- Website
- https://cobocn.com
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 2002
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Cobo (上海功途) is a Shanghai-based enterprise E-Learning SaaS provider, founded in 2002, operating the ELAFS cloud platform with tiered subscriptions (¥0–¥52/user/month) across PC, mobile, and WeChat. It serves primarily Chinese financial services, pharmaceutical, and high-tech enterprises with learning, examination, and training management tools.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Cobo industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Enterprise Learning Management Software
- NAICS
- Professional and Management Development Training (61143)
- SIC
- Services-Prepackaged Software (7372), Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Assessment-Integrated eLearning & Practice Modules (EDAGAEAE)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Live Class & Webinar Marketplaces/Directories (EDAFAIAE)
Keywords
Where Cobo is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Shanghai
- HQ country
- China
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices1 record
Markets served
Cobo business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- SaaS Subscription - Tiered Plans: Annual subscription-based revenue model with four tiers: Free (¥0/user/month), Professional (¥13/user/month), Enterprise (¥26/user/month), and Unlimited (¥52/user/month). Revenue is recurring from annual subscriptions with tiered feature access.
- Professional Services: Implementation, customization, training, and ongoing support services provided to enterprise clients, including project implementation, administrator support, training and exchange services.
- Course Content Services: Custom course development services and course conversion services for enterprise clients, including video course conversion, standard course customization, and high-end course customization.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Monthly | Free Version - For small businesses, basic online learning |
| Subscription | Annual | Professional Version - Full online learning and exam capabilities |
| Subscription | Annual | Enterprise Version - Comprehensive training management |
| Subscription | Annual | Unlimited Version - Full customization for large enterprises |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Cobo product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Cobo develops and operates ELAFS (Enterprise Learning Application Full Service), a cloud-based enterprise E-Learning SaaS platform with 11 core modules and over 100 functions covering online learning, online examinations, surveys and 360-degree evaluations, classroom/blended training management, live virtual classroom, and a third-party course store. The platform is delivered via PC, the ShiXi mobile learning app, and an integrated WeChat learning experience under a unified backend with real-time data synchronization, targeting enterprise customers with tiered subscription plans from free to unlimited tiers.
Product overview
Cobo operates a platform-plus-modules architecture centered on the ELAFS (Enterprise Learning Application Full Service) cloud platform, launched in 2006. The core platform provides over 100 functions across 11 core modules including online learning, online examination, survey and assessment, face-to-face training management, blended training, virtual classroom (直播课堂), course store, and training vendor management. The platform is accessible via PC, the 时习 (ShiXi) mobile app, and the ELAFS微信学习 WeChat integration module, all under unified backend management with real-time data synchronization. Cobo offers four platform tiers — 免费版 (Free), 专业版 (Professional at ¥13/user/month), 企业版 (Enterprise at ¥26/user/month), and 无限制版 (Unlimited at ¥52/user/month) — each adding progressively more capabilities including instructor management, 360-degree evaluation, hybrid training, unlimited storage, E-HR integration, and custom development. Complementing the software, Cobo provides integrated course store services aggregating third-party courses and custom E-Learning course development services (ELAFS课程转化服务) that convert enterprise documents, videos, and training materials into structured online courses. Additional service offerings include project implementation, administrator support, training and exchange programs, and system integration and custom development services for enterprise OA, eHR, ERP, and CRM systems.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- 时习: Mobile learning APP for enterprise training, supporting Android and iPhone, enabling anytime anywhere learning
Products and services
- ELAFS Cloud Platform (ELAFS云平台) Cloud-based enterprise E-Learning SaaS platform offering over 100 functions across 11 core modules covering online learning, online examinations, surveys, 360-degree evaluation, classroom training management, blended training, live virtual classroom, course store, and training vendor management. Accessible via PC, mobile, and WeChat with unified backend management.
- ShiXi Mobile Learning App (时习) A mobile learning app for Android and iPhone providing enterprise mobile learning capabilities on top of the ELAFS cloud platform. Supports offline learning, encrypted course packages, offline exams, and real-time data sync with the PC platform.
- ELAFS WeChat Learning (ELAFS微信学习) WeChat learning solution that integrates with enterprise WeChat public accounts and WeChat Work, enabling employees to receive E-Learning notifications, process learning tasks, approve training requests, and sign in to face-to-face sessions directly from WeChat.
- ELAFS Course Store (ELAFS课程商店) A course marketplace within the ELAFS platform that aggregates courses from multiple third-party course suppliers (NYIF, Winno Technology, Hi-Finance, Caixing Education, Chainshine Financial Training, Shanghai Yixiang), enabling enterprises to browse, select, and purchase standardized E-Learning courses with pre-installed and tested promotional materials.
