Ed-tech startup DataTrained, crowdfunding platform ImpactGuru raise fresh capital

Bengaluru-based DataTrained Education Pvt. Ltd, which operates an ed-tech startup on data science, has raised around Rs 12 crore ($1.7 million) in its second round of seed funding from a clutch of India- and US-based affluent individuals.

In a press note, the company said the investors who participated in this round include US-based Ashish Nadiadwala and Bengaluru’s Rupesh Sinha and Mithlesh Thakur. In lieu of this investment, the company ceded a 20% stake.

The company will use the funds for geographical expansion and strengthening its product and technology team. Besides, it is looking to invest in a classroom-based data science post-graduation course by early next year start in Noida.

The startup was founded in 2012 by former Microsoft, Apple and KPMG employee Jatin Juneja and former Google, Linkedin and KPMG employee Nikhil Mathur. The company had earlier raised Rs 4 crore in 2016 from a New York-based Indian industrialist.

The company, through its DataTrained Analytics Academy, offers around 50 courses in data science. It has about 60 faculty members and has tied up with over 300 companies as hiring partners.

Meanwhile, social-impact crowdfunding platform ImpactGuru, incubated at Harvard in 2014, said it has raised an undisclosed amount of funding led by Abu Dhabi-based Shorooq Investments and a few other angel investors based in West Asia.

The fresh capital will fuel its planned expansion into countries that are part of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), starting with the UAE, the company said in a statement.

According to the company, the region hosts 7 million Indian expats and more than 15% of donations on the platform that originate from outside India come from the GCC. The startup is looking to partner with private hospitals, clinics, health-tech startups and NGOs to accelerate its GCC entry and scale its operations.

Run by Mumbai-based Impact Guru Technology Ventures Pvt. Ltd, the platform combines social or donation crowdfunding with investment crowdfunding or fundraising for individuals, non-profits, social enterprises and startups.

The company was founded by Khushboo Jain, a graduate from Welingkar Institute of Management, and Piyush Jain, a graduate from Wharton Business School who earlier worked with Boston Consulting Group and JPMorgan.

ImpactGuru claims to have helped over 15,000 patients to crowdfund in the past four years and mobilised over $20 million across 15 countries.

The company had last raised $2 million (Rs 13 crore) in its Series A round from investors led by Apollo Hospitals Group and Venture Catalysts, a seed fund and incubator, in May 2018.

It also counts Singapore-based RB Investments; Currae Healthtech Fund led by Apoorva Patni, son of Patni Computers co-founder Ashok Patni; and a number of other investors including family offices and Indian diaspora from the US, Southeast Asia, and West Asia among its investors.

Other crowdfunding platforms in India include BitGiving, IgniteIntent, Milaap, Ketto and FundMyPitch.