Business Development

Tech Startup Opens HQ

ST. LOUIS — Varsity Tutors, a live learning platform that connects students with personalized instruction to accelerate academic achievement, has opened a new 20,000 square-foot facility in Clayton. The headquarters will create more than 150 new jobs over the next two years.

The company’s expansion represents an investment of more than $5 million.Varsity-Tutors-Story-2

Varsity Tutors offers live on-line and in-person instruction to students, free diagnostic tests, practice exams, flashcards and questions of the day for more than 150 subjects. Through its free on-line learning tools and mobile applications, the company has created a learning ecosystem of more than 100,000 questions and answers. Tests have been accessed more than 40 million times.

Varsity Tutors is the brainchild of Clayton native Chuck Cohn, who founded it as a Washington University student taking an entrepreneurship course in 2007. At the time, national tutoring companies didn’t offer personalized service in specific subjects and spent little time on their tutor recruitment efforts.

“As a lifelong St. Louisan, building Varsity Tutors in this region has always been of personal importance,” Cohn said. “We remain committed to being a positive force and economic driver for St. Louis. With support from the Missouri Department of Economic Development and St. Louis Economic Development Partnership, Varsity Tutors has established a permanent headquarters here that will aid in our efforts to continue attracting top talent to the region and building a business of global significance.”

More than 1 million hours of live instruction have taken place on the Varsity Tutors platform over the past nine years. Originally focused on providing an on-line marketplace for matching students with tutors and test prep providers, Varsity Tutors is now investing in technology development and expanding access to web- and mobile-based tutoring.Varsity-Tutors-Story-3

“St. Louis is consistently ranked as one of the nation’s top startup cities, and it’s great to add another line to that long list of accomplished businesses,” St. Louis Economic Development Partnership CEO Sheila Sweeney said. “Varsity Tutors is an innovative company with a national reach and has quickly become a technology leader in education. We congratulate Chuck (Cohn) and his team and are grateful for their commitment to St. Louis. This new headquarters in Clayton will create many new jobs and lead to significant economic impact for the area.”

With assistance from the staff at Varsity Tutors, students can prepare for standardized exams like the ACT, SAT, GRE, GMAT, MCAT and LSAT. The company’s network has grown to 20,000 instructors and 50,000 students throughout the country.

“This is a great story of a Clayton High School grad who attended Washington University and created a terrific company,” St. Louis County Executive Steve Stenger said. “Varsity Tutors is one of the country’s fastest growing tech companies. We are especially happy that Chuck, in recognition of our region’s booming tech sector, has decided to build out his new headquarters in St. Louis County.”

Varsity Tutors closed a $50 million venture capital financing round last fall, which marked the largest-ever for a Missouri-founded internet company. With more than 40 immediate openings, the company is actively recruiting new members for its team. To apply, visit www.VarsityTutors.com/careers.Varsity-Tutors-Story-4

“Companies like Varsity Tutors are a product of and a shining asset for Missouri’s rich entrepreneurial environment,” Missouri Department of Economic Development Director Mike Downing added. “The state is incredibly proud of its partnership in growth with Varsity Tutors and the company’s commitment to the St. Louis area. Expansions like this ensure Missouri remains a prime destination for tech and innovation.”