TakeLessons

In 2004, TakeLessons CEO Steven Cox was singing and playing guitar in the alt-rock band Across the Room with bassist Scotty B. and drummer Enrique Platas.[1] The idea for TakeLessons came about when Platas announced that he was quitting the band in order to accept a job as a cook at Chili's, because he was having a child and was in need of a more steady income than he was making from music, and Cox wanted to find a way to allow Platas to use the internet to find steady work as a drum instructor.[2] In 2006, TakeLessons was launched to connect music and voice instructors with students.[3][4] Since its launch, the San Diego-based company has expanded across the country with private instructors in more than 2,800 cities.[5]

In 2009, TakeLessons partnered with Costco.com to sell gift certificates for music and voice lessons.[6] In 2010, they entered into a partnership with Best Buy to sell and teach lessons in Best Buy stores.[7] In 2011, the company was awarded $6 million in venture capital from Crosslink Capital.[8] In 2013, the company received $4 million in venture capital to expand the services the company offered.[9] In October 2013, they expanded the range of their services offered, adding academic tutors, foreign language instructors, and additional performing arts teachers in dance and acting.[10][11] As of October 2013, TakeLessons had raised $12 million in capital.[12]

The company was an early provider in Google Helpouts while the site was in invite-only status, with TakeLessons inviting a select number of instructors to offer live video instruction in music, acting and tutoring.[13][14] As part of the launch, the company gave away a free 30-minute guitar lesson with guitarist David Kennedy of Angels & Airwaves.[15]

Steven Cox was raised with music from an early age, singing and playing bass in a gospel band with his parents and three brothers.[16] He graduated with dual degrees in Finance and Human Communications from Eastern Kentucky University, paying his way through school by working as a DJ.[17][18] Following his graduation, Cox worked in pharmaceutical sales.[19] He was a founding employee and the national business development director for PurchasePro.com (PPRO), a business-to-business e-commerce platform that initiated B-2-B commerce between educational institutions, governmental agencies, and their suppliers.[20] Following PPRO, Cox served as the vice president of strategic development for CollegeClub.com, which was at the time the 44th largest site on the internet.[21] An early social network, CollegeClub.com allowed users to sign up for free, create profiles, communicate and post pictures.[22] Prior to founding TakeLessons, Cox served as the managing partner of Reddito Partners, a privately held management consulting firm that specialized in web management strategy, web operations, e-commerce, and business development for clients including Cisco, Club Med, and Brian Tracy International.[23]

In 2008, the company was named a Killer Startup by KillerStartups.com.[24] In 2011, it was recognized as one of the best places to work in San Diego.[25] In 2013, the San Diego Business Journal ranked TakeLessons ninth on their annual list of the fastest-growing private companies in the county.[26] The same year, the company was ranked 214 on Deloitte's Technology Fast 500, named the second fastest-growing Internet company in the San Diego area.[27]

• Official website