More than six years after being launched by Open University to offer massive open online courses, FutureLearn has raised its first external funding from Seek Group.

FutureLearn, the UK-based massive open online courses provider set up by Open University (OU), obtained £50m ($65m) in funding yesterday from online education and recruitment firm Seek Group.
Seek Group now owns a 50% stake in the business, with the other half retained by OU. The university and Seek Group have put contractual arrangements into place to protect the former’s academic independence, teaching methods and curriculum.
Founded in 2012, FutureLearn operates a digital education platform offering short courses, in-depth programs and full degrees from dozens of institutions around the world, such as Oxford, Tel Aviv, Monash and Purdue universities.
The platform has also partnered a range of other organisations, such as the British Film Institute, Amnesty International, Macmillan Education and Cambridge University Press to give access to specialist expertise.
FutureLearn has grown to more than 9 million users since it launched its pilot offering in 2013. The spinout will use the capital to develop additional courses and qualifications, including expanding its range of full degrees and micro-credentials.
Simon Nelson, chief executive of FutureLearn, said: “Open University’s vision and investment, the hard work of our staff and support of our partners, has seen FutureLearn grow rapidly in the past six years.
“The investment announced today will enable us to unlock FutureLearn’s true potential and extend our global reach and impact.”

Thierry Heles

Thierry Heles is the former editor-at-large of Global University Venturing and Global Corporate Venturing, and was the producer and host of the Beyond the Breakthrough podcast until December 2024.