Village Capital

Village Capital is a Washington, D.C.-based venture capital firm founded in 2009, focused on early-stage and seed investments in sectors such as agriculture, education, energy, financial services, and healthcare. The firm aims to empower entrepreneurs by fostering a unique peer-selection model, allowing participants to award pre-committed seed funding to the top ventures identified during their programs. Village Capital supports entrepreneurs globally, with a significant presence in regions including North America, Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, Latin America, Europe, and the Middle East. Through its programs, the firm has engaged over 1,000 entrepreneurs and has facilitated the growth of more than 550 enterprises, leading to substantial job creation and revenue generation. Village Capital also operates a nonprofit to provide training for founders and investors, and manages a for-profit investment fund that invests in top graduates of its programs. Its innovative approach to investment and support has garnered recognition, including the M-Prize for innovation.

Heather Matranga

Vice President

Past deals in EdTech

EQL Finance

Pre Seed Round in 2021
EQL Finance is a Fintech firm that provides training to help people improve their financial management abilities. Founded in 2021.

EduGorilla Community

Seed Round in 2021
EduGorilla Community Pvt. Ltd. is an online platform based in Lucknow, India, established in 2016, that specializes in providing resources for students navigating their educational and career paths. The platform offers a comprehensive suite of services, including online mock tests, coaching for a diverse array of disciplines such as defense, civil service, management, and engineering, as well as access to extensive study materials and information about various coaching institutes and schools. EduGorilla enables students to discover and compare local educational institutions, access a vast repository of study materials, and participate in forums for collaborative learning. With over 70,000 study files and 10,000 mock tests across 323 exams, EduGorilla supports informed decision-making and exam preparation. The platform also features tools for tracking educational news and developments, providing insights into over 200 career options, and offering video courses from various providers, making it a vital resource for students seeking guidance and opportunities in their academic and professional journeys.

MentorMind

Seed Round in 2021
MentorMind is an online platform where students & young professionals can access & work on real-time work situations in the form of challenges.Inspired through various diverse academic & professional experiences, it has been the MentorMind team’s long standing mission to improve the practicality of undergraduate education in India & other emerging economies. Hence, was born MentorMind.

Unschool

Grant in 2021
Unschool is an ed-tech company based in Hyderabad, India, founded in 2019. It offers an online learning platform that caters to students, graduates, young professionals, and entrepreneurs seeking to enhance their skills and knowledge. The platform allows users to create personalized learning ecosystems tailored to their specific needs and industry demands. Additionally, Unschool serves as a marketplace where subject matter experts can coach and mentor eager learners, fostering a community of knowledge sharing. By providing alternative learning methods and a variety of online courses, Unschool aims to improve employability for youth while enabling educators and professionals to develop their teaching skills.

Alefredo Books

Pre Seed Round in 2021
Operator of an online marketplace platform intended for International Educational Resources and services. The company's platform provides all types of used academic books and supporting educational material in addition to mock exams, available in digital format as well, for school and university students of all grades, enabling students an interactive assessment tool that highlights their weakness areas and recommends supporting material to strengthen them.

ICT for Development

Non Equity Assistance in 2021
ICT for Development Kenya reaches out to undeserved communities in East Africa offering Technology literacy.

Eneza Education

Non Equity Assistance in 2021
Eneza Education Limited, founded in 2011 and based in Nairobi, Kenya, specializes in providing mobile technology-based education services. The company offers a virtual tutor and teacher's assistant, enabling students and teachers to access curriculum-aligned courses, assessments, and interactive support from live instructors via mobile devices. Its platform includes locally-adapted tutorials, tips, assessments, and features such as a leaderboard and live teacher chat, accessible through various formats including USSD/SMS, a web app, an offline desktop app, and an Android app. Eneza Education targets individual parents, students, and teachers with subscription-based access to its educational resources, ensuring that learners across Kenya, from urban centers to rural areas, can benefit from comprehensive, on-demand educational support.

CoffeeChat

Non Equity Assistance in 2021
CoffeeChat is a coaching-as-a-service platform that enables companies to offer one-on-one executive coaching for their managers.

