Prime Highlights:
- William Velasco, a Venezuelan-born entrepreneur in Cardiff, turned his self-taught English journey into a global education success with his company Opencentric.
- Opencentric, in partnership with the British Council, is improving English teaching worldwide and has been shortlisted for the Learning Technologies Awards 2025.
Key Facts:
- The platform supports over 1,600 teachers and 60,000 students globally, helping them improve English skills through digital tools.
- The company currently earns £500,000 annually and aims to reach £3 million in revenue by 2028.
Background:
William Velasco, a Venezuelan-born entrepreneur in Cardiff learned English as a child and now runs Opencentric, a growing company helping teachers and students worldwide learn English.
He studied English through a pocket dictionary, television, and in school. His company Opencentric, serves more than 1,600 teachers and 60,000 students worldwide. It has an annual income of approximately half a million and aspires to have a figure of 3 million in the future, and offers user-friendly digital aids to teachers to enhance their English. Its accessible design allows educators in low-connectivity regions to continue learning anytime and anywhere.
Velasco said the company’s growth mirrors his own language journey. “It’s a strange coincidence that I went from teaching myself English to helping others do the same,” he said. “We’re proud that technology built here in Wales is transforming how teachers learn and teach English globally.”
The company’s achievements have earned international recognition. Opencentric, in partnership with the British Council, has been shortlisted for the Learning Technologies Awards 2025 for its blended learning platform helping English teachers in China and Indonesia.
In China, the programme has boosted teachers’ confidence in using English through mobile learning and mentoring. In Indonesia, it has trained over 480 teachers across 35 provinces, with government plans to expand the programme to reach more than 25,000 teachers nationwide.
Dr Adam Edmett, Head of EdTech Innovation at the British Council, said the collaboration showcases how inclusive digital design can strengthen education systems. “Using technology has helped improve teaching quality and classroom English, leading to lasting benefits for learners,” he said.
With its expanding global impact, Opencentric stands as a powerful example of how innovative Welsh technology is reshaping education around the world.
