The ed tech industry is becoming increasingly global, with the US share of ed tech deals falling to 60% in 2015, down from 80% in 2011, as the UK, India, and China took more ed tech financings.
This diversity is also seen in the range of companies working in ed tech. While MOOCs (massive open online courses) dominated early headlines, there’s a wide variety in the focus and scope of today’s startups, from the very specific — such as helping college students locate cheaper textbooks — to the broad, such as revamping the entire methodology of student-teacher communication.
Using CB Insights data, we created an infographic based on over 100 companies in the key categories shaping ed tech.
Our map illustrates the following ed tech categories:
Broad Online Learning Platforms – Perhaps ed tech’s most visible segment, these platforms like Coursera, Udemy, and Khan Academy host educational content covering a wide variety of subjects, generally geared toward individuals.
Learning-Management Systems – Digital platforms that help classroom teachers communicate with students, track assignments, and share content, with features like online discussion boards, text notifications, and parent check-ins. LMS represents one of the largest categories within ed tech, and includes startups like HotChalk, Remind, and Nearpod.
Early Childhood Education – Educational toys and games for small children. Speakaboos, with $24M in disclosed funding, produces interactive, digital storybooks for children.
Language Learning – Digital platforms for English learning, like China’s 51Talk and TutorGroup, and tools for learning numerous languages like Duolingo.
Next-Gen Study Tools – Digitally-enhanced study tools, such as digital audiovisual flashcards (Picmonic), AI-based writing assistance (WriteLab), and gamified learning platforms (Kahoot!).
Enterprise Learning – Startups that help large organizations create and distribute business-learning content, such as EdCast and Inkling Systems.
Online-to-Offline – Digital platforms that connect students with live tutors or in-person programming. Beijing-based Gaosi Education, with $63M in disclosed funding, provides students with after-school tutoring.
School Administration – Tools for school administrators to support teachers, manage records, and implement school policy. Parchment, with $69M in disclosed funding, offers schools a software-as-a-service platform to manage electronic transcripts.
Next-Gen Schools – Startups aiming to reinvent the school experience. AltSchool, with $136M in disclosed funding, is building a network of K-8 schools. The Minerva Project and UniversityNow focus on new models for universities.
Curriculum Production – Digital platforms that produce and distribute educational content to schools, like Apex Learning.
Search – Helping students and parents research schools and their curricula. GreatSchools, with $27.5M in disclosed funding, offers information and parent ratings on public and private schools.
Tech Learning – Online tools that teach programming and other IT skills, including Pluralsight and Codecademy.
Test Prep – Digital-learning platforms focused on standardized testing, like Byju’s and Toppr in India, BenchPrep in the US, and Xiaozhan Jiaoyu in China.
The market map includes private, active ed tech companies that have raised money since 2011. Click the image to enlarge.
| Company | Select Investors | Category |
|---|---|---|
| Coursera | NEA, Learn Capital, Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers | Broad Online Learning Platforms |
| Curious.com | Redpoint Ventures | Broad Online Learning Platforms |
| Descomplica | Social Capital, Valar Ventures, Valor Capital Group | Broad Online Learning Platforms |
| Edukart | 500 Startups | Broad Online Learning Platforms |
| Khan Academy | Google, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation | Broad Online Learning Platforms |
| Knewton | Accel Partners, FirstMark Capital, Bessemer Venture Partners | Broad Online Learning Platforms |
| Learnist | Benchmark Capital, GSV Capital, Atlas Venture | Broad Online Learning Platforms |
