TakeLessons is an American venture-backed startup that connects students with pre-screened music teachers, academic tutors, dance, acting, and foreign language instructors locally and online. The company is headquartered in San Diego, California. It has teachers operating in over 2,800 cities in the U.S.
History
In 2004, TakeLessons CEO Steven Cox was singing and playing guitar in the alt-rock band Across the Room with bassist Scotty B. and drummer Enrique Platas. The idea for TakeLessons came about when Platas announced that he was quitting the band in order to accept a job as a cook at Chili's, because he was having a child and was in need of a more steady income than he was making from music, and Cox wanted to find a way to allow Platas to use the internet to find steady work as a drum instructor. In 2006, TakeLessons was launched to connect music and voice instructors with students. Since its launch, the San Diego-based company has expanded across the country with private instructors in more than 2,800 cities.
In 2009, TakeLessons partnered with Costco.com to sell gift certificates for music and voice lessons. In 2010, they entered into a partnership with Best Buy to sell and teach lessons in Best Buy stores. In 2011, the company was awarded $6 million in venture capital from Crosslink Capital. In 2013, the company received $4 million in venture capital to expand the services the company offered. In October 2013, they expanded the range of their services offered, adding academic tutors, foreign language instructors, and additional performing arts teachers in dance and acting. As of October 2013, TakeLessons had raised $12 million in capital.
The company was an early provider in Google Helpouts while the site was in invite-only status, with TakeLessons inviting a select number of instructors to offer live video instruction in music, acting and tutoring. As part of the launch, the company gave away a free 30-minute guitar lesson with guitarist David Kennedy of Angels & Airwaves.
Founder and CEO
Steven Cox was raised with music from an early age, singing and playing bass in a gospel band with his parents and three brothers. He graduated with dual degrees in Finance and Human Communications from Eastern Kentucky University, paying his way through school by working as a DJ. Following his graduation, Cox worked in pharmaceutical sales. He was a founding employee and the national business development director for PurchasePro.com (PPRO), a business-to-business e-commerce platform that initiated B-2-B commerce between educational institutions, governmental agencies, and their suppliers. Following PPRO, Cox served as the vice president of strategic development for CollegeClub.com, which was at the time the 44th largest site on the internet. An early social network, CollegeClub.com allowed users to sign up for free, create profiles, communicate and post pictures. Prior to founding TakeLessons, Cox served as the managing partner of Reddito Partners, a privately held management consulting firm that specialized in web management strategy, web operations, e-commerce, and business development for clients including Cisco, Club Med, and Brian Tracy International.
Recognition and awards
In 2008, the company was named a Killer Startup by KillerStartups.com. In 2011, it was recognized as one of the best places to work in San Diego. In 2013, the San Diego Business Journal ranked TakeLessons ninth on their annual list of the fastest-growing private companies in the county. The same year, the company was ranked 214 on Deloitte's Technology Fast 500, named the second fastest-growing Internet company in the San Diego area.
References
External links
- Official website
