London-based online tutoring startup Edumentors has raised £1.5m in a seed round to build the world’s first fully interactive, human-like AI tutor – Edu AI.
Founded in 2022, the EdTech’s platform connects school-age students with high-achieving tutors from top UK universities, including Oxford and Cambridge.
Its goal is to make premium, personalised education accessible beyond the typical barriers of geography and affordability.
The company has already delivered over 100,000 tutoring sessions to students in 35 countries and claims 98% of parents have reported significant academic improvements in their children.
It is now turning to AI, with four AI tools in the works which include a marking assistant, a tutor training module and a virtual parent-facing avatar.
The funding will go towards scaling both the company’s existing human tutoring model and accelerating development of Edu AI, which is designed to offer a human-like tutoring experience that moves beyond static videos and digital avatars.
It can interpret facial expressions, respond to body language and adapt its teaching style to suit individual learners.
Its features include real-time diagram drawing, interactive whiteboarding, personalised notes and ‘learning maps’ to help students track their progress.
“Every student deserves world-class education, regardless of where they live or their family’s circumstances,” said Tornike Asatiani, founder and CEO of Edumentors.
“Edu AI opens educational opportunities for hundreds of millions of students to access the finest individual tutoring available.
“We’re passionate about making education accessible to everyone. Our platform ensures that expert-level educational support isn’t restricted by financial barriers or geographical limitations.”
The oversubscribed round was led by Abu Dhabi-based Magna Investments, alongside angel investors from more than 10 countries.
The company is now eyeing international expansion, with a Series A planned in 18 months as it prepares to enter the US market.
Richard Hargreaves, an early supporter of the business, added: “Since its launch in 2022, Edumentors has held a unique niche in online education.
“It connects high-achieving student-tutors from top universities with children in need. While most companies overlook this talent-pool, Edumentors built a brand around them and already made over $3m in sales.
“Given the growth rate and ambition with AI, Edumentors has the opportunity to become the next unicorn in education.”
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