SoftBank Group

SoftBank Group is a multinational telecommunications and internet corporation based in Japan. It operates through four segments: mobile communications, Sprint, fixed-line telecommunications, and internet. The company provides a wide range of services, including mobile and fixed-line voice and data transmission services, broadband services, internet advertising, e-commerce, and digital television. SoftBank Group also invests in various technologies through its venture capital arms, such as SoftBank Investment Advisers and SoftBank Vision Fund, focusing on areas like artificial intelligence, robotics, and the Internet of Things. One of its notable subsidiaries, SoftBank Robotics, designs and manufactures humanoid robots for various applications, including education, healthcare, and business.

Karim Abouzahr

Director, SoftBank Europe Ventures

Kristin Bannon

Investment Director, SoftBank Investment Advisers

Jonathan Bullock

COO and Managing Director

John Cassidy

Investment Director, Life Sciences and HealthTech

Tom Cheung

Partner, Americas

Rodrigo Costa

Partner

Serena Dayal

Partner, Americas

Angela Du

Partner, Americas

Colin Fan

Managing Partner, SoftBank Investment Advisers

Ted Fike

Director, Americas

Ronald Fisher

Vice Chairman

Navneet Govil

Managing Partner, CFO

Ayush Jain

Investment Vice President

Lydia Jett

Partner

Sumer Juneja

Managing Partner and Head of EMEA and India Investing

Robert Kaplan

Partner, Americas

Chris Lee

Partner, Asia

Anna Lo

Director, Americas

Amit Lubovsky

Director, Americas

Jimi Macdonald

Director

Kentaro Matsui

Managing Partner, Asia

Ken Miyauchi

Representative Director and Senior Executive Vice President

Greg Moon

Executive Managing Partner

Karol Niewiadomski

Partner

Shu Nyatta

Managing Partner

Max Ohrstrand

Partner, EMEA

Vikas Parekh

Managing Partner, Americas

Ben Parton

Director of Deals and Transactions

Yanni Pipilis

Managing Partner

Narendra Rathi

Director, Asia

Brett Rochkind

Managing Partner

Masayoshi Son

Founder

Ram Trichur

Partner

Ervin Tu

Partner, Americas

Aaron Wong

Vice President

Kenichi Yoshida

Chief Business Officer and Executive Vice President

Linda Yu

Vice President, Vision Fund

Andrew Zloto

Partner, Americas

Tim Yap

Director, EMEA

Past deals in EdTech

Eruditus Executive Education

Series F in 2024
Eruditus Executive Education Pvt. Ltd. is a provider of executive education programs aimed at mid-career professionals. Founded in 2010 and based in Mumbai, India, the company has expanded its presence internationally with offices in Dubai and Singapore. Eruditus collaborates with over 30 prestigious universities, such as MIT, Harvard, and INSEAD, to offer a diverse portfolio of management courses, workshops, and custom programs. These programs are designed to develop leadership skills and are available in various formats, including online and in-person sessions, catering to corporate clients and professionals from more than 80 countries. With a focus on accessibility, many courses are offered in multiple languages, enabling a broader reach for learners seeking to enhance their knowledge and advance their careers.

GoStudent

Venture Round in 2023
GoStudent is an online tutoring platform that connects students with tutors for personalized, one-to-one video-based lessons across more than 20 subjects. The service operates on a membership model, allowing users to book lessons through its application, accessible via computers and mobile devices. Each session takes place in a virtual classroom equipped with interactive features such as a whiteboard, screen sharing, and document editing tools. GoStudent serves a diverse clientele, including primary, secondary, and college-aged students, and currently boasts around 15,000 customers and a network of 5,500 international tutors. The platform facilitates over 400,000 tutoring sessions each month and is supported by a team of more than 600 employees across 12 international offices. Additionally, GoStudent incorporates artificial intelligence in its tutor selection process and offers a free social homework chat for students to discuss questions and collaborate. Since its inception, the company has successfully raised over €291 million in funding.

