When I first launched The Learning Revolution, the term edupreneur was barely used even in the online marketing world. People questioned whether it was a legitimate concept or just another passing trend in the digital world.
Fast forward a decade, and edupreneurs have completely changed how people learn, gain new skills, and advance both personally and professionally.
The rise of edupreneurs shows no signs of slowing down, with many predicting they’ll continue to shape the future of online education.
But what does it mean to be an edupreneur? How do you get started? What qualifies someone as an edupreneur, and how do they make a living? Who are the most successful edupreneurs today?
In this comprehensive guide, I’ll answer all these questions and explore the edupreneurial movement that’s redefining online learning.
What Is An Edupreneur (Education + Entrepreneurship)
As you may already realize, the term “edupreneur” combines the more common words “educator” and “entrepreneur.”
While we can pretty easily define “educator” as someone who educates or plays a key role in educating others, “entrepreneurship” can be a little trickier to define.
In fact, people can get pretty passionate about how to define it properly.
My view is that to define entrepreneurship it’s valuable to start with the person who coined the term in the first place: French economist Jean-Baptiste Say. Around 1800 or so, Say wrote that,
The entrepreneur shifts economic resources out of an area of lower and into an area of higher productivity and greater yield. (Source)
Jean-Baptiste Say
To Say’s definition of entrepreneurship I would add that an entrepreneur usually assumes a level of risk in creating the “shift of economic resources” that non-entrepreneurs see as unacceptable.
And, the entrepreneur seeks a return on her efforts – most commonly a financial return – that appropriately reflects the time, effort, money, and overall risk involved.
I also like to shorten Say’s shift “out of an area of lower and into an area of higher productivity and greater yield’ and simply refer to this as a “positive value shift” – much less of a mouthful in my opinion.
So, building off of Say’s original language and my additions, we can define edupreneur by saying that …
An edupreneur is someone who creates a positive value shift with the specific economic resource of learning. (Click to Tweet)
Jeff Cobb, Learning Revolution
In simpler words, an edupreneur is an educator with a business owner’s mindset. Their entrepreneurial approach helps them fulfill people’s need to acquire knowledge and upgrade skills by offering relevant learning programs and resources using various profitable business models, making it a win-win for both learners and educators.
The Main Types & Examples Of Edupreneurs
So what exactly does edupreneurship look like in the real world? Let’s discuss some of the most prominent ways edupreneurs make money.
Selling Online Courses
Selling online courses has become one of the most popular and lucrative ways for edupreneurs to generate income.
In fact, in a 2024 study, 70% of e-learning professionals earning over $100K per year reported that online courses were their top revenue source over the past 12 months. This shows the potential of well-designed courses to provide a scalable income stream.
Platforms like Teachable, Udemy, and Kajabi have empowered countless professionals to turn their expertise into thriving businesses, offering courses on everything from productivity to business coaching.
Dorie Clark, Seth Godin, and Alex Hormozi are examples of edupreneurs who’ve mastered the online course business model and have had a significant impact on their target audiences.
The flexibility of online courses also makes them an appealing choice for edupreneurs. Some opt for pre-recorded sessions, allowing students to learn at their own pace, while others deliver live courses or run cohort-based programs, where learners join in scheduled sessions and move through the content as a group.
This variety ensures that course creators can cater to different learning styles and preferences, making it easier to scale their efforts and serve a wide audience.
Membership Programs & Online Communities
Membership programs and online communities are where edupreneurs make the most impact on their audiences. These are exclusive online groups where experts share their insights and offer more personalized learning than online courses.
Joanna Wiebe’s Copy School is among the most successful online membership programs and a great example for edupreneurs.
Unlike one-off course sales, membership programs are built on recurring revenue, making them a more predictable income source. Members pay a monthly or yearly fee to access exclusive content, ongoing training, and a sense of community.
This model benefits both creators and learners, as it allows for continuous learning and development.
Coaching & Consultancy
One-on-one or group coaching and consultancy programs are hugely popular ways edupreneurs impact lives and make money at the same time.
Instead of offering pre-recorded content, coaches and consultants work one-on-one or in small groups with clients who need personalized advice or guidance.
Whether it’s helping someone start a business, improve their health, or learn new skills, these services are more tailored and interactive than online courses.
Graham Cochrane’s coaching program is a great example.
There are also different types of coaching and consultancy models. Some prefer a one-off session format, while others offer packages where clients receive regular coaching over weeks or months.
