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Cohort Go Acquisition

Cohort Go Acquisition: Key Details, Impact, and What Comes Next

February 25, 2025

Flywire's acquisition of Cohort Go marks a significant step in the international education payments industry. By integrating Cohort Go's extensive agent network and innovative platform, Flywire aims to enhance its service offerings for educational institutions, agents, and students. This strategic move underscores Flywire's commitment to expanding its footprint and accelerating growth, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region.

What Is Cohort Go?

Founded in 2012, Cohort Go specializes in international payments and health cover for students, agents, and providers. Its core services include agent management, inbound and outbound payments, commission management, and student refunds. Cohort Go differentiates itself by offering a comprehensive suite of financial and administrative services tailored to the needs of its diverse user groups. The recent acquisition by Flywire further enhances its capabilities and resources, positioning it uniquely in the market.

Who Acquired Cohort Go?

Flywire is a global leader in payments and software solutions, addressing complex payment challenges across industries such as healthcare, education, travel, and B2B. Its key offerings include a next-gen payments platform, a proprietary global payment network, and vertical-specific software solutions. Flywire's extensive client base, partnerships with major institutions, and operations in over 240 countries and territories underscore its influential market position. The company supports transactions in more than 140 currencies, reinforcing its global reach and reliability.

When Was Cohort Go Acquired?

Flywire acquired Cohort Go on July 13, 2022. This acquisition aligns with Flywire's strategy to expand its services and deepen its commitment to product and payment innovation, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region. The timing is significant as the international education industry is poised for substantial growth, with education agents playing an increasingly critical role in student recruitment. This move positions Flywire to better serve the growing number of international students and their financial needs.

Why Was Cohort Go Acquired?

Market Expansion: The acquisition of Cohort Go extends Flywire’s footprint with education agents and accelerates the company's investment in product and payment innovation for international students. Cohort Go’s global footprint and penetration in APAC and Latin America present new growth and expansion opportunities for Flywire.

Technology Integration: The integration of Cohort Go into Flywire’s existing agent platform will enable Flywire to provide even more value to agents, payers, and educational institutions. Cohort Go’s existing payment infrastructure and relationships with payment partners will bolster Flywire’s global payment network.

Competitive Advantage: Flywire’s acquisition of Cohort Go enhances its Flywire Advantage, which combines a next-gen payments platform, proprietary global payment network, and industry-specific software. The acquisition allows Flywire to embed deeper into the workflows of clients, agents, and payers, driving more value for them.

Acquisition Terms

  • Acquisition Price: The acquisition price was not publicly disclosed.
  • Payment Method: The payment method for the acquisition was not specified.
  • Key Conditions or Agreements:
    • The acquisition is expected to be modestly accretive to Flywire's revenue and Adjusted EBITDA.
    • The integration of Cohort Go into Flywire’s existing agent platform will enhance Flywire’s global payment network and support its clients and payers across various vertical industries.
    • The acquisition will help Flywire accelerate its investment in product and payment innovation for international students.
    • Flywire will further invest in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region, a key geographic focus for the company.
    • Cohort Go’s agent platform is expected to bolster Flywire’s existing agent solutions.
    • More details about the acquisition will be shared in the upcoming earnings call scheduled for August 9, 2022.

Impact on Cohort Go

The acquisition of Cohort Go by Flywire has led to significant changes in operations and management. Flywire has integrated Cohort Go's agent platform into its existing solutions, enhancing its global payment network. This integration is expected to accelerate the growth of Flywire's agent focus and team, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region. Additionally, the acquisition will deepen Flywire's commitment to product and payment innovation, providing more value to agents, payers, and educational institutions.

In terms of product offerings and services, the acquisition has bolstered Flywire's ability to deliver a broader suite of financial services targeted at international students. Cohort Go's existing payment infrastructure and relationships with payment partners have enhanced Flywire's global payment network, enabling it to offer more comprehensive solutions. While specific employee and customer reactions were not detailed, the overall sentiment suggests a positive impact, with enhanced value and services expected to benefit all stakeholders involved.

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