University Ventures

Founded in 2011, University Ventures is a New York-based investment firm focused on the global higher education sector. It pursues a strategy of innovation within established institutions, aiming to enhance their missions and traditions.

Ryan Craig JD

Managing Director

David Figuli JD

Managing Director

Cassidy Leventhal

Vice President

Daniel Pianko

Co-Founder and Managing Director

Gregg Rosenthal

Managing Director

Past deals in EdTech

Edu101

Series A in 2020
Edu101 develops mobile-first teaching and assessment tools aimed at enhancing the learning experience in college STEM courses. Founded in 2014 and based in New York, the company focuses on creating innovative applications that facilitate student engagement and comprehension. Its flagship app, Chem101, serves as an interactive tool for chemistry educators, allowing them to replace traditional clickers and effectively engage students during lessons. Chem101 includes features that enable students to draw and visualize complex concepts, such as Lewis structures, directly on their mobile devices. The platform not only supports in-class interaction but also allows instructors to assign homework and provide feedback on student performance, thereby reinforcing learning outside the classroom.

PeopleGrove

Series A in 2019
PeopleGrove Inc. is a technology company based in San Francisco, California, founded in 2014. It develops an educational platform that supports the entire student lifecycle in higher education institutions, serving over 650 institutions globally. The platform enhances engagement from prospective students to alumni by providing access to mentorship, career support services, and college navigation. It aims to improve student career readiness and confidence through personalized assistance powered by artificial intelligence and machine learning. PeopleGrove's comprehensive solutions facilitate admissions and enrollment, student services, and alumni engagement, while also promoting experiential and project-based learning through industry partnerships. The company's mission is to ensure that every learner can access the necessary networks and resources to succeed, aiding them in navigating their academic and professional journeys effectively.

CollegeVine

Series B in 2019
Founded in 2013 and based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, CollegeVine is a technology company that specializes in developing artificial intelligence platforms to replace administrative tasks within the higher education sector. Its primary goal is to save time and money for universities globally by deploying safe AI agents, aiming to make higher education sustainable and efficient.

Vemo Education

Series A in 2019
Vemo Education, Inc. is an educational technology company based in Reston, Virginia, dedicated to enhancing access to education for all Americans. The company specializes in income-based student financing solutions, collaborating with colleges, universities, and other educational institutions to create and manage income share agreement (ISA) programs. Vemo Education's services encompass the design of tailored financial products, analysis and creation of funding sources, as well as the origination, disbursement, and servicing of these financing options. Additionally, the company supports portfolio development and ensures compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, all aimed at reducing financial barriers and promoting economic mobility for students.

Packback

Series B in 2019
Packback is an education technology company that provides an AI‑driven online discussion platform used by college professors to assess and enhance students’ critical thinking. The platform, known as PB Questions, facilitates structured, peer‑reviewed conversations that quantify learning outcomes. In addition, Packback offers PB Books, a digital textbook rental service that delivers course materials on demand. By combining artificial intelligence with evidence‑based pedagogy, the company enables educators to scale interactive learning and helps students develop a stronger voice in their studies.

Unicaf

Series B in 2018
Unicaf, founded in 2012, is an online higher education platform that collaborates with reputable universities in the UK, US, Europe, and Africa to provide affordable and quality degree programs primarily to young professionals in Africa. The company offers locally accredited degrees through a blended learning approach, combining online instruction with physical instructional centers and virtual coaching. This model allows students to pursue their studies while continuing to work, making higher education more accessible. Unicaf has experienced significant growth, enrolling over 8,000 students and aiming to reach more than 60,000 by the end of 2020. The company’s mission is to help African students obtain degrees that enhance their career prospects in a simplified and cost-effective manner.

Mainstay

Series A in 2018
AdmitHub, Inc. is a Boston-based company that specializes in providing expert admissions guidance through its website and SMS services. The company focuses on helping students communicate directly with college admissions offices and offers assistance in various areas, including college selection, financial aid, standardized tests, and support for first-generation college students. Additionally, AdmitHub has developed a chatbot platform named Oli, which integrates artificial intelligence and human expertise to enhance student enrollment, persistence, and completion at numerous colleges and universities. This platform helps educational institutions streamline repetitive tasks, engage students effectively on a large scale, and gain valuable insights into their admissions processes.

Packback

Series A in 2018
Packback is an education technology company that provides an AI‑driven online discussion platform used by college professors to assess and enhance students’ critical thinking. The platform, known as PB Questions, facilitates structured, peer‑reviewed conversations that quantify learning outcomes. In addition, Packback offers PB Books, a digital textbook rental service that delivers course materials on demand. By combining artificial intelligence with evidence‑based pedagogy, the company enables educators to scale interactive learning and helps students develop a stronger voice in their studies.

