Unico Connect Transforms Adult Education for 15,000+ Students with ‘Highlands Brain' App
Leading low-code and no-code software development agency, Unico Connect developed an app that transformed adult education for over 15,000 students at Highlands Charter School.
Mumbai, India--(Newsfile Corp. - March 21, 2025) - Unico Connect, a leading software development agency, has successfully collaborated with Highlands Community Charter & Technical School (HCCTS) to revolutionize adult education through the development of the 'Highlands Brain' application.
This innovative digital platform is designed to enhance learning experiences, streamline administrative processes, and foster effective communication within the educational community.
HCCTS, California's second-largest charter school, is dedicated to providing inclusive and equitable education to diverse communities.
Recognizing the need to modernize its technological infrastructure, HCCTS partnered with Unico Connect to develop a comprehensive solution that addresses key challenges:
Enhanced Digital Learning: The integration of modern technology, such as tablets, has expanded digital learning opportunities, enriching classroom experiences for students.
Improved Data Management: A robust data management system now enables real-time tracking of student performance and engagement, facilitating personalized learning plans.
Seamless Communication: The implementation of an integrated communication platform fosters effective collaboration among teachers, parents, and students, ensuring timely updates and support.
'By integrating data analytics, automated decision-making, and predictive insights, we enabled a more connected and efficient system for student lifecycle management, departmental coordination, and institutional growth,' said Unico Connect CEO Malay Parekh.
'The key takeaway for other educational institutions is that AI is not just a futuristic concept - it is a powerful tool for optimizing workflows, reducing inefficiencies, and enhancing student outcomes today.'
Innovative Features of the Highlands Brain Application
The Highlands Brain app is equipped with a suite of features designed to support adult learners:
Universal Reach: A multi-language interface ensures inclusivity, catering to a diverse student body.
AI English Learning: An AI-driven tool enhances English language skills by providing corrections, grammar assistance, and text-to-speech functionalities.
AI Knowledge Base: Students can access school policies and materials via an AI-powered knowledge base, ensuring they have the resources needed for success.
Connect & Collaborate: The platform facilitates one-on-one and group chat functionalities, promoting collaboration and community building.
Emergency Response: A feature that allows instant notification to the Safety Team during emergencies, ensuring student safety.
Insightful Monitoring: Educators can easily track student progress, enabling timely interventions and support.
NFC Smart Access & Real-time Attendance: Quick check-ins using NFC tags and real-time attendance tracking streamline administrative tasks.
Significant Impact on Student Outcomes
The implementation of the Highlands Brain application has yielded remarkable results:
15,000+ students have improved their educational journeys through the platform.
25% faster English language acquisition has enhanced communication skills and opportunities.
97% less manual compliance work allows staff to focus on student support.
To learn more about how custom digital services can potentially transform your business, visit https://unicoconnect.com/.
About Unico Connect
Unico Connect specializes in delivering tailored digital solutions across various industries, including education, fintech, healthcare, hospitality, and e-commerce. By leveraging modern platforms, tools, and AI-based solutions, Unico Connect aims to democratize development and make digital solutions accessible for all businesses.
About Highlands Community Charter & Technical School
HCCTS is committed to inclusivity and educational equity, serving diverse communities and bridging gaps for all students. The school emphasizes holistic development by integrating academic rigor with social and emotional learning, empowering students to become well-rounded individuals equipped for future challenges.
