In today’s fast-paced and interconnected world, quality education has become increasingly important in shaping our future. The United Nations recognizes this significance by including Quality Education as Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4) in its 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. With the joint efforts of governments, international organizations, NGOs, and private sectors, progress is being made towards achieving this goal. This article aims to highlight organizations that are spearheading SDG 4 Quality Education on a global scale, showcasing their remarkable contributions to this critical cause.
Introduction to SDG 4 Quality Education
In September 2015, United Nations member countries adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which set out 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) aimed at addressing global challenges such as poverty, inequality, environmental degradation, and social injustice. One of these goals is SDG 4 – Quality Education. This goal seeks to “ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.”
As we strive toward achieving this important goal, numerous organizations have emerged as leaders in promoting quality education worldwide. In this blog post, we will introduce you to 67 of these educational pioneers that are making a significant impact on SDG 4.
Why is SDG 4 so important?
Education is not only a fundamental human right but also an essential tool for breaking the cycle of poverty and fostering sustainable development. It empowers individuals with the knowledge, skills, and values necessary to create positive change in their lives and communities. Furthermore, investing in quality education has been shown to have lasting benefits both economically and socially.
By pursuing SDG 4 Quality Education globally, we can promote equality of opportunity and access to resources while simultaneously developing skilled workforces capable of driving economic growth and innovation.
What are the SDG 4 Quality Education targets?
There are ten targets under SDG 4 that focus on various aspects of education:
- Universal primary and secondary education
- Early childhood development and pre-primary education
- Equal access to technical/vocational/tertiary education
- Enhanced literacy & numeracy skills among youth/adults
- Gender equality & inclusion in education
- Quality education facilities & learning environments
- Scholarships for developing countries
- Improved capacities of teachers/educators
- Global citizenship education & sustainable development education
- Effective partnerships & resources for SDG 4 implementation
How can SDG 4 be achieved?
Achieving these targets requires a concerted effort from governments, international organizations, civil society, the private sector, and individuals to promote quality education worldwide through innovative solutions and partnerships.
Some strategies to achieve SDG 4 include:
- Investing in teacher training and professional development to ensure they are equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge to provide quality education.
- Implementing inclusive curricula that value diversity, address gender disparities, and consider the needs of marginalized groups.
- Leveraging technology and digital platforms for increased access to educational opportunities.
- Strengthening national policy frameworks and legislation that prioritize quality education as a fundamental right.
- Encouraging public-private partnerships to enhance funding streams for educational initiatives.
How can the use of AI help us achieve Sustainable Development Goal 4?
The use of AI can significantly contribute to achieving Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4), which focuses on ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all. Below are some ways AI can help in attaining SDG 4:
- Personalized learning: AI algorithms can analyze students’ performance, learning styles, and preferences to create personalized learning plans, enabling students to learn at their own pace and reduce disparities in educational outcomes.
- Intelligent tutoring systems: AI-powered tutors can provide students with immediate feedback, guidance, and support in various subjects, supplementing teacher instruction and enhancing the overall learning experience.
- Inclusive education: AI technologies such as speech recognition, natural language processing, and computer vision can help create accessible educational materials for individuals with disabilities or those who speak different languages.
- Teacher support: AI tools like predictive analytics can assist educators in identifying at-risk students early on so that targeted interventions can be implemented. Additionally, the automation of routine administrative tasks allows teachers to focus on creating engaging content for their students while making class preparation more efficient.
- Global access to resources: Online platforms powered by AI enable learners from around the world to access high-quality educational content and courses regardless of geographic location or financial constraints.
- Adaptive assessments: AI-based assessment systems evaluate a student’s knowledge accurately by adapting questions based on previous responses, making it easier for educators to track progress over time.
- Enhancing creativity: By leveraging machine-learning algorithms, educational tools can encourage creative thinking through collaborative projects where learners combine ideas or build upon existing work facilitated by recommender systems.
- Skill development: AI-driven career guidance platforms identify skill gaps within the workforce and recommend relevant training programs that align with labor market demands.
- Data-driven policies: Governments and policymakers can utilize data generated by AI-powered education platforms to make informed decisions about resource allocation, curriculum design, and teacher recruitment to improve education systems.
In conclusion, AI has the potential to transform the education landscape by making it more personalized, inclusive, and accessible for all. It can empower teachers, learners, and stakeholders to work together towards achieving SDG 4.
What are the challenges and barriers to achieving SDG 4?
Despite progress made toward achieving SDG 4 Quality Education, several challenges remain:
- Inadequate financing: Insufficient funds allocated towards educational systems may lead to poor infrastructure, overcrowded classrooms, insufficient teacher training, and limited access to learning materials.
