SoftBank is among the investors in line for an exit as the online tutoring platform files for an initial public offering in the US with a $100m placeholder figure.

Zhangmen, a China-based one-to-one tutoring services provider backed by telecommunications group SoftBank, has filed for an initial public offering using a $100m placeholder figure.

The company is seeking a listing on the New York Stock Exchange, where it hopes to trade under the symbol ZME.

Founded in 2005, Zhangmen initially offered after-school lessons in classrooms but later pivoted to providing online courses and one-to-one tutoring.

Zhangmen secured a total of $1.1bn in equity financing, it said in its filing.

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.