A Cardiff-based tech entrepreneur is setting ambitious revenue goals for his innovative platform that supports English teachers worldwide. **William Velasco**, who emigrated from Venezuela at a young age, is aiming for **£3 million** in revenue by 2028 with his company, **Opencentric**. The venture currently aids over **1,600 teachers** and impacts more than **60,000 students** across the globe.
Velasco, who taught himself English using a pocket dictionary and television, founded Opencentric to improve the English-language skills of educators and their students. The company has reported annual revenues of **£500,000** and is focused on achieving a sixfold increase in sales within the next five years.
Innovative Learning Tools for Global Teachers
Opencentric specializes in developing Drupal-based learning and engagement systems designed to enhance the classroom experience for teachers. The platform’s mobile-first design ensures that educators in remote or low-connectivity areas can access training materials anytime, anywhere, and in any language. Key features include interactive exercises, scenario-based lessons, audio recording for self-assessment, and real-time analytics. These tools empower teachers to build confidence in their English usage and monitor their own progress effectively.
Reflecting on his personal journey, Velasco noted, “At the time I arrived in Cardiff, I knew just the basic words that we were taught at school in Venezuela. It was a much different time; there were no apps or online learning.” He emphasized the importance of perseverance in learning a new language, stating, “I had to learn quickly. I used to get home from school and learn how to put sentences together.”
Opencentric’s global impact has been recognized, as the company has been named a finalist for the **Learning Technologies Awards 2025**, alongside its partner, the **British Council**. This nomination highlights the success of their blended learning platform, which has been developed to support English language teachers in **China** and **Indonesia**.
Transformative Partnerships in Education
The collaboration with the British Council has been instrumental in tailoring blended-learning programs to local contexts. In China, the initiative has significantly improved teachers’ competence and confidence in using English through mobile learning, mentoring, and peer communities. In Indonesia, the program has trained over **480 teachers** across **35 provinces**, aiding the Ministry of Education in its efforts to enhance classroom English proficiency.
Dr. **Adam Edmett**, head of edtech innovation at the British Council, praised the partnership, stating, “The collaboration between the British Council and Opencentric is a strong example of how technology, when designed inclusively, can strengthen entire education systems.” He added that the focus on building teachers’ capacity through technology has led to lasting improvements in teaching quality.
Following the success of the initial training cohort in Indonesia, plans are underway to significantly expand the program, aiming to reach more than **25,000 teachers** nationwide. This expansion represents a significant step towards improving teaching quality and English proficiency on a broader scale.
As Velasco continues to build on his personal experiences, he remains committed to empowering educators worldwide. He concluded, “It’s a strange coincidence that I have gone from a situation of teaching myself English to now empowering teachers to improve their English and, in turn, support their students to do so too.” This dedication to education exemplifies the transformative potential of technology in learning environments, setting a promising trajectory for Opencentric and its global initiatives.
