Edtech’s potential to revolutionize the world’s learning has been quietly waiting in the shadows for a while.
This decades explosion of online learning – the majority of it free – has meant the knowledge previously obtainable by the elite few able to attend university has become widely available to anyone with so much as an internet connection.
And as the industry starts to mature, some key players are coming to the fore shown by the increased amount of investment in fewer edtech businesses. Since Q1 2014, $3.1bn has been invested globally into edtech startups.
The top 10 edtech startup investments are featured in this infographic, and coming in first is the LinkedIn acquired Lynda.com.
Receiving $186m in a Series B funding round led by global private investment firm TPG, the online training site has built up a library of more than 6,300 courses, teaching everything from video editing and animation, to UX and leadership skills.
LinkedIn’s $1.5bn April acquisition speaks volumes of Jeff Weiner’s master plan to make LinkedIn more than just a resume repository, rather, a truly professional platform allowing members to virtually manage their careers whilst learning new skills. This all comes at a time where the demanding requirements of the global economy necessitate constantly updated skills.
Coming joint second in the list of edtech startup investments, receiving $100m in funding, is Altschool.
Founders fund, Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan’s foundation alongside other venture backers and philanthropic organizations are all behind the companies’ philosophy that embraces truly personalized learning.
“Child centred learning” sees teachers follow the natural interests of students.
Grounded in the Reggio Emillia-approach that arose in post-war Italy, children are considered to have their own rights and thus given more control over their learning, the model so far has been wildly successful.
For the other edtech startup investments, see the above infographic.