Packback

Seed Round in 2017
Packback is an education technology company that provides an AI‑driven online discussion platform used by college professors to assess and enhance students’ critical thinking. The platform, known as PB Questions, facilitates structured, peer‑reviewed conversations that quantify learning outcomes. In addition, Packback offers PB Books, a digital textbook rental service that delivers course materials on demand. By combining artificial intelligence with evidence‑based pedagogy, the company enables educators to scale interactive learning and helps students develop a stronger voice in their studies.

MissionU

Series A in 2017
MissionU is an innovative college alternative that equips students with essential skills and real-world experience for today’s job market, all while allowing them to graduate without debt and avoid upfront tuition costs. Founded by Adam Braun and Mike Adams, the program uniquely integrates general education with specialized skills training, creating a pathway to employment for participants. MissionU employs an income-share agreement model, whereby students pay no tuition until they secure a job earning $50,000 or more. Once they reach this income threshold, they contribute 15% of their salary for three years back to the organization. This approach not only facilitates access to higher education but also emphasizes career readiness, enabling students to build successful careers without the burden of traditional student loans.

Vemo Education

Seed Round in 2017
Vemo Education, Inc. is an educational technology company based in Reston, Virginia, dedicated to enhancing access to education for all Americans. The company specializes in income-based student financing solutions, collaborating with colleges, universities, and other educational institutions to create and manage income share agreement (ISA) programs. Vemo Education's services encompass the design of tailored financial products, analysis and creation of funding sources, as well as the origination, disbursement, and servicing of these financing options. Additionally, the company supports portfolio development and ensures compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, all aimed at reducing financial barriers and promoting economic mobility for students.

PeopleGrove

Seed Round in 2017
PeopleGrove Inc. is a technology company based in San Francisco, California, founded in 2014. It develops an educational platform that supports the entire student lifecycle in higher education institutions, serving over 650 institutions globally. The platform enhances engagement from prospective students to alumni by providing access to mentorship, career support services, and college navigation. It aims to improve student career readiness and confidence through personalized assistance powered by artificial intelligence and machine learning. PeopleGrove's comprehensive solutions facilitate admissions and enrollment, student services, and alumni engagement, while also promoting experiential and project-based learning through industry partnerships. The company's mission is to ensure that every learner can access the necessary networks and resources to succeed, aiding them in navigating their academic and professional journeys effectively.

Pragya Systems

Convertible Note in 2017
Pragya Systems Inc. is a company that specializes in providing cloud-based solutions aimed at enhancing visibility and analysis of institutional content for higher education institutions, including schools and colleges. Founded in 2012 and based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Pragya offers a product called Lasso, which is a browser add-on that allows users to easily add URLs of relevant content to their courses, topics, or folders. This system integrates access to campus content into a single user interface, streamlining the course authoring process and facilitating students' discovery of materials that align with their academic and career aspirations. By unlocking insights from isolated higher education systems, Pragya Systems contributes to improved student success, career transitions, and overall campus efficiency.

CollegeVine

Series A in 2017
Founded in 2013 and based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, CollegeVine is a technology company that specializes in developing artificial intelligence platforms to replace administrative tasks within the higher education sector. Its primary goal is to save time and money for universities globally by deploying safe AI agents, aiming to make higher education sustainable and efficient.

Mainstay

Seed Round in 2017
AdmitHub, Inc. is a Boston-based company that specializes in providing expert admissions guidance through its website and SMS services. The company focuses on helping students communicate directly with college admissions offices and offers assistance in various areas, including college selection, financial aid, standardized tests, and support for first-generation college students. Additionally, AdmitHub has developed a chatbot platform named Oli, which integrates artificial intelligence and human expertise to enhance student enrollment, persistence, and completion at numerous colleges and universities. This platform helps educational institutions streamline repetitive tasks, engage students effectively on a large scale, and gain valuable insights into their admissions processes.

Ready Education

Series A in 2016
Ready Education is a Toronto-based education technology company that provides a mobile platform for campus communication and student experience management. Founded in 2011 as OOHLALA Mobile, the firm rebranded to Ready Education in 2018. Its platform aims to simplify campus life by enabling students to access housing, coursework, campus services, and peer and administrator communication, while delivering engagement analytics to help institutions improve student success. The solution supports recruiting, retention, and a more cohesive student experience by consolidating messaging, content, and service engagement for hundreds of higher education institutions worldwide.