CoachHub

Series C in 2022
CoachHub is a digital learning and coaching platform based in Berlin, Germany, founded in 2018. It specializes in providing personalized video coaching sessions with experienced business coaches, complemented by tailored micro-learning content. The platform is designed to facilitate coaching for employees across various industries, including automotive, consumer goods, financial services, healthcare, and technology, among others. CoachHub's offerings include AI-enabled coaching and data-driven insights that allow organizations to create scalable and measurable coaching programs for their workforce, regardless of department or seniority level. By enabling remote and online coaching, CoachHub ensures that employees can access development opportunities from any location, fostering growth and talent development within organizations.

GO1

Venture Round in 2022
GO1 is a provider of a comprehensive platform designed to enhance workforce development through on-demand training and professional development resources. The platform facilitates onboarding, compliance, and skill enhancement by offering a diverse library of online learning materials. It integrates seamlessly with tools like Microsoft Teams, allowing employees to access and engage with training content directly within their existing workplace ecosystem. By streamlining the procurement of training resources and delivering a modern user experience, GO1 enables organizations to effectively educate and train their workforce through a single subscription model.

Subject

Series A in 2022
Subject is an innovative online education platform focused on delivering accredited courses for middle and high school students. It aims to engage today's learners through a cinematic curriculum that incorporates immersive multimedia experiences and concise video lessons, averaging 3 to 8 minutes in length. By adapting its content to resonate with digital natives, Subject ensures that education meets the needs of students rather than the other way around. The platform is designed to support diverse learners, including Spanish-speaking students, with culturally adapted content and full translation services. Subject's courses are accredited by recognized organizations and approved by various educational authorities, enabling schools to address teacher shortages, facilitate credit recovery, and expand course offerings regardless of geographic limitations. The company is committed to empowering school districts to enhance educational outcomes and achieve their goals through a collaborative partnership.

Chatterbox

Pre Seed Round in 2022
Chatterbox is a corporate language learning platform that connects professionals with native language coaches who share similar professional backgrounds and interests. The platform focuses on providing active language practice, allowing engineers to learn Arabic from fellow engineers and aid workers to study French with medical doctors. Chatterbox's coaches are often displaced professionals who are underutilized in the labor market. The platform utilizes artificial intelligence to enhance online tutoring in various languages, including Mandarin, Arabic, Spanish, and French, with the aim of improving communication and cultural intelligence among corporate clients. Chatterbox was co-founded by a former refugee and is supported by notable investors, including BGV, All Turtles, and WeWork.

Paper

Series D in 2022
Paper, Inc., established in 2014 and headquartered in Montreal, Canada, with an additional office in Santa Monica, California, is a remote tutoring company. It designs an educational support system platform that offers live help, essay review, real-time feedback, and intervention tools for students and teachers. The platform aims to provide personalized learning support, connecting students with certified educators who can provide contextualized feedback and guide them towards a deeper understanding of academic concepts.

GoStudent

Series D in 2022
GoStudent is an online tutoring platform that connects students with tutors for personalized, one-to-one video-based lessons across more than 20 subjects. The service operates on a membership model, allowing users to book lessons through its application, accessible via computers and mobile devices. Each session takes place in a virtual classroom equipped with interactive features such as a whiteboard, screen sharing, and document editing tools. GoStudent serves a diverse clientele, including primary, secondary, and college-aged students, and currently boasts around 15,000 customers and a network of 5,500 international tutors. The platform facilitates over 400,000 tutoring sessions each month and is supported by a team of more than 600 employees across 12 international offices. Additionally, GoStudent incorporates artificial intelligence in its tutor selection process and offers a free social homework chat for students to discuss questions and collaborate. Since its inception, the company has successfully raised over €291 million in funding.