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SINGAPORE, June 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- 51Talk Online Education Group ("51Talk" or the "Company") (NYSE American: COE), a global online education platform with core expertise in English education, announced its unaudited results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2025. First Quarter 2025 Financial and Operating Highlights Gross billings[1] for the first quarter of 2025 were US$21.9 million, a 74.6% growth from the first quarter of 2024. Net revenues were US$18.2 million for the first quarter of 2025, a 93.1% increase from US$9.4 million for the first quarter of 2024. The number of active students with attended lesson consumption was approximately 81,100 in the first quarter of 2025, representing a 75.5% increase from approximately 46,200 for the first quarter of 2024. Key Financial and Operating Data For the three months endedMarch. 31,March. 31,Y-o-Y20242025Change Net Revenues (in US$ millions) 9.418.293.1 % Gross Margin 77.5 %77.0 %-0.5ppt Gross Billings (in US$ millions) 12.621.974.6 % Active students with attended lesson consumption[2] (in thousands) 46.281.175.5 % [1] Gross billings for a specific period, which is one of the Company's key operating data, is defined as the total amount of cash received and receivable from third party payment platforms for the sale of course packages and services in such period, net of the total amount of refunds in such period. The gross billings data included herein was from the Company's business system and converted with quarterly corresponding exchange rate, which may lead to differences with bank records. [2] An "active student with attended lesson consumption" for a given period refers to a student who attended at least one paid lesson, excluding those students who only attended paid live broadcasting lessons or trial lessons. "Our first-quarter gross billings increased by 74.6% compared to the same period last year, highlighting the progress we've made and the robustness of our business model. We remain confident in the sustainable growth trajectory of our operations. Looking ahead, we are encouraged by the positive momentum in the second quarter. Breakthroughs in our existing markets are driving results, and we are seeing promising early returns from our strategic investments in new regions." stated Jack Jiajia Huang, Founder, Chairman, and Chief Executive Officer of 51Talk. "We are establishing leadership positions in many of our core markets and are confident that our business model is well-equipped to outperform incumbents in mature markets and seize first-mover advantage in emerging ones. Education continues to be an operationally intensive sector, and we are proactively addressing the complexities of managing a growing, multi-market business. To support this expansion, we have taken deliberate steps to optimize our organizational structure, accelerate AI training and adoption company-wide, and deepen user engagement to foster stronger connections with our community." "We are excited about the future of our business and remain steadfast in our commitment to delivering long-term value to our shareholders, students and partners." concluded Jack Jiajia Huang. First Quarter 2025 Financial Results Net Revenues and Gross Margin Net revenues for the first quarter of 2025 were US$18.2 million, a 93.1% increase from US$9.4 million for the same quarter last year. The number of active students with attended lesson consumption was approximately 81,100 in the first quarter of 2025, a 75.5% increase from 46,200 for the same quarter last year. Cost of revenues for the first quarter of 2025 was US$4.2 million, a 97.6% increase from US$2.1 million for the same quarter last year. The increase was primarily due to the increase in total service fees paid to teachers, mainly resulting from an increased number of paid lessons. Gross profit for the first quarter of 2025 was US$14.0 million, a 91.8% increase from US$7.3 million for the same quarter last year. Gross margin for the first quarter of 2025 was 77.0%, compared with 77.5% for the same quarter last year. Operating Expenses Total operating expenses for the first quarter of 2025 were US$15.3 million, a 35.6% increase from US$11.3 million for the same quarter last year. The increase was mainly due to the increase in sales and marketing expenses. Sales and marketing expenses for the first quarter of 2025 were US$11.1 million, a 42.7% increase from US$7.8 million for the same quarter last year. The increase was mainly due to higher sales personnel costs related to increases in the number of sales and marketing personnel and higher expenses incurred for our marketing activities. Excluding share-based compensation expenses, non-GAAP sales and marketing expenses for the first quarter of 2025 were US$11.0 million, a 42.6% increase from US$7.7 million for the same quarter last year. Product development expenses for the first quarter of 2025 were US$1.0 million, a 9.8% increase from US$1.0 million for the same quarter last year. The increase was primarily due to higher product development personnel costs. Excluding share-based compensation expenses, non-GAAP product development expenses for the first quarter of 2025 were US$1.0 million, a 12.3% increase from US$0.9 million for the same quarter last year. General and administrative expenses for the first quarter of 2025 were US$3.2 million, a 23.8% increase from US$2.6 million for the same quarter last year. The increase was primarily due to higher general and administrative personnel costs. Excluding share-based compensation expenses, non-GAAP general and administrative expenses for the first quarter of 2025 were US$3.0 million, a 26.3% increase from US$2.4 million for the same quarter last year. Loss from Operations Operating loss for the first quarter of 2025 was US$1.3 million, compared with operating loss of US$4.0 million for the same quarter last year. Non-GAAP operating loss for the first quarter of 2025 was US$1.0 million, compared with non-GAAP