Edtech Startup Curiositi Raises Series A Funding From Menterra, Others

Bengaluru-based edtech startup Curiositi Learning Solutions has raised an undisclosed amount in Series A funding from Menterra Social Impact Fund. Existing investor Unitus Seed Fund also participated in the round.

Co-founded by Manoj Thandassery, Vinod Abraham, and Satish Hariharan in July 2013, Curiositi partners with schools to help transform their science curriculum into an exciting, activity-based experience at affordable costs. It develops learning programmes that integrate the benefits of activity-based learning with personalised software.

The recently raised funding will help the enterprise expand its operations to more schools, increase learning outcomes, and provide a comprehensive solution that enables experiential learning in the classroom.

Speaking on the investment, Maya Chandrasekaran, Practice Leader – Education and Skills, Menterra said, “We believe that hands-on engagement and activity-based learning are critical for strong conceptual understanding. Particularly for fundamental skills like STEM (Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) skills, an early emphasis on actual understanding as against rote-learning will be key to developing the kind of problem-solving abilities required in 21st-century careers. By democratising access to these kinds of activities and this type of education, Curiositi is enabling students in all types of schools to be better prepared.”

Backed by Unitus Seed Fund in December 2014, Curiositi currently claims to have over 20,000 paid subscribers benefiting from its science and mathematics programme.

The Curiositi School Program offers students to work on physical models and activity kits in both Science and Math. These activities are closely linked to specific concepts being introduced in that class, and help transform the curriculum to activity-based learning, resulting in improved learning outcomes.

The company plans to cater to 100,000 students in two years as it works towards the goal of impacting a million students.

This is Menterra’s fifth investment since its launch in January 2016. Menterra has also backed STEM education with investments in startups like MathBuddy. Its previous education investments also include Leap Skills Academy, in addition to medtech startup Biosense Solutions and agricultural enterprise Nubesol.

Similar startups include Noida-based LIQVID eLearning Services, which raised close to $1 Mn in Series A funding from social venture capital firm Gray Matters Capital in September 2016. In the same month, BYJU’s raised $50 Mn funding from the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI), founded by Mark Zuckerberg and Dr. Priscilla Chan. Sequoia Capital, Sofina, Lightspeed Ventures, and Times Internet Ltd also participated in the round. Prior to this in March 2016, BYJU’s had also raised $75 Mn from the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, Sequoia India, and Sofina.

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