Back in 2007, University of Otago brothers Shane and Craig Smith entered Audacious with a simple idea: a vocabulary learning tool for language students. They won the competition, giving them the confidence and early funding to take a year off study and pursue their startup full time. That idea became Language Perfect, which later evolved into Education Perfect, now one of New Zealand’s most successful EdTech companies.
From humble beginnings in their parents’ basement, the Smith brothers worked tirelessly to build a product that resonated with students and teachers. What started with languages quickly expanded across maths, science, English and beyond, growing into a full online learning platform.
By the late 2010s, Education Perfect was reaching more than one million students in over 1,700 schools worldwide, supported by offices across Australasia and Asia.
The company’s rapid growth attracted international attention, leading to a $445 million majority acquisition by global investment firm KKR in 2019. Despite that scale, Education Perfect has kept its roots in Dunedin, maintaining a major office in the city and continuing to employ local graduates.
Today, Education Perfect continues to innovate with AI-powered tools, new subject areas, and a mission to “humanise technology for lifelong learning.”
From winning Audacious to becoming a global leader, its journey shows how a student startup from Dunedin can grow to transform classrooms around the world.