- ELAFS Course Conversion Services (ELAFS课程转化服务) Custom E-Learning course development services that convert enterprise documents, training materials, and face-to-face courses into online courses. Includes graphic-text course conversion, video course conversion, standard course customization, and high-end scenario-based course development.
- ELAFS Integration and Custom Development Services (ELAFS集成和定制开发服务) System integration and custom development services enabling ELAFS to connect with enterprise OA, eHR, financial, ERP, and CRM systems. Includes free standard API interfaces for self-service integration and paid custom development services for the Unlimited tier. Successfully integrated with Microsoft, Oracle, IBM, SAP, UFIDA, Kingdee, Jiayang, Wangu, Dingdian, Jinshida, and Jinzheng.
- ELAFS Project Implementation Services (ELAFS项目实施服务) Professional E-Learning project implementation services delivered by ELAFS experts with over a decade of industry experience, covering system launch planning, content inventory, process design, and end-user training.
- ELAFS Administrator Support Services (ELAFS管理员支持服务) Administrator support services providing training administrators with project lifecycle guidance, feasibility recommendations, implementation tracking, and system issue resolution throughout training project execution.
- ELAFS Training and Exchange Services (ELAFS培训与交流服务) Training and exchange services covering platform, course, and application technology topics, delivered through face-to-face training, online seminars, industry forums, and self-paced learning courses.
Quantifiable outcome
- Customer retention rate exceeds 95%
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Cobo
Customer profileNamed customers13 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles6 records
Cobo technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration10 records
Feature7 records
Cobo partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- New York Institute of Finance (纽约金融学院)coreCourse partnership vendor and face-to-face training cooperation institution. Founded in 1922 and originated from NYSE, NYIF has developed into the 'West Point' of financial training. Provides professional training services in securities, banking, insurance, funds, futures and other financial sectors, recognized by major international financial institutions.
- Winno Technology (赢诺科技)coreCourse partnership vendor specializing in providing online training system planning, curriculum system planning, custom course development, and general course resource library construction for financial, electric power, and mobile communication industries. Known for creative animation learning courses.
- Shanghai Yixiang (上海怡翔)coreProfessional custom training course company using innovative course design concepts, creativity, and resource integration capabilities to provide enterprises with integrated consulting, training, and multimedia technology solutions. Has served many multinational corporations and large state-owned enterprises.
- Hi-FinancecoreFocuses on financial practice areas, providing a one-stop financial knowledge learning platform. Has leading financial practice course system covering investment banking, equity investment, venture capital, financial modeling, corporate valuation, asset securitization, and more. Serves nearly 200 major financial institutions including Guotai Junan, Huatai Securities, CITIC Securities.
- Caixing Education (财星教育)minorWell-known financial securities training institution in China offering CFA, FRM, securities, futures, insurance, banking, fund qualification courses. Positioned for financial industry practitioners providing series education from onboarding to continuing development.
- Chainshine Financial Training (诚迅金融培训)minorFace-to-face training cooperation institution established in Beijing in 1998, providing financial business analysis operation skills training for financial institutions, listed companies, large state-owned enterprises, and financial regulators. Trainers have worked at Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, JPMorgan, Lehman Brothers, Citigroup.
- Shanghai Jiayang (上海嘉扬)coreeHR cooperation partner. Since 1995, Jiayang has focused on providing comprehensive e-HR business suites for enterprises. The e-HR platform enables integration with ELAFS for organizational structure and personnel data synchronization.
- MicrosoftcoreEnterprise system integration partner. ELAFS has been successfully integrated with Microsoft systems as part of standard integration capabilities.
- OraclecoreEnterprise system integration partner. ELAFS has been successfully integrated with Oracle systems as part of standard integration capabilities.
- IBMcoreEnterprise system integration partner. ELAFS has been successfully integrated with IBM systems as part of standard integration capabilities.
- UFIDA (用友)coreEnterprise system integration partner. ELAFS has been successfully integrated with UFIDA systems as part of standard integration capabilities.
- Kingdee (金蝶)coreEnterprise system integration partner. ELAFS has been successfully integrated with Kingdee systems as part of standard integration capabilities.
- SAPcoreEnterprise system integration partner. ELAFS has been successfully integrated with SAP systems as part of standard integration capabilities.