| PanOpen | Kaplan Ventures, Zen Group | Broad Online Learning Platforms |
| Popexpert | BoxGroup, Learn Capital | Broad Online Learning Platforms |
| Udemy | Insight Venture Partners, MHS Capital, Norwest Venture Partners | Broad Online Learning Platforms |
| Achieve3000 | Insight Venture Partners | Curriculum Production |
| Apex Learning | Maveron, MK Capital, Kaplan | Curriculum Production |
| Cengage Learning | Undisclosed | Curriculum Production |
| Kidaptive | Menlo Ventures, Veddis Ventures, Formation 8 | Early Childhood Education |
| Knowledge Adventure | Azure Capital Partners, TeleSoft Partners, Random House Ventures | Early Childhood Education |
| Speakaboos | Advancit Capital, 212 Media | Early Childhood Education |
| Tinkergarten | 500 Startups, Omidyar Network, Blue Seed Collective | Early Childhood Education |
| Tinybop | KEC Ventures, Two Sigma Ventures | Early Childhood Education |
| Tynker | 500 Startups, NEA, GSV Capital | Early Childhood Education |
| Declara | Data Collective, Founders Fund, GSV Capital | Enterprise Learning |
| Degreed | Rethink Education, Signal Peak Ventures, Jump Capital | Enterprise Learning |
| edCast | Softbank Capital, Cervin Ventures | Enterprise Learning |
| ExecOnline | Dingman Center Angels, Kaplan Ventures | Enterprise Learning |
| Grovo Learning | Accel Partners, Costanoa Venture Capital, SoftTech VC | Enterprise Learning |
| Inkling Systems | Sequoia Capital, Tenaya Capital, Felicis Ventures | Enterprise Learning |
| Kaltura | 406 Ventures, Nexus Venture Partners | Enterprise Learning |
| Lessonly | Allos Ventures, High Alpha, OpenView Venture Partners | Enterprise Learning |
| NovoEd | Kapor Capital, Learn Capital, Foundation Capital | Enterprise Learning |
| Qstream | Launchpad Venture Group, FrontLine Ventures | Enterprise Learning |
| 51Talk | DCM Ventures, Sequoia Capital China | Language Learning |
| Babbel | VC Fonds Technologie, Nokia Growth Partners | Language Learning |
| Colingo | 500 Startups, Atlas Venture, Social Leverage | Language Learning |
| Duolingo | NEA, Union Square Ventures, Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers | Language Learning |
| HuJiang | Baidu, China Minsheng Investment | Language Learning |
| NoRedInk | Social Capital, Rethink Education, Kapor Capital | Language Learning |
| OkPanda | 500 Startups, Kapor Capital, Innovation Endeavors | Language Learning |
| Open English | Flybridge Capital Partners, Kaszek Ventures | Language Learning |
| TutorGroup | Qiming Venture Partners, Alibaba Group | Language Learning |
| 17Zuoye | Shunwei Capital Partners, Tiger Management Corp | Learning Management Systems |
| Blackboard | Providence Equity Partners, Aurora Funds | Learning Management Systems |
| Brightwheel | Crosslink Capital, Sherpa Capital | Learning Management Systems |
| Civitas Learning | Austin Ventures, Emergence Capital Partners | Learning Management Systems |
| ClassDojo | General Catalyst Partners, SoftTech VC, Reach Capital, Slow Ventures | Learning Management Systems |
| Classkick | Great Oaks Venture Capital, Kapor Capital | Learning Management Systems |
| Desire2Learn | NEA, OMERS Ventures | Learning Management Systems |
| Echo360 | Court Square Ventures, Softbank Capital, SCP Partners | Learning Management Systems |
| Edmodo | Learn Capital, Union Square Ventures, Greylock Partners, Benchmark Capital, NEA | Learning Management Systems |
| eSpark | 500 Startups, Learn Capital | Learning Management Systems |
| EverFi | NEA, TomorrowVentures, Rethink Education | Learning Management Systems |
| Flat World | Bessemer Venture Partners, Tribeca Venture Partners | Learning Management Systems |
| FreshGrade | Accel Partners, Social Capital, NewSchools Venture Fund | Learning Management Systems |
| HotChalk | Berg & Berg Enterprises, McGraw-Hill Ventures | Learning Management Systems |
| LearnZillion | DCM Ventures, Learn Capital, O’Reilly Alpha Tech Ventures | Learning Management Systems |
| MasteryConnect | Catamount Ventures, Learn Capital | Learning Management Systems |
