The Estonian Business Angels Network led a €200K investment round in Mentornaut, a new online tutoring platform (EstBAN). The platform, which counts Superangel, United Angels VC, and a list of EdTech advocates like Bolt co-founder Martin Villig and Clanbeat co-founder Kadri Tuisk among its investors, aims to increase inclusion in personalised education.
The edtech startup, founded in 2020 by Markus Meresma and Gregor Mändma, is developing an online learning platform to help students bridge knowledge gaps and achieve their full potential in school. During the Coronavirus pandemic, when lockdown restrictions forced 1.5 billion children around the world to learn remotely, Mentornaut was developed. Mentornaut was founded with the realization that as distance and remote learning become more common around the world, parents are becoming more open to private tutoring to help their children overcome learning gaps.
Mentornaut has had 2,500 private sessions scheduled on its platform since its launch in Estonia in 2020, and has received positive feedback from clients so far.According to Mersema, m any people have “rediscovered the fun in learning” thanks to the platform.
In the first few hours after its launch in Kenya, the platform received over 120 sign-up requests for tutor onboarding. The average pupil-to-teacher ratio in African elementary schools is 42:1, necessitating the need of private supplementary tutoring. Mentornaut uses a proactive approach to expanding its tutoring pool, bringing on students, schoolteachers, and experienced private tutors to enhance diversity and assist more people afford personalized learning.
Speaking to the impact that Mentornaut can have in Africa, Veljo Otsason (founding partner at Superangel), commented that: “Mentornaut’s bold vision of empowering local education systems is impressive. Personalised education for kids in Africa is still largely unaddressed but necessary to build better societies and economies”
EstBAN’s new funding will be utilized to expand the platform’s automation, allowing parents, children, and private tutors across Africa and Eastern Europe to receive personalized education. The company’s long-term vision is to develop a personalised learning system that will influence the establishment of personalized learning paths and support studies in general education schools.