Technology has been transforming the educational world for the past few years. Every year, new edtech companies bring innovative products to the table — from online certification platforms to websites that offer interactive learning apps.
We’ve seen a lot of well-established eLearning websites that do their part in nurturing the next generation. But this didn’t stop innovators from introducing features that set the tone for the future of the edtech industry.
Here are four of the most promising edtech startups that could become the key players:
1. Studypool
Working out of their dorm rooms as college freshman, Studypool founders Richard Werbe and Jimmy Zhong ironically skipped weeks of classes to reinvent how students learn through a concept called “Microtutoring.”
CEO Richard Werbe explains, “Microtutoring breaks down conventional tutoring into smaller, more digestible pieces of learning. By eliminating the barrier of set-time tutoring sessions, students can master subjects more efficiently on a time interval tailored to their needs. Typical sessions last one to 10 minutes but can take up to several hours depending on the student.” Werbe emphasizes that learning is all about mastery, and Studypool’s mission is to make mastering a particular subject matter easier for students.
He continues, “Think about when you were stuck on that tricky algebra question in high school and you called your smart friend for help. That was microtutoring! Studypool is doing that times ten million. It’s like having thousands of friends that are professional tutors that can help 24/7, on demand. By using today’s online technology, Studypool has created the infrastructure needed to support Microtutoring.”
Studypool’s aggressive approach has made a splash on the Internet since its launch in 2014 as students discovered the appeal of Microtutoring. One early customer Daniel Zhang gave the website a glowing review: “I got help with a kinematic physics equation lying in bed in my dorm room at two in the morning!” Within a month of its launch, Studypool had thousands of users.
Today the company has raised $2.3 million in seed funding, has helped over a million students, and offers services from over 40,000 verified tutors. Werbe reports that the platform is growing faster than ever and is seeing significant revenues.
2. Peergrade
Other than reading books and gaining experience, accepting feedback is one of the best ways to learn. True, evaluating a student’s performance and providing assessments are…