Mainstay

Seed Round in 2016
AdmitHub, Inc. is a Boston-based company that specializes in providing expert admissions guidance through its website and SMS services. The company focuses on helping students communicate directly with college admissions offices and offers assistance in various areas, including college selection, financial aid, standardized tests, and support for first-generation college students. Additionally, AdmitHub has developed a chatbot platform named Oli, which integrates artificial intelligence and human expertise to enhance student enrollment, persistence, and completion at numerous colleges and universities. This platform helps educational institutions streamline repetitive tasks, engage students effectively on a large scale, and gain valuable insights into their admissions processes.

Vemo Education

Seed Round in 2016
Vemo Education, Inc. is an educational technology company based in Reston, Virginia, dedicated to enhancing access to education for all Americans. The company specializes in income-based student financing solutions, collaborating with colleges, universities, and other educational institutions to create and manage income share agreement (ISA) programs. Vemo Education's services encompass the design of tailored financial products, analysis and creation of funding sources, as well as the origination, disbursement, and servicing of these financing options. Additionally, the company supports portfolio development and ensures compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, all aimed at reducing financial barriers and promoting economic mobility for students.

Unicaf

Venture Round in 2016
Unicaf, founded in 2012, is an online higher education platform that collaborates with reputable universities in the UK, US, Europe, and Africa to provide affordable and quality degree programs primarily to young professionals in Africa. The company offers locally accredited degrees through a blended learning approach, combining online instruction with physical instructional centers and virtual coaching. This model allows students to pursue their studies while continuing to work, making higher education more accessible. Unicaf has experienced significant growth, enrolling over 8,000 students and aiming to reach more than 60,000 by the end of 2020. The company’s mission is to help African students obtain degrees that enhance their career prospects in a simplified and cost-effective manner.

CollegeVine

Series A in 2016
Founded in 2013 and based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, CollegeVine is a technology company that specializes in developing artificial intelligence platforms to replace administrative tasks within the higher education sector. Its primary goal is to save time and money for universities globally by deploying safe AI agents, aiming to make higher education sustainable and efficient.

MissionU

Seed Round in 2016
MissionU is an innovative college alternative that equips students with essential skills and real-world experience for today’s job market, all while allowing them to graduate without debt and avoid upfront tuition costs. Founded by Adam Braun and Mike Adams, the program uniquely integrates general education with specialized skills training, creating a pathway to employment for participants. MissionU employs an income-share agreement model, whereby students pay no tuition until they secure a job earning $50,000 or more. Once they reach this income threshold, they contribute 15% of their salary for three years back to the organization. This approach not only facilitates access to higher education but also emphasizes career readiness, enabling students to build successful careers without the burden of traditional student loans.

Portfolium

Series A in 2016
Portfolium, Inc. is a cloud-based platform designed to assist students in showcasing their academic and professional skills while facilitating connections with potential employers. Founded in 2014 and headquartered in San Diego, California, Portfolium partners with over 190 educational institutions to create an ePortfolio network that links more than 3.75 million students to over 50,000 employers. The platform enables students to capture and curate their experiences, allowing them to present a comprehensive view of their competencies. Additionally, it provides tools for educators and employers to assess student skills and enhance recruitment processes. Portfolium aims to bridge the gap between education and employment by empowering students to demonstrate their achievements and connect their learning to real-world opportunities.

Vemo Education

Seed Round in 2016
Vemo Education, Inc. is an educational technology company based in Reston, Virginia, dedicated to enhancing access to education for all Americans. The company specializes in income-based student financing solutions, collaborating with colleges, universities, and other educational institutions to create and manage income share agreement (ISA) programs. Vemo Education's services encompass the design of tailored financial products, analysis and creation of funding sources, as well as the origination, disbursement, and servicing of these financing options. Additionally, the company supports portfolio development and ensures compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, all aimed at reducing financial barriers and promoting economic mobility for students.

Imbellus

Seed Round in 2016
Imbellus, Inc. is a Los Angeles-based company founded in 2015 that specializes in developing simulation-based cognitive assessments to measure human potential and deep thinking skills. By focusing on how individuals think rather than what they know, Imbellus aims to transform standardized testing practices, potentially replacing traditional assessments like the SAT and ACT. The company's innovative approach integrates game design principles with cognitive science to create engaging problem-solving scenarios that reflect real-world situations. Additionally, Imbellus collaborates with corporate and government partners to enhance hiring, upskilling, and retention strategies. The team comprises experts in learning science, game development, art, data science, and artificial intelligence, reflecting a multidisciplinary approach to modern assessment challenges.

