Carlos Raúl recalls the pivotal moment when insurance agents began reaching out to EducUp, marking the beginning of a significant transformation for the digital education platform.
Initially, these inquiries revolved around onboarding lessons, but soon evolved into a pressing need for state-approved continuing education courses, first within Florida and eventually spreading across the nation.
“They kept asking for classes their agents needed to keep a license active,” Raúl shared with Refresh Miami, emphasizing that the influx of requests compelled the company to shift its focus.
Having established itself by offering mobile language courses to approximately 2.5 million Spanish-speaking learners, EducUp had already demonstrated its ability to retain users and generate revenue.
The interest from insurance and mental health sectors hinted at a greater opportunity: a U.S. accreditation market, valued in the tens of billions, in dire need of modernized educational tools.
Instead of dismissing these requests as one-time inquiries, Raúl and his 22-member team doubled down, securing state approval to provide life and health insurance credits in Florida.
They proceeded to apply for approvals in additional jurisdictions, which culminated in the company currently being authorized in 29 states and fully operational in 18, with new approvals being sought continuously.
The company’s foray into professional training has been lucrative, generating half of its revenue from this newly established line of business that was virtually non-existent just one year ago.
This pivot has granted EducUp something every subscription-based service covets: learners who are compelled to complete courses by specific deadlines.
Raúl noted that the motivation for course completion has shifted, stating, “Retention is no longer only about motivation. Agents and therapists need our classes to stay employed, so completion rates jumped right away.”
Subsequently, the introduction of a subscription model—replacing one-time payments—has contributed to a steady increase in monthly recurring revenue over the past seven months, while user growth remains robust, adding 40,000 to 50,000 new sign-ups each month.
The focus on accreditation also paved the way for new partnerships, such as the one with CedrusMed, an electronic health-records platform based in South Florida.
CedrusMed has integrated EducUp’s mental health curriculum directly into its software, providing access to thousands of social workers and therapists who require continuing education annually.
Raúl explained, “We wanted to be the first records system with an education module built in, and EducUp let us make that happen.”
Despite this impressive growth, the company upholds a lean operational structure with 23 employees based across South Florida, Mexico, Panama, Chile, and Spain, supported by five founding members anchored in Miami.
Looking forward, EducUp aims to secure approval in all 50 states by the end of 2025, further enhancing its offerings in mental health and insurance, while also launching a real estate curriculum covering both pre-licensing and renewal credits.
Long-term ambitions involve expanding into other fields where ongoing competence verification is required, including accounting and education.
Raúl’s straightforward philosophy states, “Accreditation software feels stuck in another decade. We’re bringing it up to speed.”
The company’s funding strategy follows a rigorous path toward profitability before pursuing larger investments, with current revenue managing to cover expansion costs.
As Raúl articulates, “Our best leverage is growth we control.”
EducUp continues to evolve, positioned to redefine the future of accredited education.
image source from：refreshmiami
