EdTech funding continues to tighten in 2025.
Just $410 million in venture capital was invested in the space so far in 2025, furthering a post-pandemic dip.
The market has shifted dramatically. Fewer companies receive funding, but those who do get larger amounts. The average check size has increased to $7.8 million.
Nearly half of all venture funding went to just three companies: LeapScholar, MagicSchool, and Campus. This concentration signals where investors see opportunity.
AI-powered solutions dominate. Alternative education models attract capital. Access platforms secure funding.
Despite the overall decline, seed deals are surging. New AI tools drive this early-stage activity. Investors seek the next breakthrough in educational technology.
For founders, this means understanding exactly what investors want. Who's actively investing. What they're looking for. How to approach them.
This guide provides that intelligence. We've compiled detailed profiles of active EdTech investors. Their portfolios. Investment criteria. Contact methods.
No speculation. Just data and proven strategies.
Let's start with the investors shaping EdTech's future.
How to pitch your EdTech startup to investors
You've developed a learning platform. Teachers love your pilot program. Students show measurable improvement.
But investors ignore your emails.
Stop sending PDF pitch decks. They vanish in inboxes. You can't see who opened them. Partners can't track which slides matter.
Use trackable links instead. Know when investors open your deck. See time spent per slide. Get alerts when shared internally.
Ellty makes it simple. Share secure links. Track pitch deck engagement. No more guessing if investors saw your work.
Start tracking your pitch deck.
Top 30 EdTech investors
1. Owl Ventures
The largest venture capital fund in Ed Tech with over $2 billion in assets under management.
Investment focus: PreK-12, Higher Education, Future of Work, EdTech+ (intersection with FinTech/Healthcare)
Investment range: Seed to late stage, flexible check sizes
Notable investments: BYJU'S, MasterClass, Quizlet, Newsela, Degreed, Coursera
Contact: owlvc.com
2. Learn Capital
Pioneering education technology VC with $1+ billion AUM.
Investment focus: Human capital development, lifelong learning, workforce training
Investment range: Seed to Series B, typically $3-25M
Notable investments: ClassDojo, Andela, Coursera, Udemy, Brilliant
Contact: learncapital.com
3. Reach Capital
Leading early-stage fund empowering founders across learning, health, and work.
Investment focus: Education technology, workforce development, health/wellness in education
Investment range: Pre-seed to Series A, $500K-$5M
Notable investments: Outschool, Seesaw, BookNook, ClassTag
Contact: reachcapital.com
4. Emerge Education
European EdTech specialist backed by 100+ experienced operators.
Investment focus: European EdTech startups, virtual classrooms, online tutoring
Investment range: Pre-seed to seed, £250K-£1.5M ($314K-$1.9M)
Notable investments: Unibuddy, Enroly, Aula
Contact: emerge.education
5. General Catalyst
Multi-stage VC with dedicated EdTech practice.
Investment focus: Early-stage and growth equity across education sectors
Investment range: Seed to growth, varies by stage
Notable investments: Chegg, Coursera, Udacity
Contact: generalcatalyst.com
6. Educapital
Europe's largest EdTech and Future of Work VC.
Investment focus: European companies with global potential, future of education and work
Investment range: Seed to Series B
Notable investments: Portfolio includes 25+ European EdTech leaders
Contact: educapital.fr
7. Kapor Capital
Mission-driven fund closing gaps in education access.
Investment focus: Gap-closing tech for underserved communities
Investment range: Pre-seed to Series B
Notable investments: EdTech companies serving low-income communities
Contact: kaporcapital.com
8. GSV Ventures
"Pre-K to Gray" digital learning investor.
Investment focus: Digital learning disruption across all education stages
Investment range: Various stages, focus on scalable platforms
Notable investments: 65+ EdTech companies including adaptive assessments, VR classrooms
Contact: gsvventures.com
9. NewSchools Venture Fund
Supporting innovative public education solutions.
