Diplomas are nice, but usable skills in a thriving industry is better, much better. That’s why online learning service Platzi has already managed to become profitable by taking a new approach to an old concept. Instead of helping people go through traditional educational programs, Platzi chooses to teach them skills that they can actually use in a job, specifically, technology related jobs.
A couple of things about online learning service Platzi immediately set it apart from the other companies in Y Combinator’s latest batch. First, it is from Latin America — Colombia to be precise. Second, it is profitable. That’s right, it’s already making money. Online learning is hardly a new concept, but two-year-old Platzi is taking a different approach that’s interesting for a couple of reasons. Rather than broadening the availability of the traditional education experience using the Internet, like most MOOC (massive open online course) services, it’s focused on developing tangible skills. It does lean on tradition, however, by replicating the classroom experience with live video classes. They also include a stream of notes from students, which are later gathered together to provide an overview of each session. Classes typically get 1,000-3,000 attendees, but those who miss out can replay the video, which shows the class notes being taken in real time.
