Top 22 Higher Education Startups to Look Out in [2023]

Have you ever wondered who is on the list of Higher Education Companies with the highest growth rates?

You’re not alone.

There are hundreds of Higher Education Companies found there, and keeping track of the hottest new startups can be challenging.

But don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Here are the top 22 fast-growing Higher Education Startups that have top-tier venture capital funding.

What is Higher Education Startups?

Higher Education Startups are businesses that offer innovative solutions to the challenges faced by universities and colleges. These solutions can include online learning platforms, new technologies, or even new methods of teaching. 

Higher Education Startups often focus on helping students succeed in their studies, providing resources to faculty, and creating better college experiences.

Top 22 Fastest-Growing Startups In Higher Education

1) BYJU’S

BYJU’S is an educational technology firm that creates tailored learning programs for kids in grades K through 12.

Details of the startup:

• Country: India
• City: Bengaluru
• Started in: 2011
• Founders: Byju Raveendran, Divya Gokulnath
• Number of employees: 10001+
• Funding amount: $2,745,964,432
• Number of funding rounds: 18
• Number of investors: 38

You can find their website here.

2) Lambda School

Lambda School provides free software engineering training in exchange for a percentage of future earnings.

Details of the startup:

• Country: United States
• City: San Francisco
• Started in: 2017
• Founders: Austen Allred, Ben Nelson, Caleb Hicks
• Number of employees: 101-250
• Funding amount: $122,120,000
• Number of funding rounds: 6
• Number of investors: 32

You can find their website here.

3) Upswing

Upswing is a student services platform that helps schools and universities boost student retention.

Details of the startup:

• Country: United States
• City: Austin
• Started in: 2013
• Founders: Alex Pritchett, Chris Webb, Melvin Hines
• Number of employees: 51-100
• Funding amount: $10,045,000
• Number of funding rounds: 8
• Number of investors: 28

You can find their website here.

4) Nexford University

A cutting-edge online institution that gives students access to high-quality, affordable, and dynamic education.

Details of the startup:

• Country: United States
• City: Washington D.C.
• Started in: 2018
• Founders: Fadl Al Tarzi
• Number of employees: 11-50
• Funding amount: $18,100,000
• Number of funding rounds: 4
• Number of investors: 3

You can find their website here.

5) Full Measure Education

Full Measure Education assists students in enrolling, completing, and obtaining a family-sustaining job.

Details of the startup:

• Country: United States
• City: Washington D.C.
• Started in: 2013
• Founders: Greg Davies, Robert Abraham
• Number of employees: 11-50
• Funding amount: $15,620,000
• Number of funding rounds: 3
• Number of investors: 2

You can find their website here.

6) Emeritus

Emeritus is an edtech startup that partners with leading universities around the world to offer online business and professional degrees.

Details of the startup:

• Country: Singapore
• City: Singapore
• Started in: 2015
• Founders: Ashwin Damera, Chaitanya Kalipatnapu
• Number of employees: 501-1000
• Funding amount: $40,000,000
• Number of funding rounds: 1
• Number of investors: 2

You can find their website here.

7) Shaw Academy

Shaw Academy is on a quest to use unique technologies to give higher education at a lesser cost.

Details of the startup:

• Country: Ireland
• City: Dublin
• Started in: 2013
• Founders: Adrian Murphy, James Egan
• Number of employees: 51-100
• Funding amount: € 7,000,000
• Number of funding rounds: 1

You can find their website here.

8) Red Ventures

A collection of well-known businesses, digital platforms, and strategic alliances that assist individuals in making life’s most significant decisions.

Details of the startup:

• Country: United States
• City: Fort Mill
• Started in: 2000
• Founders: Dan Feldstein, Mark Brodsky, Ric Elias
• Number of employees: 1001-5000
• Funding amount: $250,000,000
• Number of funding rounds: 3
• Number of investors: 4

You can find their website here.

9) Purdue University

Purdue University’s main campus is in West Lafayette, Indiana.

Details of the startup:

• Country: United States
• City: West Lafayette
• Started in: 1869
• Founders: Jessica Huber, John Purdue
• Funding amount: $23,150,000
• Number of funding rounds: 8
• Number of investors: 4

You can find their website here.

10) Virohan

Virohan is an EdTech startup that provides students with healthcare vocational training so that they can pursue a career in the field.

Details of the startup:

• Country: India
• City: Gurgaon
• Started in: 2018
• Founders: Archit Jayasal, Kunaal Dudeja, Nalin Saluja, Paarul Dudeja
• Number of employees: 101-250
• Funding amount: $3,450,000
• Number of funding rounds: 6
• Number of investors: 9

You can find their website here.

11) Vemo Education

Assisting schools in assisting pupils. We collaborate with colleges and training institutions to develop and maintain income-based financing packages.

Details of the startup:

• Country: United States
• City: Arlington
• Started in: 2015
• Founders: Bill Brosseau, Jeff Weinstein, Renée Mang, Tonio DeSorrento
• Number of employees: 11-50
• Funding amount: $9,400,000
• Number of funding rounds: 4
• Number of investors: 9

You can find their website here.