- Conflict and instability: War or political unrest can disrupt educational services or force children out of school due to displacement or insecurity.
- Gender discrimination: Societal norms may discourage girls from attending school or create barriers that prevent them from accessing quality education opportunities.
- Rural-urban divide: In many parts of the world, rural areas tend to have less developed educational infrastructure than urban centers, leading to disparities in access and quality.
67 Organizations Spearheading Quality Education on a Global Scale
The order does not follow a ranking.
1. Labster
Labster
Labster is a company that provides virtual labs and science simulations for universities and high schools. Labster uses technology to enhance science education and inspire students to explore and learn science. Labster’s simulations are based on artificial intelligence, data science, and machine learning to create realistic and interactive scenarios that cover various topics in biology, chemistry, physics, and more
- Founder(s): Mads Tvillinggaard Bonde, Michael Bodekaer, Tobias Aabye Dam
- Funding years: 2011
- Headquarters: Copenhagen, Denmark
- Funding: Series C
How do you measure impact?
Learning with Labster virtual lab simulations drives STEM knowledge, grades, pass rates, retention, and even STEM career readiness.
Here are some stats about Labster’s impact:
- Students who learn with Labster as a pre-lab assignment are 5.4 times more likely to say they plan to continue taking STEM courses
- Students who learn with Labster as a pre-lab assignment are 4 times more likely to say they plan a career in STEM
- Low-knowledge students increase their knowledge by 24% with Labster
- Low-performing students rate their self-efficacy 40% higher after using Labster than medium-performing students
“Labster’s guiding principle is to increase educational access and build the STEM pipeline by putting cutting-edge technology tools for modern pedagogy into the hands of teachers. Our new, generative simulations with personalized adaptive tutoring in 3D immersive worlds will now enable educators to go further to unlock the full potential of every student, everywhere.” – Michael Bodekaer Jensen, CEO and co-founder of Labster.
2. Eedi
Eedi
Eedi is a company that provides a data-driven platform for maths education for teachers, learners, and parents. Eedi uses technology to help students succeed in maths by identifying and resolving their misconceptions using best-in-class pedagogy and fully-qualified tutors. Eedi also uses artificial intelligence, data science, and machine learning to create personalized learning paths, adaptive quizzes, and actionable insights for teachers
- Founder(s): Craig Barton, Simon Walsh, and Ben Caulfield
- Funding years: 2015
- Headquarters: London, England, United Kingdom
- Funding: Seed
3. Udemy
Udemy
Udemy is a company that provides an online learning and teaching platform for various topics. The company’s platform features a marketplace of courses on topics such as development, business, lifestyle, IT and software, finance and accounting, and more. The platform also allows anyone to create and share their own courses with millions of learners.
- Founder(s): Eren Bali, Gagan Biyani, and Oktay Caglar
- Funding years: 2010
- Headquarters: San Francisco, California, United States
- Funding: Series F
How do you measure impact?
Udemy’s mission is to improve lives through learning by providing flexible, effective skills development to empower organizations and individuals. Through our platform, we’ve enabled more than 70,000 instructors to create over 210,000 courses across 75 languages, reaching more than 62 million learners worldwide. We also offer more than 22,000 free courses on our platform. Udemy supports over 14,400 organizations, including more than half of the Fortune 100.
We measure impact through a number of factors, ranging from course enrollments and hours learned, to individual, department- or organization-wide objectives met, such as engagement, retention, projects delivered, or certifications earned. Instructors and organizations have access to data and insights to measure the impact of their own teaching efforts or learning programs.
Visit our ESG page to learn more about our ESG program, our commitment to SDGs, and how we’re making a positive impact on the world.
4. Mathspace
Mathspace
Mathspace is a company that provides an online maths program with adaptive learning for students, teachers, and parents. Mathspace uses technology to help students learn maths by providing them with immediate and personalized feedback at every step, giving them a one-to-one learning experience. Mathspace also uses artificial intelligence, data science, and machine learning to create personalized learning paths, adaptive quizzes, and diagnostic check-ins for teachers.
- Founder(s): Chris Velis, Tommy Mermelshtayn, Daniel Tu-Hoa, and Alvin Savoy
- Funding years: 2010
- Headquarters: Sydney, Australia
- Funding: Venture – Series Unknown
5. Udacity
Udacity
Udacity is an education technology company that provides online education courses in various high-demand fields, such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, data science, cloud computing, and cybersecurity. The company’s mission is to connect education to jobs and empower lifelong learners to achieve their career goals. The company’s flagship product, Udacity Nanodegree, is a credential that certifies the mastery of in-demand skills through project-based learning and mentorship.