Angaza Elimu

Non Equity Assistance in 2021
Angaza Elimu is an ed-tech company focused on transforming education in Kenya and across Africa by addressing challenges in classroom efficiency and access to educational resources. The organization provides a comprehensive e-Learning platform that simplifies classroom management, allowing teachers to dedicate more time to effective instruction. It features a Student Portal designed to engage learners and foster critical thinking skills. Angaza Elimu also emphasizes skill-based learning to prepare African youth for success in a digital economy. Additionally, the company offers supplemental STEM training to cultivate innovation among young learners and operates an Internet of Things (IoT) school to provide hands-on training in hardware engineering, enabling students to learn both in and out of the classroom at their own pace.

Afrilearn

Non Equity Assistance in 2021
Afrilearn is an online education platform designed to enhance access to quality education for primary and secondary school students. It offers a subscription-based service that includes unlimited videos, audio lessons, class notes, quiz practice, ready-made content, and live classes. By utilizing skilled tutors, animators, and developers, Afrilearn provides personalized educational resources that cover the complete curriculum, allowing students to study relevant subjects and topics at their convenience. This approach aims to make world-class education affordable and accessible to a wider audience.

Mosabi

Non Equity Assistance in 2021
E-learning linked to financial health and inclusion for emerging market citizens

Gradely

Non Equity Assistance in 2021
Gradely.ng Limited operates a personalized learning platform designed for secondary school students in Nigeria. Founded in 2019 and based in Yaba, the platform utilizes artificial intelligence to provide tailored learning materials, including online tutorials and video lessons, along with exam preparation resources. Gradely employs analytics to identify learning gaps, enabling real-time intervention for students through adaptive homework tests accessible via web and mobile devices. The platform assists teachers by offering pre-set questions, currently focused on mathematics, which align with WASCCE and Cambridge curriculum topics. Teachers can easily assign homework and deadlines, while progress reports are generated for teachers, parents, and schools. Gradely's system continuously adapts by integrating previously unmastered topics with new ones, ensuring a comprehensive learning experience.

Wootlab

Non Equity Assistance in 2021
Wootlab is a software development and talent management platform focused on creating employment opportunities for the unemployed and underemployed youth through technical upskilling.

Tustawi

Non Equity Assistance in 2021
Tustawi is an e-learning specialist for professional development in Kenya, using technology to develop job-specific and market-relevant customized training.

Utiva

Non Equity Assistance in 2021
Utiva provides digital skill training for individuals and organizations. It combines classroom training with online learning experiences; and provides a platform that allows remote interaction with facilitators and AI support for knowledge and skills. The company offers training in the areas of data science, agile development, growth hacking, product innovation, machine learning and AI, and platform development. Utiva was founded in 2017 and is based in Washington, District of Columbia with additional offices in Edinburgh, United Kingdom and Lagos, Nigeria.

Ecomake Innovations

Non Equity Assistance in 2021
Ecomake Innovation provides practical engineering skills training and hands-on STEM skills to students for employment.

Afrilearn

Non Equity Assistance in 2021
Afrilearn is an online education platform designed to enhance access to quality education for primary and secondary school students. It offers a subscription-based service that includes unlimited videos, audio lessons, class notes, quiz practice, ready-made content, and live classes. By utilizing skilled tutors, animators, and developers, Afrilearn provides personalized educational resources that cover the complete curriculum, allowing students to study relevant subjects and topics at their convenience. This approach aims to make world-class education affordable and accessible to a wider audience.

Ziplines Education

Seed Round in 2020
GreenFig is a micro education company offering microdegrees in applied business science, including: customer success, finance, marketing, product, sales, service and support. GreenFig combines experiential learning from industry experts with business application software instruction and provides practical work experience where students can apply their newly acquired skills. GreenFig’s microdegrees can be achieved in 200 hours or less and when completed, students can be confident they possess the subject matter proficiency and basic work experience industry demands. GreenFig is headquartered in Bend, Oregon and currently delivers its programs in New York and the San Francisco Bay Area using the GreenFig Education Broadcasting Network.

Nonnatech

Venture Round in 2019
Nonnatech is an online platform that provides healthcare providers with health monitoring systems. The platform enables its users to monitor the health of their patients in real-time. It offers predictive analytics, alerts, and behavioral monitoring. The systems can be installed in the patients’ bathroom, assisted living apartment, and kitchen. Nonnatech was launched in 2010 and is based in New York.