Scale indicators11 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Cobo competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Skillsoft: Skillsoft is a broad incumbent in enterprise learning, providing both LMS technology (Percipio) and an extensive owned content library across leadership, technology, and compliance. Compared to Cobo, it serves a similar enterprise training mission but with a stronger owned-content moat and global enterprise positioning.
- NetEase Cloud Classroom / 企业学习 (NetEase Enterprise Training): NetEase's enterprise learning initiatives extend its consumer-facing NetEase Cloud Classroom into B2B corporate training with strong content distribution and brand. As a large incumbent with deeper resources than Cobo, it represents a Chinese-market competitor with broader content catalogs and larger R&D capacity.
Direct peers
- Docebo: Docebo is a leading global AI-powered learning management SaaS platform serving enterprise customers across verticals with tiered subscription pricing and a course marketplace model. Compared to Cobo, it offers a comparable multi-tier SaaS LMS structure and similar enterprise customer base, though at global scale.
- Cornerstone OnDemand: Cornerstone OnDemand is an established enterprise talent and learning management platform with deep HR integration to enterprise systems of record (similar to Cobo's SAP/Oracle/UFIDA/Kingdee integrations). Its focus on regulated industries and enterprise compliance training makes it a functional analog of ELAFS at larger scale and broader geography.
- TalentLMS: TalentLMS is a cloud LMS platform offering tiered subscription pricing, course marketplace, and integration capability for SMB and mid-market customers globally. Like Cobo, it packages tiered subscriptions (Starter, Basic, Pro, Enterprise) with progressive feature unlock, serving as a comparable SaaS LMS business model.
- 360Learning: 360Learning is a collaborative learning platform that combines LMS functionality with course authoring and peer learning for mid-market and enterprise buyers. It overlaps with Cobo's blended-training, micro-course authoring, and survey/360-evaluation modules at a similar customer segment.
- Degreed: Degreed is a learning experience platform (LXP) that aggregates content from multiple providers and integrates with enterprise HCM systems. Its content-marketplace-plus-integration approach mirrors ELAFS's course marketplace and SAP/Oracle/UFIDA integration strategy.
- 平安知鸟 (Ping An Zhiniao): Ping An Zhiniao is the enterprise learning and training platform operated under Ping An Group, focused on financial-services training and broader corporate learning. It competes directly with ELAFS in the financial vertical and benefits from Ping An's enterprise distribution across banks, insurance, and asset management.
- 云学堂 (YunxueTang / CloudGate iHuman): YunxueTang is one of the largest Chinese enterprise learning SaaS vendors, offering LMS, course marketplace, and corporate training services to large Chinese enterprises. It is the most direct head-to-head competitor to Cobo in the China enterprise LMS market, serving overlapping verticals and customer sizes.
Emerging players
- iSpring: iSpring provides LMS and eLearning authoring tools used by mid-market enterprises globally. While more focused on authoring and corporate compliance training content delivery, its tiered SaaS LMS model and integration story make it a comparable emerging LMS player.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Cobo social profiles
Digital presenceCobo financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Cobo leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Cobo funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Cobo 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 Cobo
What does Cobo do?
Cobo develops and operates ELAFS (Enterprise Learning Application Full Service), a cloud-based enterprise E-Learning SaaS platform with 11 core modules and over 100 functions covering online learning, online examinations, surveys and 360-degree evaluations, classroom/blended training management, live virtual classroom, and a third-party course store. The platform is delivered via PC, the ShiXi mobile learning app, and an integrated WeChat learning experience under a unified backend with real-time data synchronization, targeting enterprise customers with tiered subscription plans from free to unlimited tiers.
Is Cobo a public or private company?
Cobo is a public company. It is classified as public and is currently operating.
When was Cobo founded?
Cobo was founded in 2002. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Cobo based?
Cobo is headquartered in Shanghai, China, in the Asia region.
How does Cobo make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. SaaS Subscription - Tiered Plans are the primary driver. The others are professional Services and course Content Services.
Who are Cobo's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Skillsoft and NetEase Cloud Classroom / 企业学习 (NetEase Enterprise Training). Direct peers are Docebo, Cornerstone OnDemand, TalentLMS, 360Learning, Degreed, 平安知鸟 (Ping An Zhiniao) and 云学堂 (YunxueTang / CloudGate iHuman). iSpring is listed as an emerging player.
Does Cobo have an API?
No public API is recorded for Cobo.
What industry is Cobo in?
Cobo's product category is Enterprise Learning Management Software. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAGAEAE, Assessment-Integrated eLearning & Practice Modules, with a secondary code of EDAFAIAE, Live Class & Webinar Marketplaces/Directories. Its NAICS code is 61143 and its SIC code is 7372.