12) Descomplica

Descomplica is an online educational platform that helps students prepare for college admission exams.

Details of the startup:

• Country: Brazil
• City: Rio De Janeiro
• Started in: 2011
• Founders: Marco Fisbhen
• Number of employees: 501-1000
• Funding amount: $130,613,111
• Number of funding rounds: 7
• Number of investors: 19

You can find their website here.

13) iNurture

iNurture Education Solutions offers undergraduate and postgraduate courses that are relevant to the industry.

Details of the startup:

• Country: India
• City: Bengaluru
• Started in: 2005
• Founders: Ashwin Ajila, R Lakshminarayanan
• Number of employees: 501-1000
• Funding amount: $16,087,623
• Number of funding rounds: 6
• Number of investors: 6

You can find their website here.

14) meritnation.com

With over 8.2 million K-12 students, it is India’s largest online education portal.

Details of the startup:

• Country: India
• City: New Delhi
• Started in: 2009
• Founders: Pavan Chauhan, Ritesh Hemrajani
• Number of employees: 501-1000
• Funding amount: $11,400,000
• Number of funding rounds: 3
• Number of investors: 1

You can find their website here.

15) Pesto Tech

Become a remote developer with no money up front – Developers are trained and upskilled to meet Silicon Valley requirements – Fill up an application right now.

Details of the startup:

• Country: India
• City: New Delhi
• Started in: 2017
• Founders: Andrew Linfoot, Ayush Jaiswal
• Number of employees: 11-50
• Funding amount: $2,000,000
• Number of funding rounds: 3
• Number of investors: 17

You can find their website here.

16) WizKlub

Wizklub has developed and nurtured Higher Order Thinking Skills in children in a unique way.

Details of the startup:

• Country: India
• City: Bengaluru
• Started in: 2018
• Founders: Swarup Vijh
• Number of employees: 101-250
• Funding amount: ₹130,000,000
• Number of funding rounds: 2
• Number of investors: 2

You can find their website here.

17) Entri

Entri is a platform for teachers and students to learn vernacular languages.

Details of the startup:

• Country: India
• City: Kochi
• Started in: 2015
• Founders: Mohammed Hisamuddin, Rahul Ramesh
• Number of employees: 51-100
• Funding amount: $4,300,000
• Number of funding rounds: 6
• Number of investors: 5

You can find their website here.

18) Leverage Edu

A marketplace powered by artificial intelligence to assist students with their higher education and job development goals.

Details of the startup:

• Country: India
• City: New Delhi
• Started in: 2017
• Founders: Akshay Chaturvedi
• Number of employees: 51-100
• Funding amount: $11,773,326
• Number of funding rounds: 6
• Number of investors: 21

You can find their website here.

19) Magic Ears

Magic Ears teaches youngsters in China how to communicate in English through an online immersive environment.

Details of the startup:

• Country: China
• City: Beijing
• Started in: 2016
• Founders: Lei Jin
• Number of employees: 11-50
• Funding amount: $27,943,146
• Number of funding rounds: 3
• Number of investors: 4

You can find their website here.

20) Sanar

Sanar is a platform that focuses on serving as a guide and support for doctors, providing specific content that aids in their professional development.

Details of the startup:

• Country: Brazil
• City: Salvador
• Started in: 2014
• Founders: Ubiraci Mercês
• Number of employees: 251-500
• Funding amount: $11,500,000
• Number of funding rounds: 2
• Number of investors: 4

You can find their website here.

21) Skill Lync

Skill Lync is developing a platform for alternative engineering. Job-leading engineering courses are available through Skill-Lync.

Details of the startup:

• Country: India
• City: Chennai
• Started in: 2018
• Founders: Sarangarajan Iyengar, Suryanarayanan Paneerselvam
• Number of employees: 251-500
• Funding amount: $150,000
• Number of funding rounds: 2
• Number of investors: 1

You can find their website here.

22) Huikedu Group

Huikedu is a Beijing-based education company that provides services and products in higher education and vocational education.

Details of the startup:

• Country: China
• City: Beijing
• Started in: 2010
• Founders: Alec Fang
• Number of employees: 1001-5000
• Funding amount: $302,195,048
• Number of funding rounds: 4
• Number of investors: 5

You can find their website here.

FAQs

Is Higher Education Business Profitable?

Higher education can be profitable for businesses, depending on the type of business. For example, businesses that specialize in providing educational services, such as tutoring and test preparation, can be highly profitable. 

Colleges and universities can also be profitable, although their profits are often tied to the number of students they enroll. Other businesses that provide products or services to higher education institutions, such as textbooks and software, can also be profitable.

What Is The Average Investment In Higher Education?

The average investment in higher education business varies greatly depending on the size and scope of the business. Generally, costs can range from hundreds of thousands of dollars to millions of dollars depending on the type of business and services offered. 

In addition to the cost of purchasing buildings and equipment, businesses typically need to pay for staff salaries, marketing and advertising, technology, student recruitment and servicing, and other operational costs.