- Founder(s): Sebastian Thrun, David Stavens, and Mike Sokolsky
- Funding years: 2011
- Headquarters: Mountain View, California
- Funding: Venture – Series Unknown
How do you measure impact?
Udacity’s mission is to train the world’s workforce in the skills and careers of the future. Those skills and careers are evolving every day, even more so as Artificial Intelligence disrupts industries in ways we never could have predicted. When we measure our impact, we look at it from a few different angles, always coming back to the impact that job-ready skill development has on individuals, businesses, and nations.
For our individual learners, how many concrete skills have they learned, which can be applied on the job or in pursuit of a new job? And what are those career outcomes?
For our enterprise clients, what’s the cumulative RoI of our program–what productivity gains have employees seen? What growth and innovation have been unlocked thanks to having more employees with more advanced skill sets? How much did the company save by upskilling existing employees instead of hiring new ones?
And finally, for our government and societal impact partners, we look at the impact on a macro scale… how are our upskilling programs providing more skilled workers for the local and national economy? Are we diversifying the pool of tech talent available? Are we moving toward improving GDP, or opportunities for generational wealth-building?
In that vein, some more recent metrics that we’ve compiled to gauge our impact:
- 16.9+ million registered users in more than 240 countries
- 2.6+ million projects submitted
- 205K+ Nanodegree program certificates earned
- 73% of graduates reported a favorable career change in the first 12 months
6. AltSchool
AltSchool
AltSchool was a San Francisco-based company that operated a network of schools that used technology to provide personalized education for students. AltSchool used artificial intelligence, data science, and machine learning to create a platform that enabled teachers to customize curricula, track student progress and collaborate with parents and other educators. AltSchool also developed tools for students to set their own goals, manage their time and work on projects that matched their interests and abilities.
- Founder(s): Max Ventilla
- Funding years: 2013
- Headquarters: San Francisco, USA
- Funding: Venture – Series Unknown
7. Codecademy
Codecademy
Codecademy is an online learning platform that offers interactive courses and projects on various coding and programming topics, such as web development, data science, computer science, and machine learning. Codecademy also provides career paths and skill paths to help learners achieve their goals and certificates to showcase their achievements.
- Founder(s): Zach Sims and Ryan Bubinski
- Funding years: 2011
- Headquarters: New York City, USA
- Funding: Series D
How do you measure impact?
Codecademy, from Skillsoft, is a leading online learning platform that has helped over 40 million people worldwide build inspiring careers in technology. By creating an engaging, flexible, and accessible way to learn in-demand technology skills, Codecademy empowers individuals and companies to thrive in today’s tech-driven world.
Since 2011, learners from more than 150 countries have accessed Codecademy’s extensive course offerings on web development, data science, computer science, cybersecurity, and more, including programming languages like Python, CSS, and JavaScript.
To better serve learners throughout their entire careers, Codecademy recently launched a new product for upskilled and enhanced features for job-seekers, including skill-based assessments and certifications. Whether someone is looking to increase their tech literacy, move up in an existing role, or land their first job in technology, Codecademy aims to help people future-proof their careers.
8. Brainly
Brainly
Brainly is a New York-based company that provides a web-based platform for students and experts to ask and answer homework questions. Brainly covers various subjects such as mathematics, history, biology, chemistry, physics, English, and more. Brainly uses artificial intelligence, data science, and machine learning to moderate content, personalize recommendations and enhance user experience.
- Founder(s): Michał Borkowski, Tomasz Kraus and Łukasz Haluch
- Funding years: 2009
- Headquarters: New York, USA
- Funding: Series D
9. GoStudent
GoStudent
GoStudent is an online tutoring platform that offers live and interactive lessons for school students in various subjects, such as math, languages, science, and more. GoStudent connects students with qualified and experienced tutors who provide individualized and personalized instruction. GoStudent also provides homework help, exam preparation, and learning materials.
- Founder(s): Felix Ohswald and Gregor Müller
- Funding years: 2016
- Headquarters: Vienna, Austria
- Funding: Series D
How do you measure impact?
At GoStudent, our goal is to unlock the potential of every student. Technology is key to realizing this vision, and we’re continually exploring how we bring the online and offline worlds together to create impactful learning experiences, personalized to the individual and accessible to all.
AI is critical here – it has the potential to significantly improve the learning experience, democratize the learning process and improve the lives of students and teachers. From helping time-strapped teachers with lesson plans and marking to adapting the learning process around learners’ strengths and weaknesses – the benefits are innumerable. We also acknowledge that AI can make education more accessible. By creating expertly trained AI tutors, tailored tutoring can be offered at a far lower cost.