Knack

Seed Round in 2018
Knack Technologies, Inc. is a company based in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, that specializes in designing and developing a mobile application aimed at facilitating peer tutoring for college students. Founded in 2016, Knack offers an on-demand tutoring marketplace that connects students with tutors who are knowledgeable in specific courses. The platform is particularly beneficial for students who may not have previously utilized existing academic support services on campus. By partnering with educational institutions, Knack seeks to engage student populations that are often overlooked, ensuring that every student has access to personalized support. The company distinguishes itself from other tutoring services by aligning the interests of peer leaders, student learners, universities, and employers, ultimately striving to reduce costs while enhancing the educational impact.

EtriLabs

Seed Round in 2018
Operator of an innovation and training ecosystem intended for the emergence of global solutions. The company educates young entrepreneurs and promotes excellence in Africa with ecosystem development, access to training, and business acceleration, startup and corporate success, enabling the entrepreneurial market, and startups to foster business, creativity, and sharing.

Next Play

Non Equity Assistance in 2018
Next Play helps companies employees, with an AI app that facilitates internal mentorship matching, follow-up, and goal setting. Next Play is a chatbot that personalizes employee career development in order to help companies attract, develop, and retain more diverse talent. Next Play works with users to identify goals and preferences, matches mentees and mentors at scale, and guides employees to achieve their goals. HR directors can gain insight into employee engagement data.

SwineTech

Seed Round in 2018
SwineTech, Inc. is a company that specializes in artificial intelligence and sensor-based technology aimed at enhancing the welfare of pigs on sow farms within the pork industry. Founded in 2015 and based in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, SwineTech develops the SmartGuard platform, which monitors pregnancy and piglet-related activities in swine housing. This technology is designed to analyze data regarding sow health and detect potential issues that could jeopardize the well-being of both sows and their piglets. By preventing incidents such as piglet crushing, SwineTech's solutions contribute to increased pork production and overall herd health. Additionally, the company enables pork producers to manage and optimize on-farm processes remotely, thereby reducing labor demands and mortality rates among piglets.

CareAcademy

Seed Round in 2018
CareAcademy operates an online training platform tailored for senior home care agencies and caregivers. Founded in 2013 by Helen Adeosun, the company provides evidence-based classes that help direct care workers enhance their skills and improve the quality of care they deliver to older adults. The platform offers a variety of courses covering essential topics such as infection control, nutrition, dementia care, and fall prevention, enabling caregivers to meet licensure requirements across all 50 states. CareAcademy has certified over 40,000 caregivers nationwide, emphasizing the importance of high-touch coaching and exceptional customer service. The training programs not only equip caregivers with the necessary knowledge and skills but also offer peace of mind to employers, ensuring that their teams are well-prepared to support seniors in living independently and safely at home.

Xprep

Seed Round in 2018
XPrep provides a platform for tutors to engage students and parents, manage post-classroom activities, and order educational content.

Mindchamp

Seed Round in 2018
Coding for kids in India

MyPeegu

Seed Round in 2018
MyPeegu specializes in a behavior-tracking platform designed to support the development of positive behavior in children. By integrating technology with psychological concepts, the platform monitors children's behavior and provides real-time reports that highlight challenges encountered in classroom settings and academic performance. This tool enables parents to identify their child's skills and any deviations in their development and behavior, facilitating targeted interventions. Through its comprehensive approach, MyPeegu aims to enhance parental awareness and foster better outcomes for children's behavioral development.

We Are Marcus

Seed Round in 2017
We Are Marcus is a digital mentoring platform for student engagement and reflection in school and at home. The company aims to fill the mentoring gap by delivering purpose-built content to students of color. It leverages student data to nurture student development during critical times in there lives. We Are Marcus was founded on 2017 and is headquartered in Washington, DC.

EliteGamingLIVE

Seed Round in 2017
EliteGamingLIVE (EGL) is a STEM-focused platform that aims to engage students in video gaming while promoting educational growth in technology-related fields. Recognizing the significant interest students have in video games, EGL creates an environment where they can explore potential careers in areas such as video game design, coding, and computer programming. The platform allows students to participate in competitive games, representing their schools and enhancing their technical skills in an enjoyable and interactive manner. By providing a structured after-school program, EGL helps students channel their gaming passion into valuable learning experiences, fostering both personal and professional development in the tech industry.