Investment focus: K-12 learning solutions, innovative schools, diverse leadership
Investment range: Early to growth stage
Notable investments: Public education technology and school models
Contact: newschools.org
10. Brighteye Ventures
Europe's first and largest vertical EdTech VC.
Investment focus: European EdTech startups with international potential
Investment range: Seed to Series A
Notable investments: LabLabee, Installer, La Solive
Contact: brighteyevc.com
11. Bonsal Capital
Mission-driven partnership investing since 1999.
Investment focus: Education technology with social impact
Investment range: Early to growth stage
Notable investments: Companies serving educational equity
Contact: bonsalcapital.com
12. University Ventures
Higher education transformation specialist.
Investment focus: Post-secondary education, workforce development
Investment range: Growth equity
Notable investments: Alternative credential providers, bootcamps
Contact: universityventures.com
No pitch deck yet? Start with this template
13. Runa Capital
Global VC with dedicated EdTech practice.
Investment focus: B2B SaaS, EdTech, deep tech
Investment range: Seed to Series B, $1M-$5M initial check
Notable investments: EdTech companies across 13 countries
Contact: runacap.com
14. Leeds Illuminate
Investing at the intersection of education and work.
Investment focus: Workforce development, adult learning platforms
Investment range: Series A to growth
Notable investments: Companies expanding access to quality learning
Contact: leedsilluminate.com
15. LearnLaunch Accelerator
Boston-based EdTech accelerator and fund.
Investment focus: Early-stage EdTech startups
Investment range: Pre-seed to seed
Notable investments: Boston EdTech ecosystem companies
Contact: learnlaunch.com
16. Urban Innovation Fund
Driving positive change in EdTech through strategic investments.
Investment focus: Early-stage EdTech startups revolutionizing education
Investment range: Pre-seed to Series A
Notable investments: Education technology solutions
Contact: urbaninnovationfund.com
17. Bessemer Venture Partners
Multi-stage investor with EdTech portfolio.
Investment focus: Consumer, enterprise, and education technology
Investment range: Seed to Series E+
Notable investments: EdTech across all stages
Contact: bvp.com
18. Index Ventures
Global VC investing in transformative technologies.
Investment focus: EdTech startups with global potential
Investment range: Seed to growth
Notable investments: Education platforms across Europe and US
Contact: indexventures.com
19. Lightspeed Venture Partners
Global multi-stage VC with EdTech investments.
Investment focus: High-growth education technology companies
Investment range: Early to late stage
Notable investments: EdTech platforms globally
Contact: lsvp.com
20. Andreessen Horowitz (a16z)
Leading Silicon Valley VC with EdTech exposure.
Investment focus: Technology companies including EdTech
Investment range: Pre-seed to Series D+
Notable investments: Education technology platforms
Contact: a16z.com
21. Antler
Global early-stage investor with EdTech focus.
Investment focus: Day zero investments in EdTech founders
Investment range: Pre-seed to seed, typically $100K-$500K
Notable investments: LearnWise AI and other EdTech startups
Contact: antler.co
Send regular investor updates with Ellty
No investor update template yet? Start with this one
22. Hoxton Ventures
Early-stage technology investor based in London.
Investment focus: Mobile, internet, and software startups including EdTech
Investment range: Seed to Series A
Notable investments: European EdTech companies
Contact: hoxtonventures.com
23. RTP Global
Early-stage technology investor with EdTech portfolio.
Investment focus: Early-stage technology companies including education
Investment range: Seed to Series B
Notable investments: Global EdTech platforms
Contact: rtpglobal.com
24. HV Capital
Munich-based VC investing in technology companies.
Investment focus: European technology including EdTech
Investment range: Early to growth stage
Notable investments: German and European EdTech companies
Contact: hvcapital.com
25. Floodgate
Early-stage investor known for pre-breakout investments.
Investment focus: Technology startups with transformative potential
Investment range: Pre-seed to Series A
Notable investments: EdTech companies before major growth
Contact: floodgate.com
26. Rethink Capital Partners
Impact-focused investor with education portfolio.