Our impact is measured by the 11 million students that GoStudent supports each month, but also by the steps we take to bring our goals to life: how we harness tech in the right way to open more doors.
10. PraxiLabs
PraxiLabs
PraxiLabs, an Amsterdam-based company, offers a virtual laboratory solution for science education that replicates real-world experiments in the fields of biology, chemistry, and physics. PraxiLabs has proven to be a valuable resource for students and educators worldwide, providing a seamless, secure, and cost-effective 3D simulation. The company has received numerous global awards, such as ABH, and has been recognized as a leading tech startup worldwide. PraxiLabs stands out as the first company to launch a native mobile app for both Android and IOS, enabling users to access the platform from anywhere and at any time.
- Founder(s): Khadija Elbedweihy, Essam El-Saadi, Safiya Elbedwihy
- Funding years: 2017
- Headquarters: Netherlands
- Funding: Bootstrapping
11. Kiddom
Kiddom
Kiddom is a San Francisco-based company that provides a web-based platform for K-12 education that combines high-quality curriculum with flexible technology. Kiddom enables teachers, students, and administrators to access, customize and collaborate on curriculum and lesson plans, assess student progress and growth, and gain actionable insights for data-driven instruction.
- Founder(s): Ahsan Rizvi and Abbas Manjee
- Funding years: 2015
- Headquarters: San Francisco, USA
- Funding: Series C
12. Edmodo
Edmodo
Edmodo is a San Mateo-based company that provides a web-based platform for K-12 education that connects teachers, students, parents, and administrators. Edmodo enables users to share content, distribute quizzes and assignments, manage communication and collaboration, and access professional development resources. Edmodo does not use artificial intelligence, data science, or machine learning in its platform, but it does leverage technology to enhance learning outcomes and foster creativity. Edmodo also supports environmental sustainability by reducing the need for physical textbooks and paper materials that can have a negative impact on the environment. Edmodo was acquired by NetDragon in 2018 for $137.5 million.
- Founder(s): Nic Borg, Jeff O’Hara, and Crystal Hutter
- Funding years: 2008
- Headquarters: San Francisco, USA
- Funding: Venture – Series Unknown
13. Boddle Learning
Boddle Learning
Boddle Learning is a Kansas City-based company that provides a web-based platform for K-6 math education that combines 3D gaming with adaptive learning. Boddle Learning enables students to practice math skills, watch instructional videos and track their progress in a fun and engaging way. Boddle Learning also enables teachers and parents to create assignments, monitor performance and address learning gaps with real-time reports.
- Founder(s): Clarence Tan and Edna Martinson
- Funding years: 2018
- Headquarters: San Mateo, USA
- Funding: Seed
14. Lingo Live
Lingo Live
Lingo Live is a company that provides personal online language and communication coaching to employees of innovative tech companies anytime, anywhere. The company’s platform helps multilingual professionals to communicate with confidence and improve their communication and leadership skills through live, online lessons with native instructors over video conferences.
- Founder(s): Tyler Muse
- Funding years: 2012
- Headquarters: San Francisco, California, USA
- Funding: Venture – Series Unknown
15. Chalk
Chalk
Chalk is a company that provides a cohesive, integrated, and aligned curriculum and instruction solution for K-12 schools and districts. The company’s platform enables educators to develop, manage, and assess standards-aligned curriculum and instruction, as well as to monitor student progress and achievement.
- Founder(s): William Zhou, Ryan McKay Fleming, and Suraj Srinivas
- Funding years: 2010
- Headquarters: Kitchener, Ontario, Canada.
- Funding: Venture – Series Unknown
16. Hapara
Hāpara
Hapara is a company that develops tools to view, organize, and personalize digital learning for K-12 educators and learners. The company’s platform provides access and visibility into learner work across G Suite, data and analytics on learner engagement and performance, and a rich classroom learning ecosystem that integrates various apps and resources.
- Founder(s): Jan Zawadzki
- Funding years: 2008
- Headquarters: Chicago, USA
- Funding: Series A
17. Brilliant.org
Brilliant.org
Brilliant.org is a company that provides digital interactive STEM learning experiences to students, professionals, and lifelong learners around the world. The company’s platform features problems and courses in mathematics, physics, quantitative finance, and computer science that offer an engaging and challenging way to learn and practice STEM skills.
