A daily newsletter summarizing recent activity & interesting start-ups globally
RECENT NOTABLE ACTIVITY – ED TECH
- Lingo Live, an online tutoring platform for language learning for corporates, has raised $5.2M in Series A from Owl Ventures, LP, Entrepreneurs Fund, Alpine Meridian, and Fresco Capital. Link
- Querium, a mobile-based adaptive learning platform for STEM education, has raised $3.2M in Series B led by Wild Basin Investment. Link
- StoryToys, an app developer that publishes digital pop-up books for children, has raised $63.6k in Seed round from Zynga.org. Link
- Knowledge to Practice, a learning management system for students pursuing higher education in medical sciences, has raised $6.5M in Series A funding led by Rethink Education. Link
- Nearpeer, an online platform for management courses for university students and professionals, has raised an undisclosed amount in Seed funding from Ali Aziz. Link
- ClassWallet, a virtual wallet app for school, has raised an undisclosed amount in Series A from Brentwood Associates. Link
- ClearScholar, a student engagement platform, has raised $1.25M in Seed funding with participation from High Alpha Capital, Elevate Ventures, Butler University. Link
- KinderLab Robotics, a developer of educational toys for learning technical skills, has raised $1M in Seed funding. Link
- Show My Homework, a platform for educators to manage homework creation and tracking, raises $3M in Seed funding led by venture capital firm LocalGlobe. Link
- Tinybop, an educational iOS apps developer for kids, has raised an undisclosed amount in Series B funding from Sandbox Partners. Link
- Joy, a watch for teaching good habits to kids, has raised $1.5M in Seed round from undisclosed investors. Link
- Edgenuity, an online and blended curriculum for K-12 and professional courses, acquired Compass Learning, a classroom management and intervention software, for an undisclosed amount.Link
- CDH Investments has acquired Ednovation, a chain of pre-schools, for over $50M. Link
- Educational Testing Service, a nonprofit educational measurement organisation, has acquired Questar Assessment, an assessment solutions provider for K-12 schools, for $128M. Link
- Hobsons, an admission counselling and discovery platform for students, acquires RepVisits, a tool to connect college counsellors with university representatives, for an undisclosed amount. Link
SOME INTERESTING STARTUPS FOUND
Fala Clara (2017, Rio De Janeiro) – Learning chatbot for entrepreneur.
Egger robot (2016, Wuhan, $1.05M) – Interactive AR based projector for K-12 students.
LEADER BOARD – ED TECH
Pre-K
Huivo (2011, Beijing, $47.3M) – Interactive teaching system, smart classes and a teaching app that aims to provide education solutions for kindergartens. Backed by TAL Education Group, YY and Fosun Kinzon Capital.
PlayKids (2013, Sao Paulo, $30M) – Learning apps for kids aged 2-6 and subscription based preschool videos, games, and books. Backed by Naspers and Movile.
51110 (2011, Fuzhou, $30M) – Online platform which helps parents in monitoring their child in kindergarten schools. Backed by China equity.
Fancy Education (2014, Shanghai, $28.5M) – Educational products, which includes teaching management, handheld devices, kindergarten libraries. Backed by Amoeba Capital.
Speakaboos (2008, NYC, $25.2M) – Subscription-based interactive storybooks on mobile platforms. Backed by Advancit Capital, 212Media, KYOWON, KYOWON CREATIVE and Wellington Management.
K-12
Xuele Yunpingtai (2006, Hangzhou, $221.4M) – Cloud-based teaching platform. Backed by GSR Ventures, Haitong International Securities Group and Shenzhen GTJA Investment Group.
Byju’s Classes (2008, Bangalore, $174M) – Hybrid test preparation & learning platform. Backed by Lightspeed Venture Partners, Sequoia Capital, IFC, Times Internet, Sofina, Aarin Capital, InnoVen Capital and Chan Zuckerberg Initiative.
Knewton (2008, NYC, $157.3M) – Personalized adaptive learning platform. Backed by Accel Partners, First Round Capital, Bessemer Venture Partners, FirstMark Capital, Atomico, Founders Fund, Silicon Valley Bank, GSV Capital, Sofina, EDBI, Pearson, TAL Education Group and Mosaic Ventures.
Xuebajun (2013, Shanghai, $155M) – App provider for homework assistance for school kids. Backed by Sinovation Ventures, Qiming Ventures, Far east horizon, Qiming Venture Partners, Vertex Ventures, China Merchants Capital and Trustbridge Partners.
Age of Learning (2007, LA, $150M) – Gamified platform and content for kids of age 2-7. Backed by Iconiq Capital.
Test Preparation
Huatu (2001, Beijing, IPO) – Tutoring platform having offline delivery centres. Backed by Fortune Venture capital.
Zhan (2010, Shanghai, $113M) – Online courses for students applying to overseas universities. Backed by Shunwei, GGVC, MCM China, Baifund, VKC Partners and Sequoia Capital.
Princeton Review (1981, NYC, $87M) – Online test preparation for higher education. Backed by Bain Capital Ventures, Reservoir Capital & Olympus Partners.