Investment focus: Education equity and social impact
Investment range: Early to growth stage
Notable investments: Mission-driven EdTech companies
Contact: rethinkcapital.org
27. Francisco Partners
Private equity firm active in EdTech.
Investment focus: Mid-market education technology companies
Investment range: Growth equity and buyouts
Notable investments: Discovery Education, Renaissance Learning
Contact: franciscopartners.com
28. A-Street
K-12 focused education investor.
Investment focus: PreK-12 education technology
Investment range: Series A to growth
Notable investments: K-12 learning platforms
Contact: astreet.com
29. Kitab Sawti
MENA-focused EdTech investor.
Investment focus: Audio-based educational content
Investment range: Early stage
Notable investments: Audio learning platforms
Contact: kitabsawti.com
30. Flyer One Ventures
EdTech-focused venture capital firm.
Investment focus: Innovative EdTech solutions
Investment range: Pre-seed to Series A
Notable investments: Learning platforms and tools
Contact: flyerone.vc
How to approach EdTech investors
Get straight to what works.
The metrics they check first:
MRR growth. User retention after 90 days. Proof students actually learn better.
Skip the fluff about "revolutionizing education." Show them a teacher who replaced three tools with yours. Show them test scores that went up. Show them a principal who bought licenses for the whole district.
Timing matters.
Reach out after you've proven something. Not before.
Good timing: Just closed a 50-school district. Bad timing: Still pivoting your product every month.
The intro that works:
Through their portfolio founders. Always.
Found a founder they backed? Get 15 minutes with them first. If they like what you're building, they'll make the intro. Works 10x better than cold emails.
Your deck needs these numbers:
- How much schools pay you
- How long they stay
- What happens to student outcomes
- Why teachers keep using it
Physics Wallah raised $210M showing exactly this. No fancy slides. Just proof that students pass exams.
After you send the deck:
You'll know if they're interested. They spend 5+ minutes on your traction slide? They're interested. They bounce after 30 seconds? Move on.
Track this. Follow up with investors who actually read it. Ignore the rest.
Alternative funding sources
Government Grants
NSF SBIR/STTR Program
$200K-$2M for EdTech research and development. No equity dilution.
Two phases: feasibility study, then full development.
Apply year-round at sbir.gov
IES SBIR Program
Specifically for education technology. $225K Phase I, $900K Phase II.
Opens in January annually.
Focus on classroom-tested solutions.
State-level EdTech grants
California: $50K-$500K for K-12 tools
Texas: Innovation grants up to $250K
New York: EdTech pilot programs $100K-$1M
Accelerators
Y Combinator
$500K for 7% equity. Multiple EdTech success stories.
Apply twice yearly. Strong alumni network in education.
Techstars (various programs)
$120K investment. 3-month program.
Specific EdTech programs in certain cities.
LEARN Accelerator
EdTech-only program. $50K-$150K checks.
Based in DC. Government contract connections.
Google for Startups Accelerator
No equity taken. Cloud credits up to $100K.
AI-focused EdTech track available.
Revenue-based financing
Better than equity for profitable EdTech companies.
Pipe: Turn MRR into upfront capital. 85% of ARR available.
Capchase: Similar model, EdTech-friendly terms.
Clearbanc: $10K-$10M based on revenue metrics.
No board seats. No dilution. Pay back from revenue.
Strategic Partnerships
Publisher partnerships
Pearson Ventures: Investment + distribution
McGraw Hill: Pilot programs leading to acquisition
Houghton Mifflin: Co-development deals
School district partnerships
Paid pilots: $50K-$200K per district
Innovation funds: Many districts have dedicated budgets
Success-based contracts: Payment tied to outcomes
Corporate training budgets
Fortune 500 learning & development: Average $1,200 per employee
Direct sales to L&D departments
Proof of concept contracts: $100K-$500K typical
Success stories
MagicSchool
Raised funding in Q1 2025. Built AI teaching assistant that actually saves time.
