Case | HBS Case Collection | December 2014 (Revised October 2015)

Codecademy: Monetizing a Movement?

by Jeffrey J. Bussgang and Lisa C. Mazzanti

Abstract

Codecademy, an open-platform, online community for learning computer programming, launched in 2011. By 2014, the company had raised a total of $12.5 million in funding and was, on many fronts, an overwhelming success. However, there were still no revenues. The founders decided it was time to experiment with different monetization strategies before deciding on a way forward. Although they wanted to avoid being prematurely pressured into decisions that went against their open-platform philosophy, they also knew that in order to fulfill their mission to democratize education, they had to eventually build a revenue-generating business. But what business model should they pursue and what monetization experiments should they run?

Keywords: entrepreneurial management; startup management; technology; computer programming; coding; online education; monetization; online communities; marketplaces; Online Technology; Education; Entrepreneurship; Business Startups; Growth and Development Strategy; Technology Industry; Education Industry;

Language: English Format: Print 20 pages EducatorsPurchase

Citation:

Bussgang, Jeffrey J., and Lisa C. Mazzanti. "Codecademy: Monetizing a Movement?" Harvard Business School Case 815-093, December 2014. (Revised October 2015.)

Related Work

  1. Teaching Plan | HBS Case Collection | April 2015

    Codecademy: Monetizing a Movement?

    Jeffrey J. Bussgang and Lisa Mazzanti

    This is a Teaching Plan for the case on Codecademy, an open-platform, online community for learning computer programming, launched in 2011. By 2014, the company had raised a total of $12.5 million in funding and was, on many fronts, an overwhelming success. However, there were still no revenues. The founders decided it was time to experiment with different monetization strategies before deciding on a way forward. Although they wanted to avoid being prematurely pressured into decisions that went against their open-platform philosophy, they also knew that in order to fulfill their mission to democratize education, they had to eventually build a revenue-generating business. But what business model should they pursue, and what monetization experiments should they run?

    Keywords: Business Model; Online Technology; Open Source Distribution; Social Entrepreneurship; Education;

    Citation:

    Bussgang, Jeffrey J., and Lisa Mazzanti. "Codecademy: Monetizing a Movement?" Harvard Business School Teaching Plan 815-117, April 2015.  View Details
    CiteView DetailsPurchase Related

  2. Case | HBS Case Collection | December 2014 (Revised October 2015)

    Codecademy: Monetizing a Movement?

    Jeffrey J. Bussgang and Lisa C. Mazzanti

    Codecademy, an open-platform, online community for learning computer programming, launched in 2011. By 2014, the company had raised a total of $12.5 million in funding and was, on many fronts, an overwhelming success. However, there were still no revenues. The founders decided it was time to experiment with different monetization strategies before deciding on a way forward. Although they wanted to avoid being prematurely pressured into decisions that went against their open-platform philosophy, they also knew that in order to fulfill their mission to democratize education, they had to eventually build a revenue-generating business. But what business model should they pursue and what monetization experiments should they run?

    Keywords: entrepreneurial management; startup management; technology; computer programming; coding; online education; monetization; online communities; marketplaces; Online Technology; Education; Entrepreneurship; Business Startups; Growth and Development Strategy; Technology Industry; Education Industry;

    Citation:

    Bussgang, Jeffrey J., and Lisa C. Mazzanti. "Codecademy: Monetizing a Movement?" Harvard Business School Case 815-093, December 2014. (Revised October 2015.)  View Details
    CiteView DetailsEducatorsPurchase Related

About the Author

Photo
Jeffrey J. Bussgang
Senior Lecturer of Business Administration
Entrepreneurial Management

View Profile »
View Publications »

 
Campus Map
Campus Map
Harvard Business School
Soldiers Field
Boston, MA 02163
→ Map & Directions
Copyright © President & Fellows of Harvard College