Varsity Tutors (2007, Washington D.C., $57M) – Offline and local tutoring and test preparation service. Backed by Technology Crossover Ventures.
Koolearn (2000, Beijing, $48.7M) – Online classes and training for various subjects. Backed by Tencent.
Higher Education
Blackboard (1997, Washington D.C., IPO, Acq.) – Learning management system for educators, corporates and public sectors. Went public in 2004. Acquired by Providence Equity Partners in 2011 for $1.64B.
2U(2008, Annapolis, IPO) – Virtual classroom platform provider for colleges and universities. Went public in 2014.
Instructure (2008, Salt Lake City, IPO) – Cloud-based learning management system for K-12 schools, universities and corporates. Went public in 2015.
Chegg (2005, Santa Clara, IPO) – Online tutoring and textbook rental company. Backed by Floodgate, Primera Capital, Insight Partners, KPCB, Foundation Capital, Lucasvg, Acegroup, Gabriel venture partners and GSV cap.
HotChalk (2004, Campbell, $235M) – Virtual classroom platform for universities. Backed by Bertelsmann and Peacock Equity.
Corporate Learning
Kaltura (2006, NYC, $160M) – Open source online video platform that allows companies to simplify the creation of video experiences via video management, publishing, and monetization tools. Backed by Nexus Venture Partners, 406 Ventures, Goldman Sachs, Intel Capital, Silicon Valley Bank, Nokia Growth Partners, Avalon Ventures, Mitsui Global Investment, ORIX, Commonfund, Gera Venture Capital, Luminari Capital and Sapphire Ventures.
Echo360 (2007, Dulles, $83.9M) – Online platform for the schools to upload their live lectures for free with full and unbound access to the students via multi-platform replay. Backed by Revolution, Court Square Ventures, Clark Enterprises, SCP Partners, Duchossois Capital Partners and Swan & Legend Venture Partners.
Grovo (2010, NYC, $62M) – SaaS-based learning management system for employee training. Backed by Accel Partners, Lead Edge Capital, SoftTech VC, Western Technology Investment, Costanoa Venture Capital, Red Swan Ventures, Industry Ventures, Milestone Venture Partners, Social Starts, Vayner/RSE, Lerer Hippeau Ventures and BoxGroup.
Panopto (2007, Pittsburgh, $46.8M) – Digital media recording and content management company. Backed by Runa Capital, SaaS Capital, Sterling Partners, Square 1 Bank and Saturn Partners.
Mzinga (2007, Burlington, $42.5M) – Enterprise learning management and social engagement solutions for customer support. Backed by W Capital Partners, Saints Capital, Bluecrest Capital Finance, GE Equity and Acadia.
Continued Learning
Tedu (2002, Beijing, IPO) – Job-oriented live distance education, classroom-based tutoring and online learning courses for IT professional training. Went public in 2014.
Lynda (1995, Carpinteria, $289M, Acq.) – Online video courses in software, creative and business skills. Backed by Accel Partners, Spectrum Equity, Meritech Capital Partners and TPG Capital. Acquired by LinkedIn in 2015 for $1.5B.
Pluralsight (2004, Cedar Valley, $205.4M) – Online video courses in programming and creative learning. Backed by Insight Venture Partners, Iconiq Capital, Felicis Ventures and Sorenson Capital.
Udemy (2010, SF, $173M) – Marketplace for online courses. Backed by 500 startups, MHS capital, Light Bank, Learn Capital, Insight Partners, New Venture Partners, Stripes Group and Naspers.
General Assembly (2011, NYC, $173M) – Online and offline courses in technology, business and design streams. Backed by Advance Publications, Wellington Capital Management, IVP, Learn Capital, Maveron, Rethink Education and GSV Capital.
Language Learning
51Talk (2011, Beijing, IPO) – Online English language learning platform providing one-to-one foreign language teacher service. Backed by DCM Ventures, Shunwei, Sequoia Capital, and Zhenfund. Went public in 2016.
TutorGroup (2004, Taiwan, $315M) – Online tutoring platform for learning English. Backed by Alibaba, Qiming Ventures, Temasek, Goldman Sachs, GIC, Russia-China Investment Fund, Silverlink Capital and Softbank Finance Group.
Hujiang (2001, Shanghai, $257M) – Language learning platform focussed on China. Backed by Baidu, Anhui new media, Marseille Fund, Softbank China, Pantheon Ventures and Hina.
VIPKID (2013, Beijing, $125M) – Online English tutoring platform. Backed by Sequoia Capital, Sinovation Ventures, YF Capital, Matrix Partners China, Northern Light Venture Capital and Bryent Stibel.
Duolingo (2011, Pittsburg, $83M) – Adaptive language learning platform that uses crowdsourced text translation. Backed by Google Capital, KPCB, New Enterprise Associates and Union Square Ventures.
Leaderboard includes all the top funded, IPO and successfully running bootstrapped companies along with their location, founding year and funding amount.
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