A daily newsletter summarizing recent activity & interesting start-ups globally
RECENT NOTABLE ACTIVITY – EDUCATION IT
- Kiddom, a collaborative learning platform for K-12, raised $6.5M in funding led by Khosla Ventures. Link
- Empower Education Online (EEO), a virtual classroom platform, raised an undisclosed amount in Series B funding led by ATA and Xueersi. Link
- Kaymbu, an iPad-based teacher documentation system, raised $1.5 million in Seed round led by Reach Capital. Link
- Examity, an online proctoring platform, raised $21M in Series A round led by University Ventures and Inherent Group. Link
- Gamelearn, a game-based corporate training platform, raised €2m Series A round led by Kibo Ventures. Link
- CampusLogic, a student financial aid engagement platform, raised $10M in Series B round led by 4.0 Partners. Link
- Nearpod, a classroom collaboration platform, raised $21M in Series B round led by Insight Venture Partners, Reach Capital, GSV Acceleration, Krillion Ventures and AGP Miami. Link
- Regent Education, an automated financial aid management and enrollment optimization solutions, raised $8.5M in Series D round. Link
SOME INTERESTING STARTUPS FOUND
Emote (2015, SF, $120K) – Classroom management tool for real-time insights of student’s socio-emotional behavior.
DealCoach Pro (2016, Delray Beach) – Professional coaching platform for sales reps.
LEADER BOARD – EDUCATION IT
Learning Management System
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.
Instructure (2008, Salt Lake City, IPO) – Cloud-based learning management system for K-12 schools, universities, and corporates. Went public in 2015.
D2L (1999, Kitchener, $165M) – Cloud-based integrated learning platform for educational institutes and corporates. Backed by OMERS Ventures, New Enterprise Associates, Columbus Nova Technology Partners, Four Rivers Group, Graham Holdings and Aurion Capital.
Personalized Learning Platform
Xuele Yunpingtai (2006, Hangzhou, $221M) – Cloud-based teaching platform. Backed by GSR Ventures, Haitong International Securities Group, and Shenzhen GTJA Investment Group.
Knewton (2008, NYC, $157M) – Personalized adaptive learning software which can be integrated with other platforms. Backed by Accel Partners, First Round Capital, Bessemer Venture Partners, FirstMark Capital, Founders Fund, Atomico, GSV Capital and Pearson Education.
17zuoye (2007, Beijing, $135M) – Provides a platform for kids to study English and maths under teachers guidance. Partnered with Knewton to make the platform adaptive. Backed by Shunwei, Temasek, H-Capital and others.
Assessment Platform
Civitas Learning (2011, Austin, $89M) – Predictive analytics software for educators to assess student performance and provide differentiated learning to students. Backed by Warburg Pincus, Rethink Education and more. Acquired Blikbook in July 2015.
Echo360 (2007, Dulles, $84M) – Provides a real-time BYOD platform for formative assessment. Backed by Duchossois Capital Management, Kiddar Capital, and others.
Virtual Classroom Platform
2U (2008, Annapolis, IPO) – Virtual classroom platform provider for colleges and universities. Went public in 2014.
HotChalk (2004, Campbell, $235M) – Virtual classroom platform for universities to move online tending a greater number of students for degree programs. Backed by Bertelsmann and Peacock Equity.
Classroom Management
Remind (2011, SF, $59.5M) – Communication platform for teachers, students, and parents. Backed by Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, Social Capital, and others.
Huivo (2011, Beijing, $47.3M) – An interactive teaching system, smart classes and a teaching app that aims to provide education solutions for kindergartens.
School Management System
Kajeet (2003, Virginia, $37.9M) – Provides safe mobile broadband devices to schools. Devices include Smartsopt, which provides CIPA-compliant 4G-LTE internet access outside the classroom.
Power School (1997, CA, $32M) – Student information system that is used by educators, administrators, parents, and students to manage school processes and student data.
Software Enablers
Clever (2012, SF, $43M) – Provides a platform for schools to have access to educational apps through a single login. Provides developers with API’s to integrate their app into the platform. Backed by Sequoia Capital, Y Combinator, and others.
Learning Content Management System
Smart Sparrow (2008, Sydney, $12M) – Provides an Adaptive e-learning platform which can be used by educators or developers to create adaptive pathways in their offered courses. Backed by yellow Brick, One Ventures, and others.
Language Learning
Rosetta Stone (1992, Arlington, IPO) – Provides a technology-based language learning solutions consisting of software, online services, and audio practice tools through blended curriculum methodology. Went public on April 16, 2009.
Smart Classroom Solution
Critical Links (2006, Fairfield, $11.4M) – Provides an education appliance and an ICT platform to move the learning and school management in the cloud. Moodle is already integrated with the appliance. Backed by Ask Capital, Change Partners, and others.
Leaderboard includes all the top funded, IPO and successfully running bootstrapped companies along with their location, founding year and funding amount.
For latest updates, visit Education IT Feed.