Atom Learning

Series A in 2021
Atom Learning is an educational software developer focused on enhancing learner outcomes through personalized education. The company offers a platform that integrates high-quality teacher-produced content with adaptive technology, creating a tailored learning experience for students of varying backgrounds and attainment levels. Its solutions are applicable in both home and school settings, facilitating a modern approach to education. The platform includes features such as personalized learning journeys, adaptive mock tests, detailed performance analytics, automated marking, and homework planning, allowing teachers to effectively guide students along their optimal learning paths. Atom Learning aims to transform education by providing tools that support individualized learning and improve student performance.

isaac

Series B in 2021
Isaac is an all-in-one platform designed to streamline financial management for schools, enabling them to focus on educational priorities. By providing a comprehensive suite of services that includes payment processing, financial products, software, and communication tools, Isaac simplifies school administration. The platform automates tuition payment receivables, thereby reducing financial risks for educational institutions and ensuring a seamless payment experience for parents. Additionally, Isaac offers detailed financial analysis tools that give schools insight into their financial conditions, allowing for better planning and resource allocation. Each month, Isaac disburses a predetermined amount to schools, based on their projected income, ensuring consistent financial support.

360Learning

Private Equity Round in 2021
360Learning is a developer of a collaborative learning solution designed to enhance employee training through collective expertise. The platform enables organizations to create, deliver, and refine training courses collaboratively, promoting bottom-up peer learning and addressing skills gaps more efficiently. It employs an iterative framework that allows for the rapid deployment of minimum viable courses, which can be continually improved based on peer feedback and data analysis. Coaches on the platform facilitate this process by ensuring that courses remain accessible and relevant. 360Learning supports various training needs, from onboarding new employees to equipping sales teams with updated product knowledge. Its integrations with systems like Salesforce and HR platforms enable businesses to track the impact of training on organizational goals. Since its inception in 2012, 360Learning has successfully transformed the training processes of over 1,200 organizations, including notable clients such as Axa, Criteo, and the Red Cross.

DriveWealth

Series D in 2021
DriveWealth is a fintech company based in Chatham, New Jersey, founded in 2012. It operates a mobile investing platform designed for individual investors, offering a range of exchange-traded funds, U.S.-listed stocks, and educational content to help users understand financial basics. DriveWealth's technology enables partners worldwide to provide branded investing experiences, facilitating customer acquisition, loyalty, retention, and revenue growth. The company specializes in fractional equities trading and offers cloud-based, API-driven brokerage infrastructure, allowing global partners to access the U.S. equities market through real-time fractional share investments.

Eruditus Executive Education

Series E in 2021
Eruditus Executive Education Pvt. Ltd. is a provider of executive education programs aimed at mid-career professionals. Founded in 2010 and based in Mumbai, India, the company has expanded its presence internationally with offices in Dubai and Singapore. Eruditus collaborates with over 30 prestigious universities, such as MIT, Harvard, and INSEAD, to offer a diverse portfolio of management courses, workshops, and custom programs. These programs are designed to develop leadership skills and are available in various formats, including online and in-person sessions, catering to corporate clients and professionals from more than 80 countries. With a focus on accessibility, many courses are offered in multiple languages, enabling a broader reach for learners seeking to enhance their knowledge and advance their careers.

Unacademy

Series H in 2021
Unacademy is an online learning platform based in Bangalore, India, that focuses on providing educational content for major competitive examinations. Originally launched in 2015 after starting as a YouTube channel in 2010, the platform offers a wide range of short video lectures on various subjects, which are accessible for free. By promoting self-learning, Unacademy aims to help aspiring students effectively prepare for their competitive exams. The platform's emphasis on accessible and comprehensive educational resources has positioned it as a significant player in the online education sector.

Class Technologies

Series B in 2021
Class provides Class for Zoom, which integrates the Class software on the Zoom Meetings platform to help teachers take attendance, hand out assignments, give a quiz or test, grade work, proctor exams, or talk one-on-one with a student.

GO1

Series D in 2021
GO1 is a provider of a comprehensive platform designed to enhance workforce development through on-demand training and professional development resources. The platform facilitates onboarding, compliance, and skill enhancement by offering a diverse library of online learning materials. It integrates seamlessly with tools like Microsoft Teams, allowing employees to access and engage with training content directly within their existing workplace ecosystem. By streamlining the procurement of training resources and delivering a modern user experience, GO1 enables organizations to effectively educate and train their workforce through a single subscription model.

