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John Katzman is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Noodle, an education technology network based in New York City, New York. After earning a bachelor's degree from Princeton University, he established The Princeton Review in 1981, serving as its CEO until 2007 and co-authoring the bestseller Cracking the SAT. In 2008, Katzman founded the online program management provider 2U, leading the firm as CEO until 2012 before both of his initial ventures eventually became publicly traded Russell 2000 index companies. Under his current leadership, Noodle has expanded to support over 65 university partnerships and secured more than $110 million in total funding, including a $50 million Series C round led by BlackRock. His four-decade entrepreneurial career remains heavily focused on scaling higher education services, test preparation, and online degree programs through venture-backed technology platforms.
John Katzman is a highly influential investor and entrepreneur in the education technology (EdTech) sector, best known for founding groundbreaking companies like The Princeton Review, 2U, and Noodle. He is a visionary leader dedicated to transforming higher education through innovative online learning solutions.
John Katzman primarily invests in and champions companies focused on innovation within higher education and education technology (EdTech). His focus areas include online learning platforms, university partnerships, and solutions that enhance accessibility and quality in digital education. His own ventures, Noodle, 2U, and The Princeton Review, exemplify his investment philosophy.
John Katzman works as the founder and CEO of Noodle, an innovative company that partners with universities to build and scale online learning programs. He leads Noodle's strategic direction, continuing his lifelong mission to revolutionize education through technology.
John Katzman stands as a towering figure in the education technology (EdTech) landscape, a visionary investor and entrepreneur whose career has consistently reshaped how people learn. As the founder of Noodle, he continues to drive significant innovation in higher education, forging strategic partnerships with universities to build and expand high-quality online learning programs. His role at Noodle is pivotal, guiding the company's mission to make education more accessible, affordable, and effective through technology.
Katzman's investment focus areas are deeply rooted in his belief in the transformative power of education. He champions ventures that leverage technology to enhance learning outcomes, improve student access, and create sustainable models for higher education. This includes a keen interest in online program management (OPM), digital learning platforms, and solutions that bridge the gap between traditional academia and the demands of the modern digital world. His work at Noodle exemplifies this, as the company helps institutions navigate the complexities of online program development, from marketing and enrollment to instructional design and student support.
John Katzman's illustrious career background is a testament to his pioneering spirit. He first made his mark by founding The Princeton Review in 1981, revolutionizing the test preparation industry with innovative teaching methodologies and a student-centric approach. This venture challenged conventional wisdom and empowered countless students to achieve their academic goals. Following this success, Katzman co-founded 2U in 2008, a company that became a leader in partnering with top-tier universities to deliver fully online graduate degree programs. 2U's model demonstrated the viability and quality of online education at scale, fundamentally altering perceptions of digital learning.
With Noodle, founded in 2018, Katzman embarked on the next evolution of his vision. Noodle offers a more flexible and transparent approach to online program development, allowing universities to retain greater control while benefiting from Noodle's expertise and technology. His "investments" in the sector are not merely financial; they are deeply personal commitments to building companies that fundamentally improve educational access and quality. The success of The Princeton Review, 2U, and Noodle are his most notable contributions, each representing a significant investment in the future of learning. Through these ventures, John Katzman has consistently demonstrated an ability to identify critical needs in the education market and develop scalable, impactful solutions, solidifying his reputation as a leading investor and innovator in EdTech.