Vemo Education

Seed Round in 2015
Vemo Education, Inc. is an educational technology company based in Reston, Virginia, dedicated to enhancing access to education for all Americans. The company specializes in income-based student financing solutions, collaborating with colleges, universities, and other educational institutions to create and manage income share agreement (ISA) programs. Vemo Education's services encompass the design of tailored financial products, analysis and creation of funding sources, as well as the origination, disbursement, and servicing of these financing options. Additionally, the company supports portfolio development and ensures compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, all aimed at reducing financial barriers and promoting economic mobility for students.

CampusLogic

Series A in 2015
CampusLogic is a provider of a student financial success platform aimed at enhancing access to higher education for students. The company serves over 750 educational institutions, offering a comprehensive suite of tools designed to improve enrollment, retention, and graduation rates. Its platform includes features such as a net price calculator, scholarship management, personalized digital communications, and streamlined financial aid verification. Additionally, CampusLogic provides 24/7 virtual advising, tuition and scholarship crowdfunding, and integrated data visualizations. By automating financial aid processes and utilizing analytics, CampusLogic helps schools reduce costs and reach a broader student population, thereby facilitating a smoother educational journey for the 15 million students navigating higher education each year.

Portfolium

Series A in 2015
Portfolium, Inc. is a cloud-based platform designed to assist students in showcasing their academic and professional skills while facilitating connections with potential employers. Founded in 2014 and headquartered in San Diego, California, Portfolium partners with over 190 educational institutions to create an ePortfolio network that links more than 3.75 million students to over 50,000 employers. The platform enables students to capture and curate their experiences, allowing them to present a comprehensive view of their competencies. Additionally, it provides tools for educators and employers to assess student skills and enhance recruitment processes. Portfolium aims to bridge the gap between education and employment by empowering students to demonstrate their achievements and connect their learning to real-world opportunities.

Acrobatiq

Series A in 2015
Acrobatiq is a developer of a learning optimization platform that enhances teaching and learning through data-driven, personalized solutions. Backed by Carnegie Mellon University, the company leverages pioneering research from the Open Learning Initiative to help educational institutions improve learning outcomes while reducing costs. Its platform provides online authoring tools, templates, and assessment libraries that facilitate the collaborative development of adaptive eLearning courses. By enabling the rapid creation, delivery, and evaluation of customized learning experiences, Acrobatiq empowers educators with insights into student performance, identifying who is succeeding and who requires additional support. This integration of learning science, technology, and data aims to support more students in achieving success in an increasingly credential-driven landscape.

CampusLogic

Seed Round in 2015
CampusLogic is a provider of a student financial success platform aimed at enhancing access to higher education for students. The company serves over 750 educational institutions, offering a comprehensive suite of tools designed to improve enrollment, retention, and graduation rates. Its platform includes features such as a net price calculator, scholarship management, personalized digital communications, and streamlined financial aid verification. Additionally, CampusLogic provides 24/7 virtual advising, tuition and scholarship crowdfunding, and integrated data visualizations. By automating financial aid processes and utilizing analytics, CampusLogic helps schools reduce costs and reach a broader student population, thereby facilitating a smoother educational journey for the 15 million students navigating higher education each year.

Entangled Group

Seed Round in 2014
Entangled Group, established in 2015, is a San Francisco-based company that specializes in incubating, investing in, and consulting for early-stage education technology startups. It provides comprehensive support, including strategy consulting, access to expertise, non-profit management, sales acceleration, and revenue generation services to its portfolio companies. Entangled Group collaborates with top universities to beta test and adopt its products, expediting market entry and enhancing the likelihood of widespread adoption.

Synergis Education

Series A in 2013
Synergis Education partners with non-profit colleges and universities to develop and deliver innovative educational programs for non-traditional adult learners. It offers integrated services including marketing, enrollment management, academic program design, technology integration, student support, and accounting. Synergis Education's EdVantage Learning System co-develops associate, baccalaureate, and graduate degree curricula with partner institutions.

UniversityNow

Series B in 2012
UniversityNow, Inc. is an online education provider based in San Francisco, California, founded in 2010. The company operates a network of accredited schools offering associate's, bachelor's, and master's degree programs primarily aimed at working adults. UniversityNow's online learning platform facilitates access to high-quality education, emphasizing affordability and accessibility. Its mission is to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to pursue recognized college degrees without incurring significant student debt. By fostering peer-to-peer learning communities and implementing innovative pedagogical models, UniversityNow seeks to address the educational needs of individuals who might otherwise be unable to obtain a college degree due to financial constraints or other commitments. The company functions as a subsidiary of the National University System.
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