operating loss of US$3.7 million for the same quarter last year. Net loss attributable to the Company's ordinary shareholders Net loss attributable to the Company's ordinary shareholders for the first quarter of 2025 was US$1.5 million, compared with net loss of US$4.0 million for the same quarter last year. Excluding share-based compensation expenses of US$0.3 million, non-GAAP net loss for the first quarter of 2025 was US$1.2 million, compared with non-GAAP net loss of US$3.7 million for the same quarter last year. Basic and diluted net loss per share attributable to ordinary shareholders for the first quarter of 2025 was US$0.004, compared with basic and diluted net loss per share attributable to ordinary shareholders of US$0.01 for the same quarter last year. Excluding share-based compensation expenses of US$0.3 million, non-GAAP basic and diluted net loss per share attributable to ordinary shareholders for the first quarter of 2025 was US$0.003, compared with non-GAAP basic and diluted net loss per share attributable to ordinary shareholders of US$0.01 for the same quarter last year. Basic and diluted net loss per American depositary share ("ADS") attributable to ordinary shareholders for the first quarter of 2025 was US$0.25, compared with basic and diluted net loss per ADS attributable to ordinary shareholders of US$0.69 for the same quarter last year. Each ADS represents 60 Class A ordinary shares. Excluding share-based compensation expenses of US$0.3 million, non-GAAP basic and diluted net loss per ADS attributable to ordinary shareholders for the first quarter of 2025 was US$0.20, compared with non-GAAP basic and diluted net loss per ADS attributable to ordinary shareholders of US$0.64 for the same quarter last year. Balance Sheet As of March 31, 2025, the Company had total cash, cash equivalents and time deposits of US$29.5 million, compared with US$$29.2 million as of December 31, 2024. The Company had advances from students[3] of US$47.9 million as of March 31, 2025, compared with US$45.1 million as of December 31, 2024. The financial statements for the first quarter ended March 31, 2025 herein have not been audited or reviewed by the Company's independent registered accounting firm. [3] "Advances from students" is defined as the amount of obligation to transfer goods or service to students or business partners for which consideration has been received from students in advance. The deposits from students are also presented in the total amount of "advances from students". Outlook For the second quarter of 2025, the Company currently expects net gross billings to be between US$24.5 million and US$25.5 million,which would represent a sequential growth of 11.7% to 16.3% and an increase of approximately 54.4% to 60.7% from the same quarter last year. The above outlook is based on current market conditions and reflects the Company's current and preliminary estimates of market and operating conditions and customer demand, which are all subject to change. Conference Call The Company's management will host an earnings conference call at 8:00 AM U.S. Eastern Time on June 9, 2025 (8:00 PM Singapore/Hong Kong time on June 9, 2025). Dial-in details for the earnings conference call are as follows: United States (toll free): 1-888-346-8982 International: 1-412-902-4272 Singapore (toll free): 800-120-6157 Mainland China (toll free): 4001-201203 Hong Kong (toll free): 800-905945 Hong Kong (local toll): 852-301-84992 Participants should dial-in at least 5 minutes before the scheduled start time and ask to be connected to the call for "51Talk Online Education Group." Additionally, a live and archived webcast of the conference call will be available on the Company's investor relations website at A replay of the conference call will be accessible until June 17, 2025, by dialing the following telephone numbers: United States (toll free): 1-877-344-7529 International: 1-412-317-0088 Replay Access Code: 6422462 About 51Talk Online Education Group 51Talk Online Education Group (NYSE American: COE) is a global online education platform with core expertise in English education. The Company's mission is to make quality education accessible and affordable. The Company's online and mobile education platforms enable students to take live interactive English lessons, on demand. The Company connects its students with a large pool of highly qualified teachers that it assembled using a shared economy approach, and employs student and teacher feedback and data analytics to deliver a personalized learning experience to its students. Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures In evaluating its business, 51Talk considers and uses the following measures defined as non-GAAP financial measures by the SEC as supplemental metrics to review and assess its operating performance: non-GAAP sales and marketing expenses, non-GAAP product development expenses, non-GAAP general and administrative expenses, non-GAAP operating expenses, non-GAAP operating income/(loss), non-GAAP net income/(loss), non-GAAP net income/(loss) attributable to ordinary shareholders, and non-GAAP net income/(loss) attributable to ordinary shareholders per share and per ADS. To present each of these non-GAAP measures, the Company excludes share-based compensation expenses. The presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures is not intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with GAAP. For more information on these non-GAAP financial measures, please see the table captioned "Reconciliations of non-GAAP measures to the most comparable GAAP measures" set forth at the end of this press release. 51Talk believes that these non-GAAP financial measures provide meaningful supplemental information regarding its performance by excluding share-based compensation expenses that may not be indicative of its operating performance from a cash perspective. 51Talk believes that both management and investors benefit from these non-GAAP financial measures in assessing its performance and when planning and forecasting future periods. These non-GAAP financial measures also facilitate management's internal comparisons to 51Talk's historical performance. 