- Founder(s): Sue Khim
- Funding years: 2012
- Headquarters: San Francisco, Califonia, USA
- Funding: Series C
18. TED-Ed
TED-Ed
TED-Ed is a company that provides short video lessons worth sharing, aimed at educators and students. The company’s platform features carefully curated educational videos, many of which are collaborations between educators and animators nominated through the TED-Ed platform. The company also offers interactive lessons, clubs, series, and events to support learning and teaching
- Founder(s): An Initiative of TED. TED was founded in 1984 by Richard Saul Wurman and Harry Marks
- Funding years: 2012
- Headquarters: New York, USA
- Funding: Venture – Series Unknown
19. Classtime
Classtime
Classtime is a company that develops a platform for learning and feedback that helps teachers to engage and assess their students in real time. The company’s platform provides various question types, interactive features, and instant data and analytics that enable teachers to create and deliver effective formative and summative assessments.
- Founder(s): Jan Rihak
- Funding years: 2016
- Headquarters: Santa Barbara, California, USA
- Funding: Venture – Series Unknown
20. EdSurge
EdSurge
EdSurge is a company that provides news, research, and analysis on education technology and its impact on teaching and learning. The company’s platform features articles, podcasts, newsletters, events, and reports that cover topics such as online learning, digital equity, higher education, K-12 education, and workforce development.
- Founder(s): Betsy Corcoran
- Funding years: 2011
- Headquarters: Arlington, Virginia, USA
- Funding: Series B
21. Thinkster Math
Thinkster Math
Thinkster Math is a company that provides online math tutoring to students from kindergarten to 12th grade. The company’s platform combines a world-class curriculum, personalized instruction from experienced tutors, and AI-powered feedback that tracks and analyzes students’ work and progress.
- Founder(s): Raj Valli and Kuman Thiagarajan
- Funding years: 2010
- Headquarters: Kendall Park, New Jersey, USA
- Funding: Series A
22. MobyMax
MobyMax
MobyMax is a company that provides an online education program for K-8 students that covers 27 subjects, including math, reading, phonics, language, vocabulary, spelling, writing, science, social studies, and more. The company’s platform features an adaptive curriculum, personalized instruction, and interactive features that help students find and fix learning gaps.
- Founder(s): Glynn Willet and Wade Willet
- Funding years: 2010
- Headquarters: Pittsburgh, USA
- Funding: Venture – Series Unknown
23. TeachBoost
TeachBoost
TeachBoost is a company that provides an evaluation and feedback platform for educators that helps them engage in an ongoing dialogue that fosters their development and improves student outcomes. The company’s platform features a collaborative portal, a customizable observation framework, and a data dashboard that enable teachers and administrators to work and improve together.
- Founder(s): Andrew Gioia, Jason DeRoner, and Mike Gioia
- Funding years: 2012
- Headquarters: Brooklyn, New York, USA
- Funding: Venture – Series Unknown
24. Tinkergarten
Tinkergarten
Tinkergarten is a company that provides outdoor, play-based learning experiences for early childhood. The company’s platform matches families with leaders in their local community who offer activity-based kids classes that help them develop the skills that matter most, such as creativity, collaboration, and problem-solving.
- Founder(s): Meghan Fitzgerald and Brian Fitzgerald
- Funding years: 2014
- Headquarters: Northampton, USA
- Funding: Series B
25. BrainPOP
BrainPOP
BrainPOP is a company that provides digital educational content that supports teachers and engages students. The company’s platform features short animated movies, games, quizzes, and activities that cover topics such as STEM, social studies, English, health, arts, and music for students from kindergarten to 12th grade.
- Founder(s): Avraham Kadar
- Funding years: 1999
- Headquarters: New York, USA
- Funding: Series Unknown
26. AdmitHub (MainStay)
Mainstay
AdmitHub, now Mainstay is a company that develops a student engagement platform for higher education that uses artificial intelligence and mobile messaging to connect students with the support they need to reach colleges and businesses. The company’s platform features behaviorally intelligent chatbots that provide personalized guidance, feedback, and nudges to students throughout their educational journey.
- Founder(s): Andrew Magliozzi, Kirk Daulerio, and Toby Jackson
- Funding years: 2014
- Headquarters: Boston, USA
- Funding: Series B
27. BrainCert
BrainCert
BrainCert is a company that develops cloud-native agile software solutions for e-learning. The company’s platform offers the essential building blocks to create a robust and cost-effective e-learning ecosystem in the cloud, such as a learning management system, virtual classroom, courses platform, assessment platform, and online shop.
- Founder(s): Fazil Rahim, Yasin R
- Funding years: 2013
- Headquarters: Herndon, Virginia, United States
- Funding: Series Unknown
28. Tynker
Tynker
Tynker is a company that provides a creative coding platform for K-12 students that teaches them computational learning and programming skills in a fun and imaginative way. The company’s platform features various courses, projects, games, and activities that cover topics such as animation, music, robotics, drones, smart devices, Minecraft, and more.
