*By Madison Alworth*
MasterClass has raised an additional $80 million in funding, cementing the online learning platform's mission to make school "excite you again," said the co-founder and CEO.
"School often sucked the life out of us," David Rogier said Friday in an interview on Cheddar.
The latest round will be used to expand offerings in new categories and improve the student experience everywhere, beyond the U.S.
"We're going to launch in other countries, and we're going to launch classes in fields that we are not in yet, like business and politics," Rogier said.
MasterClass released its first three classes in 2015 and has since grown to offer 39 classes. Subscribers can take courses led by bestselling author James Patterson, famed journalist Bob Woodward, or chef Gordon Ramsay, among other giants of industry.
With its Series D funding, the company hopes to grow to 50 course offerings by the end of the year.
When conceiving new classes, Rogier said MasterClass relies on many parties. New instructors are added to the docket after the company polls MasterClass students, employees, and current instructors.
And, of course, there are always some teachers that MasterClass is eyeing for its "dream list."
"I would love to take a class from Warren Buffett. I would love to take a class from J.K. Rowling," Rogier said.
For the CEO, MasterClass would ideally be able to adapt in tandem with digital technology.
"The thing that I am most excited about, that we are just beginning to explore, is AR and VR. Imagine if you're going to learn a dance from Usher, how neat would it be to see where to put your feet," he said.
For full interview [click here](https://cheddar.com/videos/masterclass-raises-additional-80-million-in-series-d).
UBS said Monday that it has completed its takeover of embattled rival Credit Suisse, nearly three months after the Swiss government hastily arranged a rescue deal to combine the country's two largest banks in a bid to safeguard Switzerland’s reputation as a global financial center and choke off market turmoil.
Gene sequencing test maker Illumina Inc. said Sunday that its board has accepted the resignation of its CEO and director, Francis deSouza, effective immediately.
“Any consumer can tell you that online airline bookings are confusing enough," said William McGee, an aviation expert at the American Economic Liberties Project. "The last thing we need is to roll back an existing protection that provides effective transparency.”
Cheddar News checks in to see what to look out for Next Week on the Street as former president Donald Trump makes an appearance in federal court after being indicted. Investors will also keep an eye on the Federal Reserve meeting to see what comes out of that while earnings continue to pour in.
Google will launch its long-delayed News Showcase product this summer.
Walmart is expanding its HIV treatments, planning to add over 80 specialty facilities across nearly a dozen states by the end of the year.
The Internal Revenue Service said there are about $1.5 billion in unclaimed tax refunds dating back to 2019.
General Motors will allow its electric vehicles to use Tesla charging stations across the country.
The Week's Top Stories is a guided tour through the biggest market stories of the week, from winning stocks to brutal dips to the facts and forecasts generating buzz on Wall Street.
Modelo Especial is now the top-selling beer in the United States, dethroning Bud Light after 22 years. In May, sales of Modelo Especial hit $333 million. That's up 15.6 percent from the same period last year.