Started with 100 teacher beta testers. Let them shape the product. Within 6 months: 50,000 teachers using it daily.
Key move: Focused on one problem - lesson planning takes too long. Solved it. Then expanded.
Investors loved: 4-hour average daily usage. Teachers paying out of pocket before district deals.
Physics Wallah
Indian test prep platform. No fancy tech at first.
Started as YouTube channel. Built trust with free content. Then launched paid courses at 1/10th competitor price.
The numbers that got investors: 8 million paying students. 90% course completion. $2.8B valuation.
Lesson: Solve a real problem first. Scale the tech later.
SchooLinks
College readiness platform. Raised largest US EdTech round in 2024.
Smart approach: Started in Texas. Dominated one state before expanding. Built relationships with counselors, not just administrators.
Traction that mattered: 80% of Texas districts using it. Clear ROI - more students getting into college.
Mistakes That Killed Funding
Company A: Built beautiful app. Teachers loved demos. But daily usage dropped to zero after two weeks. No retention, no funding.
Company B: Raised $5M seed. Spent it all on marketing. CAC was $500, LTV was $200. Math didn't work.
Company C: Great traction in private schools. Tried to pivot to public. Different sales cycle killed them.
What Winners Did Differently
- Started with one use case. Dominated it. Then expanded.
- Proved outcomes first. Not with surveys. With actual test scores or graduation rates.
- Built for the buyer. Teachers use it, but administrators buy it. Winners understood this.
- Kept burn low. Most successful EdTech companies were profitable or close before Series A.
- Picked the right market. B2B EdTech has clearer path to revenue than consumer.
How Ellty helps
See who's really interested
You email 50 investors. Radio silence.
With Ellty, you know:
- Investor spent 8 minutes on your traction slide = interested
- Bounced after 30 seconds = not interested
- Shared with 3 partners = very interested
Stop guessing. Start knowing.
Track what matters
Real data from EdTech founders using Ellty:
- Financial slide gets 10 seconds? Too complex. Fix it.
- Traction slide gets 5 minutes? Lead with it.
- Team slide always skipped? Move it back.
Every pitch makes the next one better.
Secure
PDFs get forwarded to competitors. You can't stop it.
Trackable links let you:
- Revoke access anytime
- Update numbers without resending
- See everyone who has access
Follow up
"Hi Sarah, saw you reviewed our retention metrics. Here's how we hit 90%."
Beats "Just following up" every time.
Start tracking your pitch deck
FAQs
What's the minimum traction needed for EdTech investors?
B2B: 10+ paying schools or $10K MRR
B2C: 10,000 active users with 30%+ monthly retention
How much do EdTech investors typically invest?
Pre-seed: $250K-$1M
Seed: $1M-$5M
Series A: $5M-$15M
Which investors are most active in 2025?
Reach Capital (12 deals last year), Owl Ventures (13 deals), Emerge (5 deals). Focus on these for higher response rates.
Should I approach US investors as a non-US startup?
Yes, if you have US expansion plans. Owl Ventures and Learn Capital actively invest globally. Show clear US go-to-market strategy.
What's the typical response time?
Interested investors respond within 5 days. No response after 2 weeks = pass.
Do I need education industry experience?
Helps but not required. 40% of funded EdTech founders come from outside education. Must show deep understanding of user problems.
Consumer or institutional - what's easier to fund?
B2B institutional has clearer path. B2C needs massive scale to attract investors.
When should I start fundraising?
Start conversations 6 months before you need money. EdTech sales cycles are long - factor this into runway.
What kills most EdTech deals?
Unclear business model (30%), no proof of learning outcomes (25%), long sales cycles not factored into burn (20%).
Can I raise without efficacy studies?
Early stage - yes. Series A and beyond - increasingly difficult. Start collecting outcome data from day one.
