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Cairo: Technology is opening up new prospects for the education sector by optimizing learning capabilities both inside and outside the classroom.
Educational technology supports teaching facilities using online learning and smart applications in a variety of academic and non-academic settings.
According to market research firm Valuates Reports, the global e-learning market revenue will be approximately $15 billion in 2021, and the market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.5% from 2021 to 2028.
Arab News has compiled a list of the 10 most funded edtech startups in the MENA region.
1. Abu Wab
Total funding: $27.5 million
Founders: Hamdi Tabbaa, Sabri Hakim and Hussein Al-Sarabi
Investors: BECO Capital, 4DX Ventures, GSV Ventures and Water Partners
Financing rounds: four rounds
Headquarters: Jordan
Founded in 2019, Abwaab fills educational resource gaps by providing online content for local secondary school students’ courses.
Through the platform, students can participate in classes, get feedback, and join discussions to address the region’s high reliance on offline tutoring.
In its last funding round, Abwaab raised $20 million in Series A funding to expand its services to Egypt and Pakistan.
2. Noon Academy
Total funding: $21 million
Founders: Mohammed Al-Dhalan and Aziz Al-Saeed
Investors: STV, Al-Turki Holding and NFX Ventures
Financing rounds: two rounds
Headquarters: Saudi Arabia
Noon Academy is a student-centered social learning platform that provides free live and interactive tutoring with “gamification” capabilities.
Founded in 2013, the company blends social and “gamification” features to make learning more enjoyable and collaborative for students.
With operations in Saudi Arabia, Egypt, India and Pakistan, the company successfully raised $13 million in a pre-Series B round led by STV in 2020.
3. Al-Mentor
Total funding: $14.5 million
Founders: Ihab Fikry, Ibrahim Kamel, Hesham Heikal, Husni Khuffash and Abdelrhman Fahmy
Investors: Partech, Sawari Ventures, Egypt Ventures and Sango Capital
Financing rounds: five rounds
Headquarters: United Arab Emirates
Al-Mentor is one of the leading video learning platforms in the region, providing Arabic speakers with online content through a wide range of courses developed by distinguished experts.
Founded in 2016, the company has delivered more than 2 million learning experiences with more than 80 corporate partners in the MENA region.
In 2021, Al-Mentor raised $6.5 million in a Series B round led by Partech, aiming to maintain its leadership in the industry.
Orcas connects parents and students with nearby tutors or online classes. (supply)
4. Orcas
Total funding: $3.5 million
Founders: Hossam Taher, Amira El-Gharib, Omar Fayez and Ahmed Ismail
Investors: NFX Ventures, Launch Africa and Access Bridge Ventures
Financing rounds: five rounds
Headquarters: Egypt
Founded in 2013, Orcas is a mobile app that connects parents and students with nearby tutors or online classes.
Headquartered in Cairo, the company offers on-site one-on-one tutoring sessions for K-12 students, both online and face-to-face.
In January 2022, Orcas raised $2.1 million in pre-Series A funding to expand geographically.
5. Ostaz
Total funding: $2.8 million
Founders: Audrey Nakad, Zeina Sultani and Sibylle Nakad
Investors: Hub71, Inspired Education and The Phoenicia Fund
Financing rounds: five rounds
Headquarters: Lebanon
Founded in 2017, Ostaz connects students with qualified private tutors to support students in setting learning goals during their academic journey.
UK-based Inspired Education Group acquired the company in 2021 as it has enrolled more than 43,000 students and provided over 65,000 tutoring hours.
6. Guru
Total funding: $2.6 million
Founder: Khalid Abou Kassem
Investors: Oqal, Raz Holding Group, 100 Ventures, Ray Investment and RZM Investment
Financing rounds: two rounds
Headquarters: Saudi Arabia
Another player in the online tutoring space, Al-Gooru, is a platform for students to connect with the private tutors they want.
Founded in 2021, the company has raised $1.8 million in a seed round to expand its reach in education in Saudi Arabia.
7. Bymes
Total funding: $2.2 million
Founders: Yousef Al-Husaini and Bader Al-Rasheed
Investors: Rasameel Investment Co. and AlWazzan Education
Financing round: one round
Headquarters: Kuwait
Founded in 2017, Baims is an online platform that provides customized courses for university students in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain and Jordan.
The company raised $2.2 million in an upfront Series A round in 2022 to grow its content library and strengthen its presence in existing markets.
8. Al College
Total funding: $2 million
Founder: Ahmed Ashur
Investors: Entlaqa and Goldmines
Financing round: one round
Headquarters: Egypt
Al-Academia is a distance education platform focused on professional development of small courses by industry experts.
The company launched in 2020 after raising a $2 million investment to support the massive digital transformation triggered by COVID-19.
9. Grapes
Total funding: $1.5 million
Founders: Mounira Jamjoom and Naila Al-Khalawi
Investors: Nour Nouf and Wamda Capital
Financing round: one round
Headquarters: Saudi Arabia
Founded in 2016, Aanaab’s platform facilitates the continuous professional and personal development of Arab teachers through distance learning solutions, offering them the opportunity to earn Cambridge certificates.
The company secured its first funding in 2020, investing $1.5 million to strengthen its presence in Saudi Arabia and the UAE and explore business-to-business opportunities.
10. Zeni
Total funding: $1.2 million
Founders: Mohamed Youssef El-Baz and Basil Khattab
Investors: Undisclosed
Financing round: one round
Headquarters: Egypt
Founded in 2020, Zedny is an Arabic learning platform for individuals who are passionate about developing business skills, acquiring general knowledge and finding jobs.
The company launched after a $1.2 million pre-seed funding round and has since offered more than 200 online courses on its platform.
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