Udemy is getting bought

Summary

In this video, the instructor shares surprising news about Udemy being acquired by Coursera. While the official announcement frames it as a merger, the instructor feels it’s more of an acquisition, with Udemy's brand disappearing and Coursera taking the lead. Though the details remain unclear, the instructor reflects on the significant impact Udemy has had on their career over the past 10 years, teaching millions and creating dozens of courses. Despite the changes, they confirm they are staying on the platform, but the news feels bittersweet, as the name Udemy, central to their professional life, will be no more.

Takeaways

• 😀 Udemy is being acquired by Coursera, with Udemy's brand likely disappearing.
• 😀 The new CEO of the combined entity will be Coursera's current CEO.
• 😀 There are still many unknowns about what this acquisition means for Udemy and its instructors.
• 😀 The deal hasn't closed yet, and there is a small chance it might not go through.
• 😀 Despite the merger, it’s expected that Udemy’s courses, instructors, and customers will remain involved in some capacity.
• 😀 The speaker has been a major Udemy instructor for nearly 10 years, creating dozens of courses and reaching over 3 million students.
• 😀 The speaker plans to continue teaching on Udemy for the time being, but is uncertain about the long-term future of the platform.
• 😀 The merger is part of a larger trend of consolidation in the online learning industry due to macroeconomic challenges and AI advancements.
• 😀 The speaker expresses a mix of nostalgia and sadness about the loss of the Udemy brand, despite acknowledging some criticisms of the platform.
• 😀 This video is not a goodbye to Udemy but rather a reflection on the ongoing changes, with the speaker planning to continue sharing updates as they become available.

Q & A

What major announcement does the speaker share in the transcript?

The speaker shares that Udemy is being acquired by Coursera. The announcement is officially presented as a merger or joining of forces, but the speaker describes it as an acquisition where the Udemy brand will disappear.

How does the speaker feel about the acquisition of Udemy by Coursera?

The speaker expresses mixed feelings about the acquisition. While they acknowledge the challenges facing the industry and the necessity of consolidation, they also feel sadness and discomfort about the disappearance of the Udemy brand, which has been integral to their professional life for almost 10 years.

What details about the acquisition are still unclear to the speaker?

The speaker is uncertain about the long-term impact of the acquisition on Udemy's future. They don't know how it will affect Udemy instructors, learners, or the courses offered. There are also no clear details about what will happen over the next few years.

What is the speaker’s role on the Udemy platform?

The speaker is a prominent Udemy instructor, having created dozens of courses and taught over three million students. They are one of the biggest instructors on the platform.

What does the speaker think about the future of Udemy instructors after the acquisition?

The speaker is unsure about the future of Udemy instructors under Coursera's ownership. They express that, while they don't believe instructors will be eliminated, they don't know if instructors will be part of the long-term strategy or what that strategy will look like.

What is the significance of the Udemy brand to the speaker?

The Udemy brand is significant to the speaker as it has been a key part of their professional life for nearly a decade. They have been deeply involved with the platform, teaching millions of students and building their career around it. The loss of the Udemy name feels personal and bittersweet to them.

How does the speaker view the larger context of the acquisition in relation to the industry?

The speaker sees the acquisition as part of a larger trend of consolidation in the online learning industry. They acknowledge that the past few years have been difficult due to macroeconomic challenges and the rise of AI, which has created problems for many companies in the space.

What potential risks or uncertainties does the speaker mention regarding the acquisition?

The speaker mentions that there is a risk of the acquisition not closing at all, though they believe this is unlikely. They also highlight the uncertainty around how the acquisition will impact the structure and strategy of the platforms moving forward.

What is the speaker’s plan moving forward, despite the changes?

Despite the changes, the speaker plans to continue creating courses on Udemy and sharing updates on their channel. They assure their audience that they are not leaving the platform and will continue working as usual in the short term.

Why does the speaker choose not to speculate about the long-term effects of the acquisition?

The speaker chooses not to speculate about the long-term effects because there are too many unknowns at the moment. They feel it is better not to make assumptions until more concrete information is available regarding the acquisition's outcome.