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Microsoft has acquired TakeLessons, a start-up whose website allows users to book paid online and in-person classes on different subjects, a Microsoft spokesperson confirmed Friday. The terms of the deal weren’t disclosed.

This is not the first time that the software giant showed its commitment to providing people with educational content. Over 6% of Microsoft’s revenue is generated from LinkedIn. The professional social networking platform generates part of its revenue from subscriptions which allow subscribers to learn online through the LinkedIn Learning program. 

However, TakeLessons is different than TakeLessons. This is because the newly acquired company allows people to get live training for private classes from instructors and live groups.

Furthermore, LinkedIn is more focused on leadership, marketing, sales and other business and software development subjects whereas TakeLessons serves users with several consumer-oriented subjects such as languages, arts and music. 

 “TakeLessons is a unique, trusted online marketplace that connects diverse, qualified and vetted instructors with students of all ages pursuing their goals,” a Microsoft spokesperson told CNBC in an email. “This acquisition is in response to the growing demand on personalized hybrid opportunities and expands our product offerings to TakeLessons consumers, a leading online learning platform.”

TakeLessons is live since 2006

TakeLessons which is based in San Diago, California, United States, was founded in 2006. Its investors include Crosslink Capital, Moore Venture Partners, SoftTech VC and Triangle Peak Partners.

“With the help and grit of the exceptional TakeLessons team, hundreds of millions of people from every corner of the world have visited TakeLessons, and taken many, many million minutes of lessons — learning everything from STEM to Farsi, guitar to horseback riding, parkour, tennis, singing, and yes, even beefing up on Excel macros,” TakeLessons founder and CEO Steven Cox wrote in a LinkedIn post.

The online learning sector has widely benefited from the appearance of the Covid-19 pandemic. Covid “accelerated the market for online learning solutions,” Coursera said earlier this year as it filed to go public. And the number of hours people spent on LinkedIn Learning doubled year over year in the fourth quarter, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella told analysts on a conference call in January.