51Talk computes its non-GAAP financial measures using the same consistent method from quarter to quarter and from period to period. 51Talk believes these non-GAAP financial measures are useful to investors in allowing for greater transparency with respect to supplemental information used by management in its financial and operational decision-making. A limitation of using non-GAAP measures is that these non-GAAP measures exclude share-based compensation expenses that have been and will continue to be for the foreseeable future a significant recurring expense in the 51Talk's business. Management compensates for these limitations by providing specific information regarding the GAAP amounts excluded from each non-GAAP measure. The accompanying table at the end of this press release provides more details on the reconciliations between GAAP financial measures that are most directly comparable to non-GAAP financial measures. Safe Harbor Statement This press release contains statements that may constitute "forward-looking" statements pursuant to the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "will", "expects", "anticipates", "aims", "future", "intends", "plans", "believes", "estimates", "likely to" and similar statements. Among other things, 51Talk's quotations from management in this announcement, as well as 51Talk's strategic and operational plans, contain forward-looking statements. 51Talk may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its periodic reports to the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), in its annual report to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about 51Talk's beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement, including but not limited to the following: 51Talk's goals and strategies; 51Talk's expectations regarding demand for and market acceptance of its brand and platform; 51Talk's ability to retain and increase its student enrollment; 51Talk's ability to offer new courses; 51Talk's ability to engage, train and retain new teachers; 51Talk's future business development, results of operations and financial condition; 51Talk's ability to maintain and improve infrastructure necessary to operate its education platform; competition in the online education industry in its international markets; the expected growth of, and trends in, the markets for 51Talk's course offerings in its international markets; relevant government policies and regulations relating to 51Talk's corporate structure, business and industry; general economic and business condition in the Philippines, its international markets and elsewhere; and assumptions underlying or related to any of the foregoing. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in 51Talk's filings with the SEC. All information provided in this press release is as of the date of this press release, and 51Talk does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law. 51TALK ONLINE EDUCATION GROUPUNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS(In thousands) As of Dec. 31,Mar. 31,20242025US$US$ASSETS Current assets Cash and cash equivalents27,75829,415 Time deposits1,43090 Prepaid expenses and other current assets10,90612,506 Total current assets40,09442,011 Non-current assets Property and equipment, net363620 Intangible assets, net8077 Right-of-use assets2,8882,297 Deferred tax assets5756 Other non-current assets460433 Total non-current assets3,8483,483 Total assets43,94245,494LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' DEFICITS Current liabilities Advances from students 45,06447,892 Accrued expenses and other current liabilities 6,6446,910 Amounts due to related parties2,8533,161 Lease liabilities1,2421,027 Taxes payable1,1001,169 Total current liabilities56,90360,159 Non-current liabilities Lease liabilities1,4411,158 Other non-current liabilities310318 Total non-current liabilities1,7511,476 Total liabilities58,65461,635 Total shareholders' deficits(15,000)(16,422) Noncontrolling interests288281 Total deficits(14,712)(16,141) Total liabilities and shareholders' deficits43,94245,494 51TALK ONLINE EDUCATION GROUP UNAUDITED INTERIM CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE LOSS (In thousands except for number of shares and per share data)For the three months endedMar. 31,Dec. 31,Mar. 31,202420242025US$US$US$ Net revenues 9,44916,23618,247 Cost of revenues (2,128)(3,651)(4,205) Gross profit 7,32112,58514,042 Operating expenses Sales and marketing expenses (7,761)(10,121)(11,077) Product development expenses (948)(933)(1,041) General and administrative expenses (2,599)(2,389)(3,217) Total operating expenses (11,308)(13,443)(15,335) Loss from operations (3,987)(858)(1,293) Interest income 822720 Other expenses, net (86)(421)(59) Loss before income tax expenses (3,991)(1,252)(1,332) Income tax expenses (22)(162)(157) Net loss (4,013)(1,414)(1,489) Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests (19)(36)(19) Net loss attributable to the Company's ordinary shareholders (3,994)(1,378)(1,470) Weighted average number of ordinary shares used in computing basic and diluted loss per share 345,124,338348,918,600351,595,585 51TALK ONLINE EDUCATION GROUPUNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE LOSS(In thousands except for number of shares and per share data)For the three months ended Mar. 31,Dec. 31,Mar. 31,202420242025US$US$US$Net loss per share attributable to ordinary shareholders Basic and diluted(0.01)(0.00)(0.00)Net loss per ADS attributable to ordinary shareholders Basic and diluted(0.69)(0.24)(0.25)Share-based compensation expenses are included in the operating expenses as follows:Sales and marketing expenses(29)(30)(48)Product development expenses(33)(32)(13)General and 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View original content: SOURCE 51Talk Online Education Group Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
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