Ed-tech startup Curiositi raises $800K in Series A funding

Bengaluru-based education startup Curiositi Learning Solutions has raised Rs 5.4 crore ($800,000) in Series A funding from Menterra Social Impact Fund I, floated by Menterra Venture Advisors Pvt. Ltd, and existing investor Unitus Seed Fund, people close to the development told Techcircle.

The funding round will help the company expand its operations to more schools and provide a comprehensive solution that enables experiential classroom learning.

Menterra, which put in around Rs 4 crore ($587,000), typically invests in early-stage social enterprises in education, health, agriculture and energy sectors.

Curiositi, which provides mathematics and science programmes for classes 1 to 10, has a mix of activity-based learning kits and personalised software that can be downloaded on laptops or mobile phones. "Over three years, we developed an exciting, comprehensive activity-led programme for these subjects that are effective, teacher-friendly and affordable for schools," said Manoj Thandassery, co-founder, Curiositi Learning Solutions.

The company, which was launched by Thandassery, Vinod Abraham and Satish Hariharan in 2013, has currently over 20,000 paid subscribers for its science and mathematics programmes. It aims to cater to 1 lakh students in two years.

"We believe that hands-on engagement and activity-based learning are critical for strong conceptual understanding. By democratising access to these kinds of activities and this type of education, Curiositi is enabling students in all types of schools to be better prepared," said Maya Chandrasekaran, practice leader - education and skills, Menterra.

Curiositi had raised its previous round of funding from impact investor Unitus Seed Fund (USF) in 2014.

This is Menterra's fifth investment since its launch in January 2016. Its previous investments include that in Math Buddy (online learning startup), Leap Skills Academy (skill development startup), Biosense Solutions (medtech startup) and Nubesol (agricultural enterprise).