| Nearpod | Reach Capital, New Schools Venture Fund | Learning Management Systems |
| Phoenix E-Learning Corporation | TAL Education Group | Learning Management Systems |
| PowerSchool Group | Vista Equity Partners | Learning Management Systems |
| Remind | First Round Capital, Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, Social Capital | Learning Management Systems |
| Schoology | FirstMark Capital, Meakem Becker Venture Capital | Learning Management Systems |
| Schoolzilla | Foundry Group, Kapor Capital | Learning Management Systems |
| Top Hat | iNovia Capital, SoftTech VC, Felicis Ventures | Learning Management Systems |
| AltSchool | First Round Capital, Harrison Metal, Learn Capital | Next-Gen Schools |
| Quad Learning | New Atlantic Ventures, NEA | Next-Gen Schools |
| The Minerva Project | Benchmark Capital, TAL Education Group | Next-Gen Schools |
| UniversityNow | Kapor Capital, University Ventures, Floodgate | Next-Gen Schools |
| Agnitus | Innovation Endeavors, Social Capital | Next-Gen Study Tools |
| Course Hero | GSV Capital, Maveron | Next-Gen Study Tools |
| Curriculet | Kapor Capital, NewSchools Venture Fund | Next-Gen Study Tools |
| Dreambox | Owl Ventures, GSV Capital | Next-Gen Study Tools |
| GoNoodle | Chrysalis Ventures, Childrens Medical Center | Next-Gen Study Tools |
| Kahoot | Northzone Ventures | Next-Gen Study Tools |
| Lumosity | Harrison Metal, Menlo Ventures, Norwest Venture Partners | Next-Gen Study Tools |
| Picmonic | Tallwave Capital, Desert Angels | Next-Gen Study Tools |
| WriteLab | Kapor Capital, Learn Capital, Reach Capital | Next-Gen Study Tools |
| Changingedu | Sequoia Capital China, TAL Education Group | Online to Offline |
| Gaosi Education | JD Capital Management | Online to Offline |
| Genshuixue | Banyan Capital, QF Capital | Online to Offline |
| Varsity Tutors | Technology Crossover Ventures | Online to Offline |
| WyzAnt | Accel Partners | Online to Offline |
| Yup | Formation 8, Index Ventures | Online to Offline |
| Allovue | Rethink Education, Red House Education, Kapor Capital | School Administration |
| BloomBoard | Birchmere Ventures, Learn Capital | School Administration |
| BrightBytes | Rethink Education, Learn Capital, Bessemer Venture Partners | School Administration |
| Chalkable | 500 Startups, Expansion VC | School Administration |
| Clever | Sequoia Capital, GSV Capital, Lightspeed Venture Partners | School Administration |
| Everspring | Carrick Capital Partners | School Administration |
| Full Measure Education | Bull City Venture Partners, Safeguard Scientifics | School Administration |
| Parchment | Novak Biddle Venture Partners, NewSchools Venture Fund | School Administration |
| SchoolMint | Fresco Capital, Crosslink Capital, Kapor Capital | School Administration |
| AdmitSee | Social Capital | Search |
| Edunav | Learn Capital, Opus Capital | Search |
| GreatSchools | NewSchools Venture Fund | Search |
| Juesheng | ChinaEquity Group | Search |
| Bloc | Shasta Ventures, First Round Capital, Learn Capital | Tech Learning |
| CareerFoundry | IBB Beteiligungsgesellschaft | Tech Learning |
| Codecademy | Union Square Ventures, Index Ventures | Tech Learning |
| Codecombat | Andreessen Horowitz, Fenox Venture Capital, Third Kind Venture Capital | Tech Learning |
| Codefights | Felicis Ventures, Maiden Lane Ventures | Tech Learning |
| CodeHS | Kapor Capital, Learn Capital, NewSchools Venture Fund | Tech Learning |
| Codementor | Foundry Group, TMI, 500 Startups | Tech Learning |
| General Assembly | Maveron, Rethink Education, Learn Capital, GSV Capital | Tech Learning |
| One Month | Idea Bulb Ventures, Andreessen Horowitz | Tech Learning |
| Pluralsight | Insight Venture Partners | Tech Learning |
| Udacity | CRV, Andreessen Horowitz | Tech Learning |
| BenchPrep | Lightbank, NEA, Revolution | Test Prep |
| Byju’s | Sequoia Capital India | Test Prep |
| Toppr | Helion Venture Partners, SAIF Partners | Test Prep |
| Xiaozhan Jiaoyu | GGV Capital, Sequoia Capital China | Test Prep |
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