- Founder(s): Krishna Vedati, Kelvin Chong, and Srinivas Mandyam
- Funding years: 2012
- Headquarters: Mountain View, California, United States
- Funding: Series A
29. Remind
Remind
Remind is a company that provides a communication platform for education that reaches students and families where they are and supports learning wherever it happens. Remind uses technology to help educators, students, and parents connect with each other and with the resources they need. Remind’s platform offers features such as two-way text messaging, real-time notifications, automatic translation, personalized learning paths, adaptive quizzes, and actionable insights. Remind also uses artificial intelligence, data science, and machine learning to create engaging and effective communication tools.
- Founder(s): Brett Kopf, David Kopf
- Funding years: 2011
- Headquarters: San Francisco, California
- Funding: Series E
30. Participate
Participate
For nearly a decade, Participate has helped professionals across a variety of organizations better connect, collaborate, learn, and grow through a digital platform and expert services to foster engaging communities of practice.
Because whether you need to scale training programs like the Colorado Statewide Parent Coalition, or connect and empower your community like Black Girl Ventures, or customize a digital learning solution for your clients like DoGoodery — the Participate community platform is built to inspire learning and propel your impact forward.
The newest community platform software is equipped with remarkable features such as digital badges and stackable micro-credentials, events, courses, and resource spaces. Designed to facilitate continuous learning and engagement, these features make competency-based education tangible, accessible, and rewarding.
This new Participate community of practice platform is more than just a tool — it’s a catalyst for transformation in your organization.
- Founder(s): Mark Otter
- Funding years: 2019
- Headquarters: Chapel Hill, North Carolina
- Funding: Series A
31. Coursera
Coursera
Coursera is an education company that partners with universities and organizations to offer online courses, certifications, and degrees in a variety of subjects. The company aims to provide life-transforming learning experiences to learners around the world, regardless of their location, background, or goals.
- Founder(s): Andrew Ng and Daphne Koller
- Funding years: 2012
- Headquarters: Mountain View, California, USA
- Funding: Venture – Series Unknown
32. Nearpod
Nearpod
Nearpod is an educational technology company that provides video-based courses and digital learning solutions for students and teachers. The company helps educators create and deliver interactive and engaging lessons that can be accessed on any device. Nearpod also helps teachers monitor student progress, provide feedback, and generate reports.
- Founder(s): Felipe Sommer, Emiliano Abramzon, and Guido Kovalskys
- Funding years: 2012
- Headquarters: Dania Beach, Florida, USA
- Funding: Venture – Series B
33. Knewton
Knewton
Knewton is an educational technology company that provides adaptive learning solutions for students and educators. The company develops a platform that allows users to offer digital courses that adapt to students’ needs and preferences. The company also provides Alta, a courseware solution that covers various subjects in higher education.
- Founder(s): Jose Ferreira
- Funding years: 2008
- Headquarters: New York, USA
- Funding: Venture – Series Unknown
34. Empowerly
Empowerly
Empowerly is an education technology company that provides a platform for personalized college and career guidance. The company helps students achieve their academic and professional goals by connecting them with trained counselors, advisors, researchers, and editors. Empowerly also helps students access various resources, such as college matches, essay editing, startup internship matching program, etc.
- Founder(s): Hanmei Wu and Changxiao Xie
- Funding years: 2018
- Headquarters: San Francisco, California, USA
- Funding: Venture – Series A
35. Age of Learning
Age of Learning
Age of Learning is an education technology company that creates and develops online learning programs for children of various ages and stages. The company’s mission is to help children everywhere build a strong foundation for academic success and a lifelong love of learning. The company’s flagship product, ABCmouse.com, is the leading digital education brand for young children in the U.S.
- Founder(s): Doug Dohring
- Funding years: 2007
- Headquarters: Glendale, California, USA
- Funding: Venture – Series Unknown
36. Genius Plaza
Genius Plaza
Genius Plaza is an education technology company that provides a platform for multicultural and personalized online learning for children of various ages and stages. The company’s mission is to democratize education and provide access to information and opportunity for diverse communities. The company’s flagship product, Genius Plaza, is an online learning platform that covers various subjects, such as math, language arts, science, and social studies.
- Founder(s): Ana Roca Castro
- Funding years: 2012
- Headquarters: Clifton Park, New York, USA
- Funding: Venture – Series Unknown
37. Makeblock
Makeblock
Makeblock is an education technology company that provides STEM education-based robot-building kits and software for children of various ages and stages. The company’s mission is to help children develop creativity, curiosity, and problem-solving skills through robotics and coding. The company’s flagship product, Makeblock, is a platform that allows users to create and control robots using various hardware components and software tools.