Because of the personalized nature of online coaching and consultancy, they’re considered high-ticket offers experienced edupreneurs use to maximize their impact and create real-life success stories.
Content Creation For Digital Platforms
Content creation has exploded into a thriving opportunity for edupreneurs.
A 2024 study revealed that 95% of respondents said they had learned something new from a content creator within the last 12 months, proving that digital platforms are becoming a crucial source of education.
By sharing knowledge through videos, podcasts, blogs, or social media, creators not only build loyal audiences but also generate income from ads, sponsorships, and paid partnerships.
Ali Abdaal, a former doctor turned YouTuber, is a prime example of this path.
With over 5.8 million subscribers, Ali earns a significant portion of his revenue through YouTube ad earnings, sponsored content, and online courses, blending entertainment with education.
I’ve written about monetizing your expertise through YouTube in detail if you’re interested in learning more about it.
Selling eBooks
Selling eBooks is another way edupreneurs can share their knowledge and build a revenue stream in the e-learning industry.
According to Statista, the eBooks market worldwide is expected to generate a revenue of US$14.61bn by the end of 2024.
Whether it’s a detailed guide, how-to manual, or an in-depth exploration of a niche topic, eBooks are an accessible format for both creators and consumers.
One example of success in this space is bestselling author and educator Joanna Penn, who has turned her self-publishing expertise into a thriving business.
She uses her own eBooks not only as a source of income but also as a way to build credibility and attract clients to her courses and speaking engagements.
One major advantage of eBooks is the low production cost. Unlike traditional publishing, which requires significant upfront investment in printing and distribution, eBooks are digital products that can be created with minimal financial input.
Platforms like Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), Gumroad, and Payhip make it easy to publish, distribute, and sell eBooks directly to a global audience.
I’ve personally published several eBooks on Amazon that have immensely contributed to my business and personal brand. I’ve shared the detailed process of publishing successful eBooks in this detailed guide.
Learning as an economic resource
Most of us probably don’t think of learning as an economic resource, but it always has been, and in today’s world, its value has escalated dramatically.
As I wrote in Leading the Learning Revolution, we now live in a global learning economy and learning is what fuels that economy. Whether and how well we learn is the arguably the strongest predictor of whether we will thrive as individuals, organizations, and societies.
I see edupreneurs as one of the most important stewards of learning as an economic resource.
Among the various entities that serve the vitally important but often under-appreciated third sector of education, they are the most likely to have the agility, flexibility, and creativity needed to meet rapidly evolving learning needs across our global economy.
It’s important to recognize that “learning as an economic resource” is not limited to just traditional education.
It’s not limited to courses, classes, or conferences, whether online or off.
In fact, the great majority of learning happens outside of these formal channels. And, real learning takes place over time – it is a process, not an event.
The difference between education and learning represents one of the greatest opportunities for edupreneurs.
Yes, edupreneurs are well positioned to do things like create and sell online courses – a new generation of online course platforms makes that more possible than ever. But they are also well positioned to wield influence, build long-term relationships with their followers, cultivate learning communities and, in general, lead learning in the fields, industries, and areas of life they serve in ways that usually elude more traditional institutions and businesses.
Recognizing this difference opens up new opportunities and new ways to create value not just for teachers and trainers, but for consultants, coaches, authors, and speakers.
The edupreneurial shift
The positive value shift that all successful educators help to make happen is from bounded to unbounded.
As an economic resource, learning is often “bounded” in that it is captured within a single person’s head, within a single organization, or within in some set of circumstances that constrains it from being shared and spreading.
Access to learning and the ability to capitalize on it may also be bounded by a lack of experience, prior knowledge, or other factors on the part of the learner. Even in a world where so much information is freely available, our abilities to make effective use of information can vary dramatically.
The successful educator helps break down the boundaries, opening up the movement of learning from one to many, from localized to global, from the past and present into the future.
Edupreneurs aim to make this shift in the context of a market that will recognize and reward them for the value they create. Learners who trust they will be transformed through new knowledge, skills, and behavior gladly compensate the edupreneur who can provide the transformation.
As the brief video below suggests, we’ve entered what might be characterized as a golden age of expertise – and by extension, a golden age for edupreneurs.
4 Tips To Become A Successful Edupreneur
How to become an edupreneur and thrive in the role is the whole focus of the Learning Revolution Web site, but there are a few imperatives for success. I’ll highlight four here.
