From Startup to Global in 4 Years

Benjamin Welbourn , a partner at Verto Education, shares his story of developing a study-abroad program that stands to become the largest university in the world!

Ben and two partners worked in the student exchange industry and recognized the potential in offering high school graduates an innovative and affordable first university semester abroad. Anyone who has been abroad knows the benefits of traveling – learning about cultures, connecting with people, exposure to languages, and experiencing new foods, sights, and sounds – and the program would offer all of that, within a safe environment filled with experiential learning.?

The United States demonstrates a low level of passport ownership and travel is seen as a luxury. Yet, by realizing people share similar wants and needs around the world, countries can develop more fellowship and peace. Verto Education drew inspiration from this lack of international experience and the pressure-filled lives of 17- and 18-year-old young adults tasked with choosing an expensive college while deciding what they want to do for the rest of their lives. International and experiential learning in a foreign country will open new possibilities and expose young adults to opportunities they might not have considered. The company also knew they had to provide a safe, high-quality learning environment so parents would be supportive.?

With this great vision, the team set out to sell to their many audiences:?

• Stressed students in their senior year of high school.
• Parents who care about their child’s next steps.?
• Counselors and education consultants with influence.?
• Universities willing to accept Verto students after their first semester.?
• Professors to teach.
• Health and Safety operators to keep everyone safe.?
• Locations around the world with local facilities.

They had eight students attend in 2018 by pulling all these audiences together and that number grew to eight hundred by 2022. The program has expanded to six countries in four years and they have ambitious plans to expand to other countries in the future!?

In this episode, you’ll hear about the strategy the team used to pick initial markets, how and why they ended up where they are now, and how COVID affected location choices.

Listen to the full episode here:

Students are recruited from the United States, and accepted from other countries as they hear about the program and apply. The company is not currently marketing in countries other than the US but plans to in the future as they open up other Learning Centers around the world. Professors are from quality institutions in the US and each local country; many who come for a semester decide to stay full-time even if they were tenure-tracked in their prior institution, underscoring the program’s effectiveness.?

In our podcast episode #14, Brittany Cooper talks about how her old company tried to open too fast in too many countries and how that brought them down. Verto Education provides a nice contrast, demonstrating how to open fast yet be flexible, adaptable, and successful.?

Listen until the end to hear Ben tell the story of his favorite foreign word – “olabaviti” – which means “relax” or “loosen up” in Bosnian.?

Full Disclosure from Wendy: My son is currently in Costa Rica, enrolled in the Verto Education program and loving it. I am so impressed with the whole program – the professors are top-notch, the location is enviable, the support team is phenomenal, the communication is fantastic, and my son is getting international experience with a group of fabulous young adults. In fact, he’s considering another country for next semester. After that, he plans on going to a partner school. I am a HUGE fan of Verto Education!?

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