Bangalore based startup Experifun & Sudiksha Knowledge Solutions have raised seed funding from UK based education service giant Pearson. The two have received a combined amount of $150000 as part of the ‘Edupreneurs’ programme – a partnership between Pearson Education and venture capitalist Village Capital.
Experifun, founded by IIT & IIM alumni and teachers, wants to improve science education in school. It makes experiment kits and products that allow teachers to conduct classroom experiments. The project extends to schools in both urban as well as rural areas.
Sudiksha Knowledge Solutions, on the other hand, is a startup that mainly aims at lending education solutions at low costs. The company which owns and manages 18 schools across Andhra Pradesh, recruits women within the locality of the schools to own and operate them.
Pearson Education has been trying to make the best of the digital transition in the education space. It had also earlier launched PowerSchool, a web based student information system that allows parents and teachers to monitor and manage grades.
Pearson and Village Capital picked the two startups out of 14 other startups that had participated in a series of workshops and peer review sessions across India conducted by them. The exercise ended with each startup pitching itself to an audience of potential investors.
Pearson’s Executive Director at the Affordable Learning Fund, Katelyn Donnelly said:
“ Edupreneurs India is just the beginning of Pearson’s engagement in low cost-education. Not only are we directly funding startups, but we’re also connecting a wide range of investors with opportunities, and making introductions to appropriate Pearson business teams.”
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