Greg Smith

Greg Smith is a Canadian entrepreneur and the co-founder and CEO of Thinkific, an online course platform that went public on the Toronto Stock Exchange in 2021 with a $1 billion valuation.^[2] The company, which enables entrepreneurs to create and sell online courses, has grown to serve more than 35,000 customers across 190 countries and generates $60 million in annual recurring revenue.^[5]

Smith founded Thinkific in 2012 after leaving his career as a corporate lawyer at major Canadian law firms.^[9] The platform emerged from his own experience teaching LSAT preparation courses, which he had started while in law school.^[5] Under his leadership, Thinkific has facilitated over $3.7 billion in revenue for its course creators and has been recognized among the world's top software companies.^[8]

Prior to Thinkific, Smith practiced corporate and securities law at Borden Ladner Gervais and Blake Cassels & Graydon, specializing in mergers and acquisitions and initial public offerings.^[9] He holds both a Bachelor of Commerce and a Bachelor of Laws from the University of British Columbia.^[3]

Smith completed his Bachelor of Commerce at the University of British Columbia from 1995 to 2000, then worked for several years before returning to pursue his Bachelor of Laws from 2003 to 2006.^[9] While in law school, he began teaching LSAT preparation courses in person, an experience that would later inform his approach to online education.^[5]

Legal career (2006–2009)

After graduating from law school, Smith joined Borden Ladner Gervais LLP as a corporate and securities lawyer in 2006.^[9] He specialized in mergers and acquisitions and initial public offerings, working with both public and private companies.^[9] In 2008, he moved to Blake Cassels & Graydon, one of Canada's largest law firms, where he continued his corporate law practice until 2009.^[9]

Early ventures (2009–2012)

Smith left law in 2009 to co-found Moving Media Group, an interactive touch screen network for taxi passengers.^[9] The venture was short-lived, but it marked his transition from law to entrepreneurship.^[9]

In 2010, he founded Alpha Score Seminars, converting his in-person LSAT preparation courses into an online business.^[5] The company continues to generate revenue and served as the foundation for his understanding of online education.^[5]

Thinkific (2012–present)

Smith co-founded Thinkific in 2012, initially building courses manually for clients for three years before achieving product-market fit.^[5] The breakthrough came in 2015 with a webinar that attracted 20 customers paying $1,000 each.^[5]

The company raised $22 million in Series A funding in September 2020, led by Rhino Ventures.^[1] In April 2021, Thinkific went public on the Toronto Stock Exchange, raising $160 million and achieving a $1 billion valuation.^[4]

Under Smith's leadership, Thinkific has grown to serve more than 35,000 customers across 190 countries, with the platform facilitating over $3.7 billion in revenue for course creators.^[7] The company employs approximately 280 people and generates $60 million in annual recurring revenue.^[5]

In 2025, Thinkific was recognized among the world's top software companies in G2's Best Software Awards, receiving the Best Education Software designation.^[8] The company has also received recognition from TrustRadius and was named among Time Magazine's Top 20 Ed Tech Companies.^[8]