20 Innovative Online Education and EdTech Business Ideas You Can Start Today [2024]

Updated: July 12th, 2024

Interested in starting a edtech business in 2024?

We put together 20 of the best edtech businesses you can start in today.

For each business idea, we’ll show you real-world examples of other edtech businesses to help you see what it really takes.

Here's the full list:

1. Start a freelance writing business

Freelance writing can be a good career choice if you are looking for a flexible online job.

Working as a freelancer gives you the flexibility to define your work schedule. You can work from home at any time. Freelance writers work across various niches, writing about various topics assigned by the client,

To earn good money as a freelance writer, you need the following personal qualities:

  • Strong writing skills
  • Ability to meet deadlines
  • Stay on the cutting edge
  • Be a self-starter
  • Be up-to-date with the current writing tools & writing trends
  • Proper communication skills

How much you can make: $700 — $500,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $500 (?)

How long does it take to build: 56 days (?)

How I Started A $80K/Month Content Writing Business

How David Tile turned a freelance writing gig into an $80k/month business, discussing lessons learned through managing growing demands and maintaining a remote team operation.

Read by 24,486 founders

2. Create a web development course

A web development course is an educational program designed to teach individuals the skills and knowledge needed to create and maintain websites and web applications.

These courses typically cover programming languages, such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, as well as frameworks, databases, and other tools relevant to web development. Courses may be offered by educational institutions, online platforms, or coding bootcamps, catering to beginners or those looking to enhance their existing skills in the field of web development.

How much you can make: $500 — $236,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $500 (?)

How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)

The $6K/Month Website That Teaches How To Launch Businesses And Build Apps With No-Code Tools

No Code MBA founder, Seth Kramer, has built a training platform for entrepreneurs who want to learn how to launch their very own businesses and build apps using no-code tools, recording over 150 real-world video lessons which have resulted in over 400 paid members in just 6-months and a focus on growing the No Code MBA community.

Read by 8,379 founders

3. Start an educational blog

An educational blog business involves creating a website where you share informative content on a specific subject to educate your audience.

To start on a budget, choose a niche you're knowledgeable and passionate about.

Create quality content using free platforms like WordPress or YouTube.

Promote your blog on social media and through SEO techniques, and consider monetizing it with methods like affiliate marketing and selling digital products once you have a steady flow of visitors.

Consistency and providing genuine value are crucial for success.

How much you can make: $50 — $830,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $200 (?)

How long does it take to build: 45 days (?)

How I Started A $1K/Month Blog And Newsletter Sharing Stories From Self-Taught Developers

No CS Degree founder monetizes website interviewing self-taught web developers earning an average monthly revenue of $1,100, with email marketing and sponsored articles from coding boot camps, and plans to grow the site through job board and online course resources.

Read by 10,905 founders

4. Launch an online tuition platform

Online tuition platforms provide a channel for teaching students one-on-one. The tutoring platforms enable students to learn and study online at their chosen schedule, choose a tutor and pay for the courses they can afford.

Examples of online learning platforms include Coursera, codecademy, Udemy and Pluralsight.

To start an online tutoring platform, choose a niche and create a website. You can offer the lessons yourself or keep the online learning platform open for other tutors to signup and list their lessons.

How much you can make: $830,000/month

How long does it take to build: 180 days (?)

How I Raised $15M To Build A $800K/Month Math Online Tuition Platform

Third Space Learning has become the largest online tutoring company in the UK schools market with around 75% of English primary schools and over 100,000 teachers signed up, generating around £8m in revenue this year and delivering nearly 800,000 hours of teaching to just under 70,000 pupils since 2015, with plans to expand globally in the future.

Read by 9,066 founders

5. Start an online exams practice site

6. Start an educational technology product ($576K/year)

How much you can make: $50 — $120,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $2,500 (?)

How long does it take to build: 45 days (?)

Examples of a successful educational technology product:

Here are some great videos on how to get started with a educational technology product:

For further info, check out these books and products:

Learn more about starting an educational technology product ➜

Learn also about other software startup ideas.

7. Start a webinar hosting business

Are you an app builder looking for a profitable business? Consider building a webinar hosting platform.

Businesses host webinars as a tool for helping them convert leads into paying customers.

Therefore, starting your webinar hosting service could be a profitable business venture.

To attract customers, focus on building a robust webinar hosting service that provides the users with all features they need to host an interactive webinar. A webinar hosting service should offer custom solutions and support for all technical issues.

