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Varsity Tutors LLC
Varsity Tutors LLC is a St. Louis-based online tutoring platform founded by Chuck Cohn.
Varsity Tutors LLC
Chuck Cohn started Varsity Tutors in 2007 while an undergraduate at Washington University in St. Louis, turning a class project into a business that by 2021 had raised over $100M in venture funding from investors including Byron Trott's BDT Capital (via BDT & MSD Partners). The company went public in 2021 through a SPAC merger with TPG Pace Tech Opportunities, forming Nerdy Inc. (NYSE: NRDY). Its wealth origin is not a single family office; the firm is a publicly traded corporate entity with an operating focus on one-to-one and small-group tutoring across K-12, college, and adult learning subjects. The tutoring platform connects students with instructors across 3,000+ subjects, generating revenue from per-session fees and subscription models. Varsity Tutors' strategy centers on direct-to-consumer marketing and a large network of part-time tutors. It has expanded into virtual group classes through its 'Varsity Tutors for Schools' initiative, which partners with school districts. Geographic footprint is primarily the US, with some international participation from instructors and students. As a public company via Nerdy Inc., Varsity Tutors employs roughly 4,000 people, mostly contract tutors, with a small corporate staff in St. Louis. The firm operates without a separate investment arm or philanthropic foundation. Recent activity: Nerdy Inc. reported Q1 2025 revenue of $51.4M (per public filings, May 2025), reflecting ongoing post-pandemic scaling challenges. Varsity Tutors' structural differentiator is its operating-company model within a public corporate shell—it is not a family office or asset manager. The firm manages no external capital and does not make investments; it is a service business that happens to be owned by a publicly traded holding company. Its mandate is to expand access to live, online education through technology and human instruction.
General information
Firm type
other
Year founded
—
AUM
Undisclosed
Location
Region
North America
Country
US
City
St. Louis
Corporate office
St. Louis, MO, United States
Principals
Chuck Cohn
Founder & CEO
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who founded Varsity Tutors and what is their background?
Chuck Cohn founded Varsity Tutors in 2007 while an undergraduate at Washington University in St. Louis. He initially built the platform as a class project and later grew it into a venture-backed company that went public via SPAC merger in 2021. Cohn continues as CEO of Nerdy Inc., the parent company.
Is Varsity Tutors a family office or investment firm?
No. Varsity Tutors is an operating company—an online education service provider. It became a publicly traded entity in 2021 as part of Nerdy Inc. (NYSE: NRDY). The firm does not manage third-party capital or operate as an investment vehicle; it generates revenue from tutoring sessions and subscriptions.
What is the relationship between Varsity Tutors and Byron Trott's BDT Capital?
Byron Trott's BDT Capital was an early investor in Varsity Tutors, participating in its $50 million Series C round in 2018. BDT Capital is an investment firm that focuses on backing growth companies. The investment did not change Varsity Tutors' operating structure; it remained independent until the SPAC merger.
What services does Varsity Tutors offer, and to whom?
Varsity Tutors provides live, online one-to-one and small-group tutoring across more than 3,000 subjects. Its primary customers are K-12 students, college students, and adult learners. The company also operates a 'Varsity Tutors for Schools' program that partners with school districts to offer district-funded tutoring services.
How did Varsity Tutors go public?
Varsity Tutors went public in 2021 via a merger with TPG Pace Tech Opportunities, a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC). The combined entity was named Nerdy Inc. and began trading on the NYSE under the ticker symbol 'NRDY'. The SPAC deal valued the company at approximately $1.7 billion.
Does Varsity Tutors maintain a charitable foundation or philanthropy program?
Varsity Tutors does not operate a separate philanthropic foundation. However, through its 'Varsity Tutors for Schools' initiative, it provides free or subsidized tutoring to students in partner school districts. The company has also run occasional pro bono tutoring campaigns during the COVID-19 pandemic.
What are Varsity Tutors' biggest competitive challenges?
Varsity Tutors faces competition from other online tutoring platforms such as Chegg, Khan Academy, and Tutor.com, as well as from traditional in-person tutoring centers. Post-pandemic, the company has seen a decline in demand for paid online tutoring as schools reopened. Nerdy Inc.'s financial filings note ongoing marketing spend to retain customers and expand into new segments like adult education.
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