Qmarketing Academy

Qmarketing Academy is an educational platform (EdTech) launched in 2018, founded by former co-owner and marketing director of Qlean Roman Kumar Vias, Igor Vinidiktov [previously worked at MegaFon and Adidas) and Alexander Solovyov. The service offers courses for marketers, including training in creating advertising campaigns, Digital Strategy and analytics.

History

2021

Acquisition of 25% stake by Skyeng

Skyeng bought 25% of the Qmarketing Academy educational service with the possibility of increasing its share. This became known on November 25, 2021. The size of the transaction was not disclosed.

The company will build an online school into the vertical of professional education at Skypro Online University.

The deal will expand the Skypro product line and increase expertise in promoting educational courses and professions in the field of DPO.

The DPO market has great potential in Russia. We see this and that is why six months ago we launched Skypro Online University. We developed the strongest product expertise in the EdTech market thanks to the experience of Skyeng, but Skypro needed a partner with powerful expertise in marketing and sales. For us, partnership with Qmarketing is a synergy of product and marketing competencies. Together with the Qmarketing Academy team, we will be able to better promote and scale educational products, understand and use new knowledge in the DPO market. The Academy will develop with us, and in the future it will be able to integrate into Skypro, and we are pleased with this, "said Khariton Matveev, founder of Skyeng and CEO Skypro.

The examination of the Qmarketing Academy team in the DPO became a key factor in the decision to purchase a stake in the company when considering M&A the deal. The Qmarketing Academy team will move to Skypro, but by the end of the year the academy will continue to develop and promote existing products under its brand.

Roman Kumar Vias, Igor Vinidktov and Alexander Solovyov, the founders of the academy, will advise Skypro on best practices in promoting online adult education products.

"For the development of Qmarketing Academy in Russia, investments and a strong brand are needed. That's what Skyeng can give us. Most importantly, the mission and goals of Skyeng and Skypro are close to us ideologically. Skypro does not sacrifice product quality for sales and marketing, unlike other large players in the DPO market. It achieves the goals of students and brings the market to a different level. As of November 2021, Qmarketing Academy already brings together 2,500 students and 35 teaching practitioners. We offer seven, and in the future - ten popular professions in the labor market. Merging with Skypro will allow Qmarketing Academy to use the capabilities and tools of an online university. Together, we will make the adult education market even more useful and accessible throughout the country, "said Roman Kumar Vias, founder of Qmarketing Academy.

Skypro plans to adapt Qmarketing Academy course programs and methodological manuals to its platform. Teaching staff and approaches to learning will continue. Qmarketing Academy students integrate seamlessly: their studies will continue on the Skypro platform.

Attracting $550,000 of investments

On June 16, 2021, Qmarketing Academy announced the attraction of $550 thousand in investments from the Genesis Investments fund and an unnamed private investor. The terms of financing have not been announced, as well as the estimated value of the startup.

According to TAdviser at Qmarketing Academy, the company will spend the funds raised for development in Southeast Asian countries: in Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia. The founders of Qmarketing Academy plan to launch marketing and design courses with adaptation to local markets, as well as basic courses for novice IT specialists.

Founders of the educational platform Qmarketing Academy

Qmarketing Academy effectively closes the growing need for digital marketing and design professionals. The startup has already successfully tested the business model and product in the Eastern European market and can now apply its experience in the emerging EdTech markets of Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines, "said Vitaly Laptenok, managing partner of Genesis Investments, commenting on investing in the project.

By June 2021, about 5 thousand students study at Qmarketing Academy. The cost of courses is on average 117 thousand rubles and depends on the duration of the program. The project works in Russia and the CIS countries. According to Qmarketing Academy co-founder Kumar Vias, the platform "shows the highest growth rates not only in the EdTech market, but also in the e-commerce, fintech and gaming industries."