GoStudent

Series C in 2021
GoStudent is an online tutoring platform that connects students with tutors for personalized, one-to-one video-based lessons across more than 20 subjects. The service operates on a membership model, allowing users to book lessons through its application, accessible via computers and mobile devices. Each session takes place in a virtual classroom equipped with interactive features such as a whiteboard, screen sharing, and document editing tools. GoStudent serves a diverse clientele, including primary, secondary, and college-aged students, and currently boasts around 15,000 customers and a network of 5,500 international tutors. The platform facilitates over 400,000 tutoring sessions each month and is supported by a team of more than 600 employees across 12 international offices. Additionally, GoStudent incorporates artificial intelligence in its tutor selection process and offers a free social homework chat for students to discuss questions and collaborate. Since its inception, the company has successfully raised over €291 million in funding.

Riiid

Series E in 2021
Riiid is a global innovator in AI-powered education solutions, specializing in adaptive assessment platforms that personalize learning experiences for students worldwide. Launched in 2017 with Santa TOEIC, its flagship product has reached over one million users in Korea alone, demonstrating proven efficacy. Expanding globally, Riiid operates Santa TOEIC in Japan and offers Santa SAT in Vietnam. Its scalable AI technology provides each student with a personalized tutor, enhancing learning outcomes while reducing costs compared to traditional methods. By democratizing educational opportunities, Riiid is rapidly transforming the learning landscape.

Afya

Post in 2021
Afya is an Edtech that helps doctors acquire knowledge throughout their medical careers. Afya Educacional was born from the union of NRE Educacional, the largest group of medical schools in the country, with Medcel, a leading company in preparatory courses for medical residency, specializations, and updates. Afya is a highly technological company, with an educational bias and dedicated to taking care of the entire professional journey of the doctor. Afya Educacional was born in 2019 and is headquartered in Minas Gerais, Brazil.

Descomplica

Series E in 2021
Descomplica is an online education platform based in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, founded in 2011. The company specializes in providing students with access to a wide range of educational resources, including pre-recorded and live classes across various subjects, particularly focusing on mathematics, physics, and chemistry. Descomplica aims to facilitate college entrance exam preparation by offering affordable and high-quality educational materials, enabling students to learn at their own pace. The platform also features online monitoring to enhance the learning experience, making it accessible for a diverse group of learners seeking to achieve their academic goals.

Zuoyebang

Series E in 2020
Zuoyebang is an online education startup based in Beijing, China, founded in 2014 by Hou Jianbin. The company focuses on providing educational products and services for primary and high school students, utilizing artificial intelligence to enhance learning experiences. Its platform allows students to upload homework questions and seek answers, making it easier for them to tackle study-related challenges. In addition to homework assistance, Zuoyebang offers online courses, live lessons, and evaluations for students from kindergarten through 12th grade. The company has gained significant backing from prominent investors, including Baidu, Alibaba Group, Tiger Global Management, SoftBank Vision Fund, Sequoia Capital China, and FountainVest Partners.

Kahoot!

Post in 2020
Kahoot! is a game-based learning platform that enables users to create, share, and engage with educational games and trivia quizzes quickly and easily. Catering to a diverse audience, including educators, students, and corporate entities, the platform supports learning across various subjects and languages, and is accessible on multiple devices. Kahoot!'s mission is to enhance the learning experience by making it more interactive and enjoyable, fostering engagement through social interaction and gamification. The platform is utilized in various contexts, including classrooms, corporate training, and events, making it a versatile tool for learning and development globally.

Zhangmen

Series F in 2020
Shanghai Zhangmen Education Technology Co., Ltd. operates Zhangmen, an online tutoring platform that offers personalized tutoring courses for primary and middle school students aged eight to 18. Founded in 2014 and based in China, Zhangmen allows students to connect with highly qualified teachers who have graduated from prestigious universities such as Tsinghua, Peking University, and Fudan University. The platform provides a range of educational services, including one-on-one tutoring and comprehensive online education classes. Through its online and mobile applications, Zhangmen aims to enhance the learning experience by offering tailored educational support to meet the individual needs of each student.