How much you can make: $15,000 — $897,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $4,000 (?)

How long does it take to build: 183 days (?)

How I Turned My Teenage Hobby Into A Profitable Static Web Hosting Service

Tiiny.Host is a web hosting company that's doubled its monthly recurring revenue every three months, amassing 40,000+ users by providing an easy-to-use hosting and file sharing solution, and built up its brand through SEO.

Read by 5,985 founders

8. Start an educational bots business

9. Start an educational app development business

10. Start an online academy business

In today’s digital age, education no longer needs to be confined to physical classrooms. Starting an online academy allows you to deliver specialized courses to a global audience from the comfort of your home.

Creating an online academy entails offering unique and compelling content that people are eager to learn. You’ll need to develop comprehensive courses, market them effectively, and engage with students to ensure a fulfilling educational experience.

Interest in online learning is rapidly growing, giving you an excellent opportunity to share your expertise and connect with learners worldwide. The work involved is substantial—course creation, platform management, and student interaction—but the potential for far-reaching impact and revenue makes it worthwhile.

The desire to educate and the ability to reach students globally make this business idea appealing. For those willing to invest the time and effort, an online academy can be both financially rewarding and personally fulfilling.

How much you can make: $15,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $2,000 (?)

How long does it take to build: 30 days (?)

How I Started A $15K/Month Health And Wellness Coaching Business

A board-certified coach built the Holistic Wellness Coaching Academy from her book, growing it into a six-figure business in two short years, without using ads or campaigns, and attracting more leads with custom, digital content.

Read by 7,093 founders

11. Start an educational website business

Do you have a passion for teaching and a knack for digital platforms? Consider launching an educational website.

In simple terms, an educational website offers courses, tutorials, and resources online, catering to a global audience eager to learn new skills or enhance existing ones.

The allure of this idea lies in its vast potential for impact and growth. You can create and curate valuable content, build a subscriber base, and monetize through course fees, ads, and sponsorships.

If you're dedicated and enjoy putting in the effort to develop high-quality educational material, this business can be incredibly rewarding. Starting your own educational website provides not just a revenue stream, but also a platform to share your knowledge and make a real difference in people's lives.

How much you can make: $50 — $10,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $2,500 (?)

How long does it take to build: 125 days (?)

On Launching An Online Course With Career Strategies For College Students

G7 Education offers online courses and in-person classes focused on career development, with a focus on cybersecurity and cloud computing, and has been profitable at $50 a month, thanks to customer obsession and a free learning management system.

Read by 3,612 founders

12. Start an augmented and virtual reality business

Imagine transforming how people experience the world around them from the comfort of their own homes. That’s the power of an augmented and virtual reality business. In simple terms, this business involves creating immersive digital experiences using AR and VR technologies. You could develop virtual tours for real estate, interactive training modules, or even lifelike games.

The landscape is ripe for innovation, with businesses across various industries like tourism, education, and healthcare seeking these next-gen solutions. Starting an AR/VR business involves substantial initial investments in software development and hardware. However, the demand for immersive digital experiences is only expected to grow.

Not only is this a chance to be at the cutting edge of technology, but it also allows you to craft experiences that could change how people interact with the world. If you’re passionate about blending the digital and physical realms, this could be a highly rewarding venture.

How much you can make: $10,000 — $300,000/month

How long does it take to build: 120 days (?)

We Developed A $120K/Year Augmented Reality Solution For E-commerce

MazingXR is an augmented reality solution for e-commerce that generates $120k/year, and has grown from an MVP to a team of 9 people, with a focus on organic growth, personal customer connections, and continuing to develop the innovative potential of AR and NFTs.

Read by 2,819 founders

13. Start a youtube channel

For anyone looking to start a successful YouTube channel, there are plenty of YouTube channel success stories that can be used as inspiration and encouragement. In addition, YouTube has an established monetization system and boasts incredible popularity, making it a potential platform for revenue generation.

In this article, we'll look at different approaches you can use to help promote your channel and grow your viewers. While there's no quick and easy way to success, you can take these tips to build your own YouTube Channel Success story. If you love content creation, you can capitalize on YouTube's popularity to earn extra income.

If you want to join the Youtube partner program to monetize your channel, you will need to reach a minimum of 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 watch hours in the previous 12 months.

How much you can make: $800 — $1,000,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $750 (?)

How long does it take to build: 90 days (?)

