{"id":2572,"date":"2024-12-13T01:44:16","date_gmt":"2024-12-13T01:44:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/novoed.com\/product-overview-template-2\/"},"modified":"2026-01-26T08:32:10","modified_gmt":"2026-01-26T15:32:10","slug":"our-story","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/novoed.com\/our-story\/","title":{"rendered":"Our Story"},"content":{"rendered":"
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where it started and where it’s going<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

The NovoEd<\/span> Story<\/h1>\t\t\t\n\t\t\t
They say necessity is the mother of invention, so what need sparked NovoEd\u2019s conception? How did the introduction of this disruptive platform transform the emerging online learning industry?<\/div>\n\t\t\t <\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t <\/div>\n \t
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\n\t\torigin story <\/div>\n\t\t

A Shared Vision Born at Stanford<\/h2>\t
\n\t\tA better online experience for all learners <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\t\n
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Founded in 2012 at Stanford’s Social Algorithms Lab by Co-Founders Farnaz Ronaghi and Amin Saberi, NovoEd builds upon the premise and the promise of early online learning to create truly transformational learning experiences for individuals shaping today\u2019s organizations.<\/p>\n

Learn more about how \u2014 and why \u2014 these visionary founders conceived of and developed the powerful NovoEd learning platform. You\u2019ll discover how NovoEd\u2019s key components extend modern learning beyond the typical online class experience, empowering individuals around the globe to work together, exchange ideas, share feedback, and learn from each other.<\/p>\n

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Stanford beginnings<\/h3>\n

NovoEd’s story began in 2012 when engineering professor Amin Saberi and PhD student Farnaz Ronaghi sought to create a new and better way to take an online Technology Entrepreneurship class at Stanford\u2019s social algorithm laboratory. It was at that time that Massive Open Online Classes (MOOCs) were taking off at Stanford. There was a lot of potential and even more hype about MOOCs, but Amin and Farnaz were dissatisfied with the format and delivery of these courses.<\/p>\n

Amin and Farnaz wanted more from online learning and knew it was possible.<\/p>\n

They had a vision of learners working in teams and encountering the kinds of challenges they would have faced in a classroom, centered around group discussions, peer feedback, and an open exchange of ideas. They understood that true learning isn\u2019t an isolated activity but happens collaboratively and is felt experientially.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I looked at these classes, one thing that I saw missing was that they were mainly focused on scaling the lecture hall experience,\u201d Farnaz says. \u201cThey\u2019re mainly about bringing access to high-quality content with lots of videos and quizzes.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat I liked a lot about my education at Stanford was the fact that I was exposed to very smart people. I was working with others. I was basically hearing their thoughts. I was challenged by their questions. That exposure to other people\u2019s thoughts was actually the main thing that helped me grow, learn, and do better with my own work. I felt like that\u2019s a big aspect of education that has been missing.\u201d<\/p>\n

First of its kind<\/b><\/h3>\n

Farnaz and Amin quickly discovered that the opportunity for learners to connect and gain exposure to new ideas was the key driver of engagement. At first, the business model was similar to that of Coursera and Udacity, selling courses to learners around the world. But Amin and Farnaz concluded that this wasn\u2019t the optimal approach to sharing this powerful new learning platform.<\/p>\n

There was a better way. This realization led to the first big pivot in NovoEd’s business model \u2014 the evolution to a business-to-business “B2B” or business-to-business-to-consumer “B(2B)2C” model. Over the next few years, NovoEd found increasing interest from a corporate market hungry to scale the benefits of collaborative learning for high-value skill development and capability building. NovoEd isn\u2019t an LMS or an LXP \u2014 it\u2019s the first learning platform in the market to offer its software and services to organizations who then provide valuable and relevant courses to their own employees or customers, driving high-impact learning at scale.<\/p>\n

Fast-paced growth and a laser focus on the future<\/b><\/h3>\n

In 2018, NovoEd was acquired by Boston-based private equity group Devonshire Investors. In Devonshire, NovoEd found a financial partner who shares our passion for collaborative learning and our commitment to the corporate learning and development market.<\/p>\n

The resources provided by the Devonshire acquisition allows us to continue our innovation in product functionality, providing full-service customer support, and growing market reach, strengthening our position to deliver on the vision initially articulated by Farnaz and Amin.<\/p>\n

Today, Farnaz is our Chief Technology officer, deeply involved in the day-to-day activities of the company, and Amin is an advisor to the Board of Directors.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n