TutorVista
Private | |
Industry | Internet, e-learning |
Founded | Bangalore, Karnataka, India in November 2005 |
Headquarters | Bangalore, Karnataka, India |
Products | Online Tutoring |
Website | tutorvista.com |
TutorVista Global Private Limited is an online tutoring company owned by Pearson geared towards students in grades through high school.[1] It relies on a combination of voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) telephony, instant messaging, a toll-free fax number (allowing review of printed materials), and an electronic blackboard.[1] TutorVista’s operations are entirely located in India, but most of its market is abroad.[2] The company primarily provides academic help by paid subscription to students in English, mathematics, and the sciences.
History
TutorVista was founded in 2005 by Krishnan Ganesh and Meena Ganesh.[3] Other founding contributors included Srinivas Anumolu, Louise Kumar, and Ravi Kannan. In 2006, Sequoia Capital India and Lightspeed Venture Partners invested more than $10 million in TutorVista.[4] The company grew with the acquisition of Edurite, an educational firm in 2007[5] and a partnership with American Book Company in 2009.[6] In 2011, Pearson increased a smaller stake to a 76% majority stake in TutorVista for $127 million[7] and fully acquired it by buying the remaining 20% stake in 2013. At this point Krishnan Ganesh and Meena Ganesh stepped down from all management roles in the Bangalore-based company and Srikanth Iyer was appointed the new CEO.[8]
Criticism
The Economist has suggested that building trust for an unknown Indian brand was the biggest difficulty faced by the company.[9] There have also been several protests in the United States against those organizations that do not allow face-to-face and personalized tutoring. Officials and parents from both local and national bodies have mixed reactions regarding the ethical and practical implications of this trend.[10] In the UK it is estimated that 1 in 4 students is now tutored outside school, with offshore tutoring companies increasingly entering the market.[11]
References
- 1 2 Soumya Srinagesh. "Outsourced tutors just an ocean away". CNN News. Archived from the original on 2012-07-13.
- ↑ "The Evolving Indian Offshore Services Environment: Greater Breadth, Depth, and Scope" (PDF).
- ↑ http://www.vccircle.com/news/healthcare-services/2013/07/18/tutorvista-founders-krishnan-meena-ganesh-venture-healthcare
- ↑ "Sequoia to put in $3 million in TutorVista". The Times Of India. 20 December 2006.
- ↑ http://www.thehindubusinessline.in/2007/11/23/stories/2007112351680400.htm
- ↑ http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20070417005391/en/TutorVista-American-Book-Company-Link-Provide-Free
- ↑ http://www.theguardian.com/business/2011/jan/18/pearson-tutorvista-india
- ↑ http://www.business-standard.com/article/companies/pearson-ups-stake-in-tutorvista-to-own-100-113022400239_1.html
- ↑ "The outsourcerer". The Economist. 23 June 2007.
- ↑ "Online Tutoring and the Offshoring of Education" (PDF).
- ↑ Henry, Julie (22 January 2012). "Facebook generation fuels boom in online tutors". The Daily Telegraph (London).