The higher education sector is seeing new companies tackle a wide range of challenges, from student payments to virtual healthcare. These startups are globally distributed, with hubs in the United States, India, and the United Kingdom.
For instance, the study abroad platform Leap has raised $317.4M to connect students with international programs. Other companies like Campus are building entire online colleges, having secured over $101M in funding.
Below is our list of 23 Higher Education startups worth keeping an eye on.
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Get the Sheet for $50Boost My School builds a complete payment solution that helps schools collect everything from tuition to donations. Their platform is designed to streamline all types of financial transactions for educational institutions, including event ticket sales.
| Headquarters | New York, New York, United States |
| Year Founded | 2019 |
| Founders | Holman Gao |
| Funding Amount | $10M |
| Startup Size | Founding Team (1-10) |
| Last Funding Status | Series A |
| Top Investors | Allos Ventures, High Alpha, Stella Capital, Ground Game Ventures, FOVC |
Campus runs an online college offering accredited associate degrees in business with live, interactive classes. They bring together a network of professors from top universities to provide a more affordable and accessible path to higher education.
| Headquarters | New York, New York, United States |
| Year Founded | 2016 |
| Founders | Tade Oyerinde |
| Funding Amount | $101.6M |
| Startup Size | Large Team (251-1,000) |
| Last Funding Status | Series B |
| Top Investors | General Catalyst, Founders Fund, 8VC, Reach Capital, 137 Ventures |
Learfield connects major brands to the world of college sports through its media and technology services. The company helps universities manage multimedia rights, sponsorships, and ticketing to unlock the commercial value of their athletic programs.
| Headquarters | Plano, Texas, United States |
| Year Founded | 1972 |
| Founders | Clyde Lear, Derry Brownfield |
| Funding Amount | $150M |
| Startup Size | Major Organization (1,001-5,000) |
| Last Funding Status | Private Equity |
| Top Investors | Fortress Investment Group, Clearlake Capital Group, Charlesbank Capital Partners |
Modern Campus builds a student lifecycle management platform that helps higher education institutions engage modern learners. The company's suite of SaaS products is tailored for continuing education and non-degree programs, covering everything from marketing and enrollment to student success and alumni relations.
| Headquarters | Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Year Founded | 1999 |
| Founders | — |
| Funding Amount | $59M |
| Startup Size | Large Team (251-1,000) |
| Last Funding Status | Debt Financing |
| Top Investors | MidCap Financial, Riverside Company, Serent Capital, PNC, MidCap Financial Investment |
Pathify develops a modern student portal for higher education, creating a single digital hub for campus life. Their platform integrates various campus systems and communication tools to boost student engagement and simplify access to resources.
| Headquarters | Denver, Colorado, United States |
| Year Founded | 2017 |
| Founders | Chase Williams, James McCubbin |
| Funding Amount | $26.3M |
| Startup Size | Mid-Size Team (51-250) |
| Last Funding Status | Private Equity |
| Top Investors | Five Elms Capital, Brex, Brian McNamara |
TimelyCare provides a virtual health and well-being solution built for colleges and universities. Their platform offers students equitable, on-demand access to medical care and mental health support.
| Headquarters | Fort Worth, Texas, United States |
| Year Founded | 2017 |
| Founders | Alan Dennington, Chris Clark, Luke Hejl |
| Funding Amount | $65.7M |
| Startup Size | Large Team (251-1,000) |
| Last Funding Status | Series B |
| Top Investors | JMI Equity |
Leap has built a platform that guides students through the complex process of studying internationally. They provide comprehensive support that includes test preparation, university applications, financing, and visa assistance.
| Headquarters | Bengaluru, Karnataka, India |
| Year Founded | 2019 |
| Founders | Arnav Kumar, Vaibhav Singh |
| Funding Amount | $317.4M |
| Startup Size | Large Team (251-1,000) |
| Last Funding Status | Debt Financing |
| Top Investors | Peak XV Partners, HSBC, Jungle Ventures, Apis Partners, Owl Ventures |
Masai School runs a career-focused coding institute with a disciplined, military-style training regimen. They are known for an outcome-driven model where students pay tuition only after securing a technology job.
| Headquarters | Bengaluru, Karnataka, India |
| Year Founded | 2019 |
| Founders | Nrupul Dev, Prateek Shukla, Yogesh Bhat |
| Funding Amount | $22.2M |
| Startup Size | Large Team (251-1,000) |
| Last Funding Status | Series B |
| Top Investors | Alteria Capital, India Quotient, Unitus Ventures, Omidyar Network India, AngelList India |
FundMiner builds an AI-powered software solution for fundraising organizations in the higher education and non-profit sectors. Their platform helps these groups discover untapped funding opportunities and manage their donor portfolios more effectively.
| Headquarters | Texas, United States, United States |
| Year Founded | 2022 |
| Founders | Alejandro Stevenson Duran, Chelsea Lamego |
| Funding Amount | $4.2M |
| Startup Size | Founding Team (1-10) |
| Last Funding Status | Seed |
| Top Investors | Techstars, Cascade Seed Fund, Sonoran Founders Fund |
Housr operates a marketplace that streamlines the search for student housing across the UK and US. Their platform allows students to browse properties, book viewings, and secure their accommodation all online.
| Headquarters | Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom |
| Year Founded | 2019 |
| Founders | Ben Clayton, Harry Neil Panter |
| Funding Amount | £1.5M |
| Startup Size | Lean Team (11-50) |
| Last Funding Status | Seed |
| Top Investors | Bachmanity Capital |
13 Additional Higher Education Startups Worth Following
Our top picks are just the beginning of the story in higher education. Founders everywhere are launching new projects to help people learn in better ways.
The next group of companies has collectively raised nearly $400 million, and they range from brand new startups to more established names. Here are the other businesses we think are important to watch.