Care About Your Impact
There’s a “get rich quick” mindset that can sometimes seem almost like a disease when it comes to Internet-based entrepreneurship. With the boom in online courses, you see plenty of this mindset among wannabe edupreneurs.
If you are really going to make it as an edupreneur over the long term, though, you have to care about what you are doing and really care about creating positive impact for your learners.
Invest in Teaching and Learning
Truth is, there’s a lot of junk out there. Successful edupreneurs often have deep subject matter expertise or access to others with deep expertise but having expertise and knowing how to teach well are two different things.
Successful edupreneurs invest time and effort in understanding adult learning principles, developing impactful presentation skills and teaching skills, and working hard to engage and retain their learners. They also invest in “sharpening the saw,” making sure that they are continually learning and improving in their chosen subject areas.
Be Strategic
In my experience, edupreneurs are often convinced that they have really unique content that no one else can offer. As a result, I get a lot of questions about how to protect intellectual property, but the truth is that very few edupreneurs have anything all that new to say.
What’s new – and unique – is who’s saying it and how they position their offering to the world. Successful edupreneurs embrace strategy and learn how top stand themselves out in an increasingly crowded market for educational content and services.
Leverage Technology
While you can be an edupreneur without using technology, it’s increasingly difficult. Leveraging web-based technologies for creating, promoting, and supporting your offerings simply makes since. It increases efficiency, enables you to scale, and if done correctly, can greatly enhance the experience you provide to your audience.
You don’t have to – and shouldn’t – chase after every new technological innovation (again, be strategic), but you should make a point of keeping up with major trends and take time to reflect on how you can leverage any emerging technologies effectively.
Understand it’s a business.
There are plenty of educators who see the opportunity in the global market for lifelong learning but are either squeamish about mixing education and business or just don’t want to have to deal with the business side of the equation. Needless to say, these people won’t succeed as edupreneurs.
In the adult lifelong learning market, the exchange of money for valuable learning outcomes benefits both sides of the equation. The learner is positively impacted, and the educator is able to support herself and continue on to help other learners.
Of course, the only way this exchange of value happens is if the edupreneur puts ample time into business activities like assessing and validating the market, planning for launch, and putting in the necessary time and effort for promotion. Without these activities, you may still be a great educator, but you won’t be an edupreneur.
To sum up everything above, I’d characterize the edupreneur’s journey as an ongoing process (a learning process!) of leveling up and seeking a point where:
- You are really able to reach and connect with a substantial audience – beyond viable
- You offer a portfolio of learning opportunities to align with clear needs across your audience
- The opportunities you provide set the pace in your market
- The opportunities you provide are highly impactful and you have the data to prove it
- You generate significant net revenue – enough for you and any one who works with to thrive
Who is an edupreneur? Possibly you.
So, that’s how I define edupreneur. You may have your own opinions on the topic, but if all or most of what I say above is ringing a bell for you, and …
- You have expertise you’d like to share with others
- Your committed to the idea of creating a positive value shift
- Your willing to take a few risks and invest the necessary time and effort
… then you are probably already somewhere along the road to becoming an edupreneur.
Best of all, your timing couldn’t be better. There is pretty much always a market for effective learning, and that market continues to grow larger and larger as more of the world comes online and seeks out the education that is the foundation of a better life. I see it as a real Learning Revolution – and I hope to see you there.
Jeff Cobb, Founder of Learning Revolution
Jeff Cobb is an expert in online education and the business of adult lifelong learning. Over the past 20+ years he has built a thriving career based on that expertise – as an entrepreneur, a consultant, an author, and a speaker. Learning Revolution is a place where Jeff curates tips, insights, and resources to help you build a thriving expertise-based business. Learn more about Jeff Cobb here.
See also:
Edupreneur interviews:
- Dorie Clark interview on Leading Learning
- David Kurfirst and Chris Zumtobel of Think Olio on Leading Learning
- Interview with Steven Schragis, founder of One Day U, on Leading Learning
Image by StartupStockPhotos from Pixabay
Jeff Cobb, Founder of Learning Revolution
Jeff Cobb is an expert in online education and the business of adult lifelong learning. Over the past 20+ years he has built a thriving career based on that expertise – as an entrepreneur, a consultant, an author, and a speaker. Learning Revolution is a place where Jeff curates tips, insights, and resources to help you build a thriving expertise-based business. Learn more about Jeff Cobb here.
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