Time commitment per week: Min. 5 hours/week

How This Couple Makes $5K/Month Generating Content About Ways To Make Money Online

Learn how this entrepreneurial couple made $5-7k a month by helping others find legitimate work from home jobs and creative ways to make money online through their blog and YouTube channel, as well as offering two flagship products designed to help beginner freelancers and new bloggers accelerate growth.

Read by 14,059 founders

14. Start a live classroom business

Hosting live classrooms offers the chance to transform education. A live classroom business provides real-time, interactive educational experiences for learners of all ages.

By creating engaging lessons streamed directly to students worldwide, you can help bridge the gap in access to quality education. The business primarily involves developing a curriculum, setting up a streaming platform, and marketing your classes to attract students.

This venture is particularly appealing for educators and experts passionate about teaching and connecting with learners. With the growing demand for flexible learning options, live classrooms stand out for their ability to deliver personalized education in a virtual environment.

If you have a desire to make an impact in education and possess the expertise to share, consider stepping into the world of live classrooms. It’s a gratifying way to turn your knowledge into a scalable business.

How much you can make: $75,000 — $7,800,000/month

How long does it take to build: 180 days (?)

Creating A Platform For Digitizing Classroom Activities And Making $900K/Year

Edtech entrepreneur Laura Bresko shares how she and her partner developed a platform called TeacherMade that digitizes classroom activities and generated $900K in revenue, with a focus on leveraging SEO and developing a friendly, empathetic customer support team.

Read by 4,057 founders

15. Start a special kids platform business

Imagine a dedicated platform that caters to the unique needs of children, offering both an engaging and safe online space. A special kids platform business focuses on creating such a digital ecosystem, integrating educational content, interactive games, and social features designed specifically for young minds.

This business idea revolves around developing a web and mobile platform where kids can learn, play, and connect under parental supervision. The emphasis is on blending entertainment with education, ensuring that children enjoy their screen time meaningfully.

The core challenge lies in designing age-appropriate content, maintaining high security standards, and attracting both parents and children to the platform. By collaborating with educators, child psychologists, and tech developers, you can create a differentiated product in the crowded kids’ app market.

For someone interested in making a positive impact while entering a growth-oriented digital sector, starting a special kids platform business offers a fulfilling opportunity.

16. Start an online education fair and summits business

17. Start an online course sales business

Do you know you can make money selling what you are passionate about? People are making money creating courses and selling them online. Common online courses include music, cooking, coding, web design, dropshipping, etc.

Thus, you can turn it into a passive income by launching online classes if you have a skill. All you need is to choose a target audience, create the online course and choose an online learning platform where you can sell the course.

The e-learning market is expected to be worth over $645 Billion in the next few years.

How much you can make: $100 — $300,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $2,000 (?)

How long does it take to build: 180 days (?)

I Make $120K/Year With My Print On Demand T-Shirt Side Hustle

A multipreneur shares how she built a successful print on demand side hustle, generating $120,000 per year through multiple brands spread over various platforms.

Read by 11,637 founders

18. Start a gamified courses and classes business

Gamified courses and classes could revolutionize the way people learn. Imagine a business where traditional educational content meets interactive game mechanics. By integrating rewards, challenges, and progress tracking into course material, you can create an engaging learning environment that motivates users to complete tasks and retain information.

This business model involves creating or partnering with content developers to design educational modules that incorporate these game-like features. The aim is to make learning not just informative but also entertaining, appealing to a wide range of audiences from children to adults seeking professional development.

The demand for innovative learning solutions continues to grow, especially in our increasingly digital world. By focusing on gamified courses, you could tap into this lucrative market. It requires initial investments in technology and educational content but offers the potential for substantial returns and high user engagement.

How much you can make: $40,000 — $55,000/month

How long does it take to build: 112 days (?)

We Created A $420K/Year SEO Tool With Fun Game Mechanics

Morningscore, an SEO tool with gamification elements, grew to 600+ customers with an MRR of $40,000 in 3 years without VC funding, and achieved 300% YoY revenue growth; the founder shares insights on launching too early, not comparing growth to bigger-funded competitors, and the necessity of funding for hyper-growth in high-competition industries like SAAS.

Read by 6,072 founders

19. Start an ethical hacking courses

How much does it cost to start: $1,000 (?)

20. Become a computer training provider

meet the author
Pat Walls

I'm Pat Walls and I created Starter Story - a website dedicated to helping people start businesses. We interview entrepreneurs from around the world about how they started and grew their businesses.