BPO model works for education, too
Using the tried-and-tested business process outsourcing (BPO) playbook, this online tutoring startup is raising the disposable income of Filipino teachers by two to three times without these tutors leaving their homeland. And it is out to build a 5,000-strong talent pool by 2026.
EDGE Tutor International, Southeast Asia’s fastest-growing online tutoring outsourcing company, recently raised $1 million to scale up operations in North America, Latin America, Europe and the Middle East.
Since its launch in 2023, EDGE Tutor has delivered 800,000 lessons and is on track to surpass 1 million this year. The platform, currently driven by more than 1,000 homegrown teachers, scores 4.96 out of 5 in student satisfaction.
While artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming education, EDGE Tutor is seen as a “contrarian” bet on what learners ultimately crave: affordable, human-centric learning experiences.
“There’s nothing artificial about the passion and dedication of our 1,000-plus tutors. We see it every day in the way they connect with students and make learning come alive. Our 50 clients across 30 countries are experiencing firsthand that live instruction isn’t just valuable—it’s in demand,” says Henry Motte de la Motte, the Filipino French CEO and founder of EDGE Tutor.
“AI makes for a great copilot and a powerful supplement between live sessions, but we find that nothing replaces the power of human connection,” he adds.
Present in New York, London, Singapore and Manila, EDGE Tutor has positioned itself as a leader in the online tutoring outsourcing industry, bridging the gap between high-quality Filipino educators and tutoring companies worldwide.
Monetizing skills
Through its business-to-business model, EDGE Tutor provides global education companies with skilled tutors and end-to-end management, delivering live instruction at scale under its own brand through a fully managed, white-labeled service. Its strict selection process accepts just 3 percent of the thousands of certified teachers who apply every month, ensuring that only the best educators are matched with education companies worldwide.
Motte explains to Sunday Biz that all of EDGE tutors have passed the Licensure Examination for Teachers.
They typically have two years of experience and have undergone a rigorous recruiting and training process.
“Teachers can work with us full time, half time or part time. Those who work part time sometimes keep teaching jobs at schools or in other fields too,” he explains.
Asked how the company has doubled or even tripled tutors’ disposable income, Motte says EDGE Tutor pays above-market rate salary and offers performance-related incentives.
By enabling teachers to work from home, they save commuting time and expenses, he adds. Those who sign up for at least a half-time job are given private health-care benefits.
“Every learner deserves a great teacher, and some of the best are right here in the Philippines,” says EDGE Tutor chief operating officer Cecilia Calvo Lewis.
Fresh capital
The recent $1-million pre-series A financing was led by Seaborne Capital, M Venture Partners, Kaya Founders, Orvel Ventures, IdeaSpace, Lorinet Foundation and prominent angel investors. This followed the $800,000 seed round in 2023.
“This investment allows us to expand global access to our world-class Filipino tutors while providing them with training, technology and coaching to excel in online teaching,” adds Lewis.
This supports EDGE Tutor’s next phase of growth by expanding further into the Americas, Europe and the Middle East—regions that have collectively grown their contribution from 5 percent of revenue in 2022 to 30 percent in 2024. This is projected to top 50 percent by 2026 as tutor capacity expands from 1,000 to 5,000.
The startup also plans to invest in AI-driven automation for teacher training, quality control, curriculum development and lesson delivery.
The global tutoring market is valued at $200 billion, with its online component growing by 15 percent each year, even postpandemic.
About 80 percent of tutoring still takes place in person, with only 20 percent conducted online, highlighting a vast opportunity for EDGE Tutor.
What funders say
“Henry and his team have demonstrated fortitude and excellent operational capability in a tough environment. At M Venture Partners, we believe in supporting exceptional founders like Henry, who are solving one of life’s most meaningful missions—training teachers,” says Tony Yeoh of M Ventures Partners.
Motte likewise founded Edukasyon.ph, the largest education technology platform in the Philippines, from where EDGE Tutor was spun off in 2023.
“Teaching is no exception to the globally recognized thriving services industry in the Philippines. Driven by ‘malasakit,’ a Filipino value with no direct English translation, which embodies deep care and compassion—qualities that no technology can replace, this spirit perfectly defines the teachers at EDGE Tutor, whose dedication goes beyond instruction. They are passionate about their learners’ success and an unparalleled commitment to service excellence ensuring a global impact,” says Paulo Campos, founding managing general partner of Kaya Founders.
Outsourcing model
“We have been an active part of the high-growth BPO (business process outsourcing) industry in the Philippines for the last 15 years and are convinced that the education and tutoring vertical is ready to leverage outsourcing to enhance learner outcomes, improve support for onshore teachers and ensure tutoring becomes increasingly affordable,” says Jay Haendler of Seaborne Capital.
“This is BPO but targeting the education space,” says Motte.
For this promising startup, it’s an opportunity to harness great Filipino talent, bring teachers to the global stage and multiply their income—and they don’t even have to step out of the house.