The Mentor Method

Pre Seed Round in 2017
The Mentor Method is a social enterprise that provides curated mentor matches, connecting the next generation of tech leaders with change-making mentors at the top of their game. ​ Their process focuses on people and value-fit first, to foster authentic, lasting connections. The result is stronger teams and inclusive workplace cultures. ​ They started The Mentor Method because they wanted to create a world where minorities and women in tech are viewed as assets, not a way to check a box.

Upswing

Venture Round in 2017
Upswing International, Inc. operates an online collaboration platform aimed at providing academic support to educational institutions. The platform includes several solutions such as AdviseUp, which facilitates scheduling and receiving advice from college advisors, MentorUp, which connects students with mentors for non-academic support, and TutorUp, which links students to tutors both from Upswing and its wider network. Upswing also offers specialized engagement tools for first-year students, online learners, and adult learners. By partnering with colleges, the company creates virtual learning centers and provides real-time analytics to help administrators monitor student engagement and success. The platform allows students to choose coaches based on various criteria like price, quality, and subject expertise, thereby personalizing the learning experience. Each coaching session is recorded and analyzed, enabling institutions to receive insights that can help reduce student attrition and improve overall academic outcomes. Founded in 2013 and based in Austin, Texas, Upswing was previously known as The Upswing Group, Ltd.

ESCALA EDUCACION

Pre Seed Round in 2017
ESCALA EDUCACION S.A.S is a social enterprise based in Medellin, Colombia, founded in 2015. The company focuses on promoting access to higher education and financial inclusion by partnering with businesses to provide educational benefits to their employees. ESCALA offers savings plans that allow employees to allocate a portion of their paychecks for educational purposes, either for themselves or their children. These savings plans include company matching funds, tuition discounts, scholarships, and vocational support, along with career counseling services. By enhancing these educational benefits, ESCALA aims to make higher education more accessible to a broader audience, fostering both personal and professional development.

Enguru

Seed Round in 2017
enguru is an ed-tech initiative developed by Kings Learning, focusing on enhancing English language and communication skills among Indian youth to improve their employability. The flagship product, the enguru Spoken English app, boasts over 2.8 million users and offers instruction in 28 languages, catering to various proficiency levels—from basic to industry-specific functional English. The app employs gamified learning and real-time assessments, making it accessible for both individual learners and corporations seeking effective training modules for their employees. Kings Learning also provides app-based and teacher-led programs across corporate, government, and educational institutions throughout India, aiming to address the employability challenges faced by the youth through innovative technology-driven solutions.

Virtanza

Pre Seed Round in 2017
Virtanza isa provider of a training, certification and placement program designed to prepare underemployed people for a sales career pathway. Virtanza provides this population a 5-week, instructor led, live distance learning, ACE CREDIT college credentialed course, with highly predictive sales role matching assessment, innovative tuition funding solutions including Income share agreements, and comprehensive job placement assistance. The company also has sales career pathway programs dsigned for the visually impaired, and a licensed sales representative course through colleges and universities. The company will be launching a licensed mobile sales certificate program for enterprise/school districts, and technology sales as well as a sales management and sales solution for entrepreneurs program.

Presentr

Non Equity Assistance in 2017
Presentr is an AI coaching platform that is changing the way people develop their communication skills. Presentr mimics the live training experience by providing quantitative assessment, coaching, learning and real-time feedback on skills using deep subject-matter expertise. Users get customized learning and feedback through the AI coach and can learn at their own pace. The SaaS app is targeted at enterprise and education.

Cell-Ed

Non Equity Assistance in 2017
Cell-Ed, Inc. is a mobile e-learning provider based in Palo Alto, California, focused on improving the skills of low-skilled, low-literate, and low-wage workers globally. Founded in 2011, the company offers a comprehensive mobile messaging platform that enables employers and educational institutions to reach, teach, and engage entry-level workers using various devices, including smartphones, tablets, and even flip phones. The platform features courses, coaching, and tools such as push notifications, reminders, surveys, and assessments to track user engagement and progress. By helping workers acquire essential literacy, language, and workforce-ready skills, Cell-Ed aims to enhance their employability and increase their hourly wages.