Sunmnet Technology

Series B in 2020
Sunmnet Technology Co., Ltd., founded in 2009 and headquartered in Guangzhou, China, focuses on developing and operating an online education platform. The company specializes in smart education technology and solutions, leveraging advanced technologies such as big data, artificial intelligence, facial recognition, and the Internet of Things (IoT). These innovations aim to enhance educational systems and infrastructure, enabling universities to implement more efficient and effective campus environments. Through its comprehensive approach, Sunmnet seeks to drive technology-driven improvements in education.

Unacademy

Series F in 2020
Unacademy is an online learning platform based in Bangalore, India, that focuses on providing educational content for major competitive examinations. Originally launched in 2015 after starting as a YouTube channel in 2010, the platform offers a wide range of short video lectures on various subjects, which are accessible for free. By promoting self-learning, Unacademy aims to help aspiring students effectively prepare for their competitive exams. The platform's emphasis on accessible and comprehensive educational resources has positioned it as a significant player in the online education sector.

Zuoyebang

Series E in 2020
Zuoyebang is an online education startup based in Beijing, China, founded in 2014 by Hou Jianbin. The company focuses on providing educational products and services for primary and high school students, utilizing artificial intelligence to enhance learning experiences. Its platform allows students to upload homework questions and seek answers, making it easier for them to tackle study-related challenges. In addition to homework assistance, Zuoyebang offers online courses, live lessons, and evaluations for students from kindergarten through 12th grade. The company has gained significant backing from prominent investors, including Baidu, Alibaba Group, Tiger Global Management, SoftBank Vision Fund, Sequoia Capital China, and FountainVest Partners.

FlashNotes

Series B in 2015
FlashNotes is a marketplace designed for college students, providing them with immediate access to online tutors and a variety of course-specific study materials. The platform facilitates the buying and selling of resources such as notes, study guides, and flashcards, enabling students to enhance their academic performance while also offering an opportunity to earn money by sharing their own materials. With a commitment to student success, FlashNotes features a guarantee that promises a grade improvement or a full refund for users. Additionally, the platform allows sellers to determine their own pricing, ensuring they are fairly compensated for their knowledge and expertise.

FlashNotes

Series A in 2014
FlashNotes is a marketplace designed for college students, providing them with immediate access to online tutors and a variety of course-specific study materials. The platform facilitates the buying and selling of resources such as notes, study guides, and flashcards, enabling students to enhance their academic performance while also offering an opportunity to earn money by sharing their own materials. With a commitment to student success, FlashNotes features a guarantee that promises a grade improvement or a full refund for users. Additionally, the platform allows sellers to determine their own pricing, ensuring they are fairly compensated for their knowledge and expertise.

Z80 Labs Technology Incubator

Seed Round in 2013
Z80 Labs is an incubator focused on transforming Buffalo and Western New York into a technology hub by supporting early-stage companies. Founded by investors Jordan Levy and Ron Schreiber, Z80 Labs aims to provide entrepreneurs with access to resources typically found in larger tech centers like New York City and Silicon Valley. The organization offers a range of services, including office space, mentorship, education programs, and funding, creating an environment conducive to innovation and growth. It is backed by investments from Softbank Capital and additional funding from SCP Incubator LLC through a $5 million Innovate NY grant. Local corporate partners, such as The Buffalo News and Campus Labs, contribute services and expertise to enhance the support available to start-ups, ultimately fostering economic development in the region.

FlashNotes

Seed Round in 2012
FlashNotes is a marketplace designed for college students, providing them with immediate access to online tutors and a variety of course-specific study materials. The platform facilitates the buying and selling of resources such as notes, study guides, and flashcards, enabling students to enhance their academic performance while also offering an opportunity to earn money by sharing their own materials. With a commitment to student success, FlashNotes features a guarantee that promises a grade improvement or a full refund for users. Additionally, the platform allows sellers to determine their own pricing, ensuring they are fairly compensated for their knowledge and expertise.

Echo360

Venture Round in 2010
Echo360, Inc. is a developer of a Software-as-a-Service learning and analytics platform tailored for higher education institutions both in the United States and internationally. Founded in 2007 and headquartered in Virginia, the company offers a comprehensive solution that enables users to capture, share, and enhance classroom experiences through features such as polls, quizzes, and instructional video recordings. Its platform facilitates connections between students and instructors worldwide and provides learning analytics to identify student engagement levels and potential challenges before exams. Additionally, Echo360 includes a learning library for storing educational materials, universal capture software for recording content on various devices, and an automatic speech recognition solution to support video-based learning. The company aims to transform educational experiences by leveraging active learning technology and interactive software to engage students effectively.

