It's nothing new, but we must constantly remind ourselves of it: Digitalization has revolutionized nearly every aspect of our lives. Education is no exception. Doing homework on a tablet, learning a new language with an app, or taking online tutoring – learning and teaching work differently today than they did just a few years ago. COVID-19 has accelerated this development. In times of social distancing and contact restrictions, schools and universities around the world were forced to switch to digital learning methods. The pandemic has thus massively increased the importance of edtech.
Edtech stands for Education Technology and refers to all forms of technology designed to support and enhance the educational process. This includes all types of software, hardware, digital platforms, and online services. This includes tablets, interactive projection screens, and whiteboards, as well as personalized learning paths using artificial intelligence and immersive learning experiences through virtual reality. Edtech is used in various educational settings, from primary school to higher education, as well as in professional development and lifelong learning. The goal is always to improve student outcomes, promote individualized learning, and reduce teacher workload.
Edtech as a solution to current challenges
The use of digital technologies has the potential to fundamentally transform the education market. Given the current challenges, this change appears almost essential:
- The shortage of skilled workers already represents one of the greatest challenges facing the German economy. Rarely have companies been so dependent on investing in their existing workforce. EdTech solutions enable them to improve their training offerings and address professional gaps more quickly.
- Technological advances are constantly creating new job profiles that require new qualifications. It is therefore important to identify needs early and provide appropriate educational offerings. Edtech solutions offer a variety of learning concepts that serve a wide range of niches and respond flexibly to changing requirements.
- The teacher shortage in schools is worsening. In addition, the deficiencies in digitalization, which have been criticized for years, persist. Innovative teaching concepts not only meet the current needs of students but can also relieve the burden on scarce staff in administering classes.
Startups fuel trends
Founders and startups from the edtech sector are playing a crucial role in this development dynamic. With unconventional approaches and speed, they are significantly more flexible and agile in developing new technologies and products than established companies or government departments. Their innovative strength and focus on user-centric solutions enable them to effectively drive digital transformation in education. Here are some of the key areas edtech startups are focusing on:
- Online learning and e-learning platforms: Development of platforms that offer online courses and learning resources.
- Online tutoring and peer learning: Platforms that allow students to book tutoring or peer learning sessions online.
- Learning Management Systems (LMS): Creation of software solutions that help schools and universities organize lessons, distribute learning materials, and track student progress.
- Artificial intelligence and adaptive learning: Using AI to create personalized learning paths that adapt to learners' individual needs and abilities.
- Gamification and game-based learning: Integrating game mechanisms into the learning process to increase learner motivation and engagement.
- Virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR): Using VR and AR to create immersive learning experiences that teach complex concepts in a more vivid and interactive way.
Munich startups from the Edtech sector
The most well-known Edtech startups from the local ecosystem include:
Easy-TutorFounded in 2017, the company provides an online tutoring platform for students, pupils, and their parents. They can choose from over 1,000 active and individually vetted tutors. Easy-Tutor successfully completed a funding round in 2020, 2021, and 2022.
Edurino: With a hybrid concept, Edurino introduces children from preschool age to the demands of tomorrow's digital world. The offering combines a physical toy and a digital learning app, inviting users on a story-based journey into a playful learning world. After a successful launch in the DACH region, the startup expanded to the UK at the end of 2023.
Mentessa: Mentessa is all about lifelong learning. With its platform, the startup matches employees based on their skills. Intelligent algorithms are designed to help overcome psychological barriers and connect with others in a targeted manner. Once the hurdles created by hierarchies or prejudices are removed, Mentessa enables informal knowledge sharing, easier onboarding, and more successful collaboration.
Rocket TutorFounded in 2022, the startup Rocket Tutor has set itself the mission of personalizing education through the use of artificial intelligence and making it accessible to every learner. The AI tutor is currently available to high school students in several German states. So far, the offering focuses on mathematics, with other STEM subjects to follow.
Simpleclub: With its app, the company offers a knowledge platform for students from fifth grade onwards. The application includes a wide range of exercises and summaries, from explanatory videos to preparation for the Abitur and Realschulabschluss (university entrance qualifications). The Munich-based startup also offers programs for apprentices and dual-study students. For this purpose, Simpleclub works with partners such as Deutsche Bahn, Brillux, Deichmann, and the Chamber of Industry and Commerce.
Straightlabs: Straightlabs specializes in developing digital learning apps and virtual 3D training environments for companies. The startup leverages the latest research findings and combines them with cloud technologies for digital applications and immersive technologies such as virtual reality. This creates realistic learning environments in which learners can immerse themselves in interactive and dynamic scenarios.
StudysmarterThe Studysmarter learning platform combines the functionalities of many apps and tools: content management, content processing, statistics, and intelligent NLP algorithms. Students can upload their learning materials to the Studysmarter platform, where an algorithm analyzes and processes them. Students can then access the resulting smart studying content in real time. The application also displays statistics on current learning status and progress and increases learning motivation with gamification features.
UbimasterUbimaster focuses on various aspects of tutoring. Through a fixed-price model, students and trainees receive unlimited access to on-demand help from qualified tutors. Ubimaster also offers its products to companies, which can integrate the service into their employee benefit programs, thus supporting all children in their workforce, regardless of their parents' income.