Upswing

Seed Round in 2017
Upswing International, Inc. operates an online collaboration platform aimed at providing academic support to educational institutions. The platform includes several solutions such as AdviseUp, which facilitates scheduling and receiving advice from college advisors, MentorUp, which connects students with mentors for non-academic support, and TutorUp, which links students to tutors both from Upswing and its wider network. Upswing also offers specialized engagement tools for first-year students, online learners, and adult learners. By partnering with colleges, the company creates virtual learning centers and provides real-time analytics to help administrators monitor student engagement and success. The platform allows students to choose coaches based on various criteria like price, quality, and subject expertise, thereby personalizing the learning experience. Each coaching session is recorded and analyzed, enabling institutions to receive insights that can help reduce student attrition and improve overall academic outcomes. Founded in 2013 and based in Austin, Texas, Upswing was previously known as The Upswing Group, Ltd.

Mentor Spaces

Non Equity Assistance in 2017
Mentor Spaces is a virtual mentorship platform designed to support the career development of emerging Black and Latinx professionals. The platform facilitates communication between corporate mentors and prospective employees through career interest-based groups, making it easier for companies to attract, hire, and retain diverse talent. Mentor Spaces is utilized by over 10,000 emerging leaders and serves a wide range of organizations, from startups to Fortune 500 companies. By enhancing diversity and inclusion efforts, Mentor Spaces helps organizations build a robust talent pipeline, improve employee retention, and foster a more inclusive corporate culture. The platform is part of Better Weekdays, Inc., which focuses on providing integrated applications to prepare students and professionals for successful employment.

Unleesh

Non Equity Assistance in 2017
Unleesh is a digital platform that facilitates virtual conferences, programs, and events, focusing on enhancing participant engagement and networking opportunities. By providing an intuitive interface and extensive integrations, Unleesh allows users to navigate events seamlessly, enabling them to concentrate on the content and interactions rather than logistical challenges. The platform aims to foster meaningful hallway conversations and connections among attendees, making it a valuable tool for organizations seeking to host effective virtual gatherings.

Ed Leadership SIMS

Non Equity Assistance in 2017
Provider of computer-based simulations intended to assist in professional development for school administrators. The company's computer-based simulation tracks and communicates behavior of leaders and educators and recommends ways so as to improve skill based assessment and service delivery, enabling educational institutions to facilitate training education leaders and transform development for all school leaders.

Pear Deck

Venture Round in 2017
Pear Deck, Inc. is a software company focused on enhancing the educational experience through interactive learning solutions. Established in 2014 and based in Iowa City, Iowa, Pear Deck enables teachers to create engaging presentations that are displayed simultaneously on projectors and student devices. This platform allows educators to build interactive slides that prompt student responses, which are then visualized in real-time on the teacher's dashboard. By facilitating immediate feedback and collective discussions, Pear Deck fosters active participation and helps educators assess student understanding effectively. The company operates as a subsidiary of Liminex, Inc. since November 2020, continuing to support schools in optimizing their 1:1 educational programs.

Story2

Seed Round in 2016
Story2, LLC operates an online platform focused on essay writing and storytelling to assist students in the college admissions process. It offers EssayBuilder, a tool designed to help users plan, organize, and develop their college admission essays while also enabling them to share their narratives with peers and community members. Additionally, Story2 provides essay coaching services, which include personalized feedback and one-on-one online coaching aimed at enhancing the chances of admission to selective colleges. The company also offers admissions consulting to support students in their academic and career planning, helping them craft compelling personal stories. Founded in 2011 and based in New York, Story2 aims to build writing confidence and persistence among students by transforming their experiences into engaging narratives.