- Founder(s): Jasen Wang
- Funding years: 2011
- Headquarters: Shenzhen, China
- Funding: Venture – Series C
38. Cialfo
Cialfo
Cialfo is a Singapore-based company that provides a one-stop solution for students, counselors, parents, and universities to simplify college and career counseling workflows. Cialfo uses artificial intelligence, machine learning, and natural language processing to help students find the right-fit colleges, apply to them, and get visa support. Cialfo also helps universities refine their international strategy, build relationships with prospective students and form a more diverse and inclusive class.
- Founder(s): Rohan Pasari and William Hund
- Funding years: 2017
- Headquarters: Singapore
- Funding: Series B
39. Quipper
Quipper
Quipper is an education technology company that provides online learning management systems (LMS) and video content for K-12 students and teachers in Japan, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Mexico. The company’s mission is to make quality education accessible and engaging for everyone. The company’s flagship product, Quipper School, is an LMS that allows teachers to create and deliver lessons, quizzes, and assignments online. The company also provides Quipper Video, a service that streams videos featuring top teachers and covers various subjects and curricula.
- Founder(s): Masayuki Watanabe
- Funding years: 2010
- Headquarters: London, United Kingdom
- Funding: Venture – Series A
40. Outschool
Outschool
Outschool is an education technology company that provides a marketplace of live online classes for kids. The company’s mission is to connect motivated learners, parents, and teachers together to create great learning experiences. The company’s flagship product, Outschool, is a platform that allows users to find and book online classes on various topics and interests, such as arts, science, math, languages, and more.
- Founder(s): Amir Nathoo, Mikhail Seregine, and Nick Grandy
- Funding years: 2015
- Headquarters: San Francisco, California
- Funding: Venture – Series D
41. Khan Academy
Khan Academy
Khan Academy is a nonprofit organization that provides free online education for anyone, anywhere. The company’s mission is to create a set of online tools that help educate students on various subjects, such as math, science, computing, history, art history, and economics. The company’s flagship product, Khan Academy, is a platform that allows users to access video lessons, practice exercises, and a personalized learning dashboard.
- Founder(s): Salman Khan
- Funding years: 2006
- Headquarters: Mountain View, California
- Funding: Venture – Series Unknown
42. Kidaptive
Kidaptive
Kidaptive Inc. is an education technology company that provides adaptive learning tools for children of various ages and stages. The company’s mission is to empower learners, parents, and educators by creating a vibrant ecosystem of personalized learning experiences. The company’s flagship product, Kidaptive, is a platform that allows users to access video lessons, practice exercises, and a personalized learning dashboard.
- Founder(s): P.J. Gunsagar and Dylan Arena
- Funding years: 2010
- Headquarters: Redwood City, California
- Funding: Venture – Series Unknown
43. Teachable
Teachable
Teachable is an education technology company that provides an online course creation platform for anyone who wants to teach or sell courses online. The company’s mission is to empower creators to transform their knowledge into income. The company’s flagship product, Teachable, is a platform that allows users to create and sell online courses on various topics and interests, such as business, design, health, music, and more.
- Founder(s): Ankur Nagpal
- Funding years: 2014
- Headquarters: New York City, USA
- Funding: Venture – Series Unknown
44. Edpuzzle
Edpuzzle
Edpuzzle is an education technology company that provides an online video-editing and analytics tool for teachers and students. The company’s mission is to make any video into a powerful learning experience. The company’s flagship product, Edpuzzle, is a platform that allows users to crop, customize, and add interactive elements to any video from the web or their own devices.
- Founder(s): Quim Sabrià, Santi Herrero Bajo, Jordi Gonzalez, and Xavier Vergés Parisi
- Funding years: 2013
- Headquarters: San Francisco, California, USA
- Funding: Secondary Market
45. Vivi
Vivi
Vivi is an education technology company that provides a wireless presentation and screen mirroring tool for education. The company’s mission is to empower teachers and students to display, capture, annotate, and save content in real-time. The company’s flagship product, Vivi, is a platform that allows users to connect their devices to any display and share their screens with the class.
- Founder(s): Lior Rauchberger, Simon Holland, and Tomas Spacek
- Funding years: 2016
- Headquarters: San Francisco, California, USA
- Funding: Venture – Series Unknown
46. ClassDojo
ClassDojo
ClassDojo is an education technology company that provides a school communication platform for teachers, students, and families. The company’s mission is to create a positive culture and community in every classroom. The company’s flagship product, ClassDojo, is a platform that allows users to share photos, videos, and messages about the school day, as well as give feedback on students’ skills and behaviors.
