MOOC platform Coursera announced that it has closed part of a Series C round. The first closing totalled $49.5 million led by New Enterprise Associates (NEA) and joined by Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers (KPCB), International Finance Corporation (IFC), and Times Internet (TIL).
Coursera expects to add on an additional $10.1 million from GSV Asset Management and Learn Capital, others in a second closing later this fall.
With the new investment Coursera will be focusing on international expansion and sees potential growth markets in emerging economies in Latin America, China, and India. Already today three-quarters of platform users come from outside the U.S with China being the largest market with over 1 million registered learners.
Beside being a new investor in the platform, Times Internet will also provide marketing, advertising, and strategic support to build awareness for Coursera’s offering in India.
Coursera is set to focus on lifelong learners as well as helping learners to advance in their careers and acquire the skills necessary in today’s workforce. According to Coursera it currently offers 1,100 courses, has nearly 15 million learners, half of whom seek to improve their career or livelihood.
As a consequence, Coursera intends to more than double its Specialization offerings this fall.