By combining Coursera’s network of university and industry leaders with Udemy’s network of subject-matter experts, the companies hope to create a unified platform for upskilling in the age of artificial intelligence.
“We’re at a pivotal moment in which AI is rapidly redefining the skills required for every job across every industry,” Coursera CEO Greg Hart said in a public statement. “Organizations and individuals around the world need a platform that is as agile as the new and emerging skills learners must master."
Coursera, founded in 2012 by computer scientists Andrew Ng and Daphne Koller, partners with more than 375 universities and industry organizations to offer courses, professional certificates and online degree programs, according to the news release. The company counts 191 million registered users and 2,000 enterprise, university and government customers worldwide.
Udemy, launched in 2010, operates a different model: an open marketplace where independent instructors create and sell courses directly to learners. The platform serves 82 million learners and a network of 85,000 instructors globally, according to the news release. Its business has skewed more heavily toward skills-based and short-form courses, where Coursera focuses on programs used by universities for online learning, according to a presentation to investors shared on Udemy’s website.
The companies say the merger will allow them to consolidate product development for “AI-native” learning tools, including skills mapping, assessments and personalized learning pathways. Both companies have already invested in AI-based features. For example, Coursera has introduced tools such as AI-powered course creation, translation and assessments. Udemy has also developed AI-assisted content creation, personalized course recommendations and skills insights for enterprise customers.
“As a united platform, we can accelerate our AI-powered product road map, expand our global reach through enhanced go-to-market capabilities, and unlock substantial revenue and operating synergies that will strengthen our long-term financial profile,” Udemy CEO Hugo Sarrazin said in a public statement.
The news release said the companies also expect internal changes, consolidating operations and general or administrative functions. The information released today does not include a timeline for product integration or details on which products may sunset. For higher education institutions already using Coursera, the merger does not immediately change existing partnerships or degree programs, according to a webcast this morning.
“Together, we will ensure our millions of learners, thousands of enterprise, university and government customers, and expert instructors have a platform to keep pace with technology acceleration,” Hart said in a public statement.
Mergers and consolidations have been a regular occurrence in the ed-tech market in recent years, as larger companies have picked up smaller ones for niche expertise or improved interoperability — for example, in August, the school management software company Sycamore acquired the payment platform TuitionEP. Coursera itself acquired Rhyme Softworks in 2019 to expand hands-on and project-based learning.
Following the Coursera-Udemy merger, the combined platform will operate under Coursera’s name, and Udemy will no longer exist as an independent public company. The combined entity is expected to generate over $1.5 billion in annual revenue, according to the news release. Stock in the company will be split 59/41, with Udemy shareholders receiving 0.8 shares of Coursera stock for each Udemy share. The deal is expected to close in the second half of 2026, subject to regulatory and shareholder approvals.