Echo360

Venture Round in 2008
Echo360, Inc. is a developer of a Software-as-a-Service learning and analytics platform tailored for higher education institutions both in the United States and internationally. Founded in 2007 and headquartered in Virginia, the company offers a comprehensive solution that enables users to capture, share, and enhance classroom experiences through features such as polls, quizzes, and instructional video recordings. Its platform facilitates connections between students and instructors worldwide and provides learning analytics to identify student engagement levels and potential challenges before exams. Additionally, Echo360 includes a learning library for storing educational materials, universal capture software for recording content on various devices, and an automatic speech recognition solution to support video-based learning. The company aims to transform educational experiences by leveraging active learning technology and interactive software to engage students effectively.

Apreso Classroom

Series B in 2008
Educational institutions the world over are increasingly recognizing the value of making course lectures available to students for online review. They enable students to improve comprehension and retention, professors to improve the effectiveness of class and office hours, and universities to boost facility and technology usage. However, most solutions for getting lecture content online are prohibitively expensive, difficult to use, and lack the operational simplicity required for university-wide acceptance. Anystream's Apreso Classroom is an affordable automated lecture capture and Web publishing system that produces online versions of the classroom experience for on-demand student review. Apreso Classroom can be scheduled to start and stop automatically, removing the need for professors to learn to operate the system or change the way they teach. It automatically captures and synchronizes the professor's voice with visual aids being projected in the classroom, and posts an interactive, indexed Web-based version of the lecture to university websites or course management system. Designed specifically for higher education, Apreso Classroom's enterprise architecture integrates with campus-wide information systems. Permanently installed in the classroom, and operating without attendants, Apreso Classroom is the first lecture capture system affordable and practical enough to be deployed campus-wide.

Echo360

Series B in 2008
Echo360, Inc. is a developer of a Software-as-a-Service learning and analytics platform tailored for higher education institutions both in the United States and internationally. Founded in 2007 and headquartered in Virginia, the company offers a comprehensive solution that enables users to capture, share, and enhance classroom experiences through features such as polls, quizzes, and instructional video recordings. Its platform facilitates connections between students and instructors worldwide and provides learning analytics to identify student engagement levels and potential challenges before exams. Additionally, Echo360 includes a learning library for storing educational materials, universal capture software for recording content on various devices, and an automatic speech recognition solution to support video-based learning. The company aims to transform educational experiences by leveraging active learning technology and interactive software to engage students effectively.

Maaya

Series B in 2001
Maaya specializes in providing e-commerce corporations with updated technology information training through its innovative products, the Maaya Exchange Platform and Maaya Knowledge Marketplace. The Maaya Exchange Platform connects enterprises with a global network, facilitating the exchange of advanced knowledge among customers, partners, and learning providers. Meanwhile, the Maaya Knowledge Marketplace serves as an international online platform that offers supplier learning materials, directory services, payment processing, secure transaction routing, and operational management for learning suppliers and their clients. By streamlining these services, Maaya enhances the learning experience and knowledge transfer within the e-commerce sector.

Xythos Software

Series A in 2001
Xythos Software specializes in secure document management and collaboration solutions tailored for academic, commercial, and government organizations. Founded in 1999 and based in San Francisco, the company provides a suite of products, including the WebFile Server, which facilitates the management of unstructured content and files, and the Enterprise Document Manager, designed for document management and collaboration. Xythos also offers the Digital Locker for K-12 institutions and higher education, allowing users to store, publish, and collaborate on research content. Additionally, the company provides Drive, which transforms Windows desktop applications into a WebDAV-powered collaboration tool, and Developer Studio, enabling customization of content management installations. The Filer application allows users to upload documents into enterprise systems while attaching relevant metadata and classification information. Overall, Xythos Software enables organizations to effectively manage and share information securely throughout its lifecycle.
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