Education Modified

Seed Round in 2016
Education Modified LLC is an educational technology company that specializes in enhancing the outcomes for students with diverse needs through its EdMod App. This application offers educators a comprehensive suite of resources, including research-based strategies, professional development opportunities, and tools to monitor student progress. Designed by special educators, the platform focuses on bridging the gap between compliance and classroom practice, allowing for improved collaboration among educators. Key features include built-in professional development for ADHD, co-teaching, and dyslexia, as well as tools to enhance curricula and programs. Founded in 2011 and based in New York, Education Modified aims to provide easy access to critical information and workflow tools, ultimately supporting better educational experiences for students requiring special education services.

Edsix BrainLab

Angel Round in 2015
Edsix Brain Lab Private Ltd, founded in 2013 and based in Chennai, India, operates an online platform focused on educational gaming. The company offers Skill Angels, a platform designed to enhance students' thinking skills through engaging games. Edsix Brain Lab is recognized as an emerging player in the edutainment industry and is incubated by IIT Madras Rural Technology Business Incubator. The firm aims to disrupt the educational gaming sector by developing interactive products that combine brain skill enhancement with curriculum-based content. Edsix Brain Lab’s vision is to provide users with an enjoyable and effective way to boost their cognitive abilities.

EdConnective

Seed Round in 2015
EdConnective, LLC is a provider of an online video coaching platform aimed at enhancing teacher effectiveness to improve student outcomes. Founded in 2013 and based in Glen Allen, Virginia, the company offers a structured seven-week program where teachers receive personalized coaching on instructional practices. Through its platform, educators can share recorded lessons with instructional coaches, receive tailored feedback, and engage in observation and feedback sessions. This approach allows for the identification of specific areas for growth in teaching practices, supporting both professional development and measurable improvements in student learning. By fostering a collaborative environment, EdConnective ensures that teachers have access to effective coaching, ultimately benefiting student achievement.

Infiniteach

Seed Round in 2015
Infiniteach is dedicated to autism innovation through technology and training. It is a digital learning platform for one in 68 children diagnosed with autism. Its first product, Skill Champ, makes it easy for parents and teachers to create customized lessons that are rooted in evidence-based autism interventions. Infiniteach was founded in 2013 and is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois.

Mathalicious

Seed Round in 2015
The World Is an Interesting Place. Math Class Should Be, Too. At Mathalicious, they think the world is an interesting place full of interesting questions. Do people with small feet pay too much for shoes? Do taller Olympic sprinters have an unfair advantage? How have video game consoles changed over time…and are they building the Matrix? They also think math class is the perfect place for students and teachers to explore questions like these, and that it can be the most interesting part of the day.

Crescerance

Seed Round in 2015
Crescerance is a company that specializes in mobile solutions for schools, offering customized apps and mobile websites to enhance communication and engagement among students, parents, staff, and alumni. Founded in 2011 in Atlanta, Georgia, by Alefiya Bhatia, the company develops a SaaS-based platform that integrates communications across various technical platforms and mobile devices. By leveraging mobile app development, Crescerance aims to elevate school communication and foster real-time engagement within educational communities. The company's focus on creating tailored technologies enables schools, districts, and educational associations to effectively connect with their constituents and improve overall community interaction.
Lekki Peninsula Affordable Schools is a low-cost private school chain in Nigeria focused on providing high-quality education to low-income families. Established as a social enterprise, it aims to make education accessible to those at the bottom of the economic pyramid through an all-inclusive fee structure that covers tuition, books, uniforms, examinations, and additional lessons. The schools also offer a flexible payment system, allowing families to pay fees on a weekly basis if needed. In addition to academic instruction, Lekki Peninsula Affordable Schools emphasizes a safe and clean learning environment, incorporating extra-curricular activities such as sports, drama, and leadership training to foster socially responsible and economically productive lives among its students.

Magic Pathshala

Seed Round in 2013
Magic Pathshala is a mobile-based education program with lessons to impact literacy and numeracy learning outcomes amongst primary school children in rural India.

Edwell

Seed Round in 2013
Edwell is an initiative to provide access to quality education through multimedia contents and video calls based tuition classes in small towns and villages to a larger mass having limited access to better means of education. Our primary research revealed that in most of the cases less qualified teachers take tuition classes in old fashioned way which most of the times is one side communication where teachers narrate the definition and formulas straight away from books. These are the only possible tuition solutions in the area inviting a greater scope for interactive multimedia based tuition classes offered by Edwell Solutions Private Limited.
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