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Kirill Bigai

CEO & co-founder of Preply.com

Kirill Bigai is the CEO and co-founder of Preply.com, a global language learning marketplace that connects tutors with learners worldwide.1 He has been leading Preply since its inception in August 2012, overseeing its growth to become one of the largest online language learning platforms.12

Professional Background

Bigai's experience includes:

  • CEO & Co-founder at Preply.com (August 2012 - Present): Under his leadership, Preply has grown to have over 50,000 tutors and millions of learners globally.1
  • Founding Member of Edtech Founders Club (May 2021 - Present).1
  • Previous roles in technology and telecommunications, including positions at Creatio and MTS Group.1

Education

  • Specialist in Telecommunications Engineering from the National Technical University of Ukraine 'Kyiv Polytechnic Institute' (2003-2009).1
  • Master's in Business Management from Kyiv National Economic University (2009-2012).1

Company Growth and Achievements

Under Bigai's leadership, Preply has experienced significant growth:

  • The company has expanded to over 500 employees across multiple locations, including New York, Barcelona, and Kyiv.2
  • Preply secured a $50 million Series C funding round in July 2022, despite challenging circumstances during the war in Ukraine.3
  • The company has seen a tenfold increase in revenues over three years and has become a leader in the online language tutoring segment globally.1

Bigai is known for his focus on integrating AI into language learning and for fostering a culture of experimentation and data-driven decision-making at Preply.12

Highlights

Feb 15 · linkedin

Techstars and, specifically, Jens Lapinski, Semyon Dukach, Brian Daly, and of course, David Cohen, have played a huge role in our journey in 2015.

It was a real pleasure to speak to Dave and dive into Preply's growth, geographical expansion, and pivots over the years.

If you're a founder and thinking about this program, I couldn't give it a higher recommendation. And remember to #givefirst

Oct 25 · linkedin

Today is a truly great day for Preply.

I'm so proud to unveil our full rebrand that gives the company an entirely new visual identity across all assets.

This is not just a fresh coat of paint.

What's become clear through the work of the past few months is how deeply rooted this process is in our broader commitment to invest in what makes Preply unique. The brand idea of “practice makes possible” sits at the heart of our new identity and speaks to the world of opportunity that opens up from being able to speak a new language. It recognizes that true progress comes from immersion, repetition, and continued practice.

As we continue to deliver on our uniquely powerful formula of combining a human tutor, super-powered by AI, we believe that our new brand will create a truly best-in-class experience for tutors and learners. Our unfailing goal is to best serve the millions of people who dream of learning a new language and unlocking potential in their personal and professional lives.

Huge congratulations to Sofia Tavares who I'm thrilled to officially welcome as Chief Brand Officer and who has led this effort internally over the past months.

Read our story to explore more about our brand: https://lnkd.in/e47ZCpNP

#edtech #languagelearning #rebrand #startup

Related Questions

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What are some key achievements of Preply under Kirill Bigai's leadership?
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Kirill Bigai
Kirill Bigai, photo 1
Kirill Bigai, photo 2
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Location

United States