- Founder(s): Sam Chaudhary and Liam Don
- Funding years: 2011
- Headquarters: San Francisco, California, USA
- Funding: Venture – Series D
47. Lightneer
Lightneer
Lightneer is an education technology company that provides hyper-casual learning games for kids. The company’s mission is to make learning fun and accessible for everyone. The company’s flagship product, Lightneer, is a platform that allows users to play games that integrate casual and fun gameplay with educational content about particle physics, biology, chemistry, and more.
- Founder(s): Lauri Järvilehto, Lauri Konttori, and Niklas Hed
- Funding years: 2015
- Headquarters: Helsinki, Finland
- Funding: Seed
48. FutureLearn
FutureLearn
FutureLearn is an education technology company that provides an online learning platform for anyone who wants to learn new skills or pursue their interests. The company’s mission is to create a diverse and inclusive community of learners who can access high-quality education from anywhere. The company’s flagship product, FutureLearn, is a platform that allows users to enroll in online courses, programs, and degrees from leading universities and institutions around the world.
- Founder(s): The Open University
- Funding years: 2012
- Headquarters: London, United Kingdom
- Funding: Corporate round
49. Newsela
Newsela
Newsela is an education technology company that provides online news articles for education. The company’s mission is to make reading and learning from the news accessible and engaging for every student. The company’s flagship product, Newsela, is a platform that allows users to access news articles from various sources that are adapted to different reading levels and aligned to curriculum standards.
- Founder(s): Matthew Gross
- Funding years: 2013
- Headquarters: New York City, USA
- Funding: Series D
50. Duolingo
Duolingo
Duolingo is a free, fun, and effective way to learn a language online or on mobile devices. It offers courses in over 40 languages, with bite-sized lessons that adapt to the learner’s level and pace. Duolingo uses AI and data science to personalize the learning experience, optimize the curriculum, and assess the learner’s progress.
- Founder(s): Luis von Ahn and Severin Hacker
- Funding years: 2012
- Headquarters: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
- Funding: Series H
51. Lingoda
Lingoda
Lingoda is an online language school that offers courses in English, German, French, Spanish, and Business English. Learners can choose between group classes or private classes with native-level teachers, available 24/7 via Zoom. Lingoda also provides learning materials, certificates, and flexible plans to suit different goals and budgets.
- Founder(s): Fabian Wunderlich and Michael Shangkuan
- Funding years: 2013
- Headquarters: Berlin, Germany
- Funding: Private Equity
52. DreamBox Learning
DreamBox Learning
DreamBox Learning is an online adaptive learning platform that offers personalized and engaging math and reading instruction for K-8 students. DreamBox uses AI and data science to tailor the curriculum to each student’s needs and pace and to provide real-time feedback and guidance. DreamBox also provides educators with actionable insights and reports on student progress and growth.
- Founder(s): Lou Gray and Ben Slivka
- Funding years: 2006
- Headquarters: Bellevue, Washington
- Funding: Series C
53. Kahoot!
Kahoot!
Kahoot! is a game-based learning platform that enables anyone to create and play fun and engaging quizzes, games, and presentations on any topic. Kahoot! can be used in classrooms, workplaces, social settings, or at home for learning, training, entertainment, and more. Kahoot! also offers a variety of ready-made games and content from partners and publishers.
- Founder(s): Johan Brand, Jamie Brooker, and Morten Versvik
- Funding years: 2012
- Headquarters: Oslo, Norway
- Funding: Post IPO secondary
54. Prodigy Education
Prodigy Education
Prodigy Education is an online math learning platform that offers curriculum-aligned math games for students in grades 1-8. Prodigy uses AI and data science to adapt the content and difficulty to each student’s level and learning style and to provide feedback and rewards. Prodigy also provides teachers with tools and reports to monitor and support student learning.
- Founder(s): Rohan Mahimker and Alex Peters
- Funding years: 2011
- Headquarters: Toronto, Canada
- Funding: Series B
55. Bulb
Bulb
Bulb is a Denver-based company that provides a web-based platform for students and educators to create, share and showcase their digital portfolios. Bulb enables users to document their learning journey, showcase their skills and achievements, and collaborate with others on projects and assignments. Bulb also helps educators to design curriculum, assess student work and provide feedback.
- Founder(s): Eric Goldreyer, David Dixon, and Bart Epstein
- Funding years: 2011
- Headquarters: Denver, USA
- Funding: Venture – Series Unknown
56. Eduphoria!
Eduphoria! Inc.
Eduphoria! is an online platform that offers a suite of applications for school management and assessment. Eduphoria! helps educators plan and deliver instruction, monitor student progress, analyze data, and create reports. Eduphoria! also provides tools for professional development, teacher evaluation, and student portfolios.
- Founder(s): Zach Sims and Ryan Bubinski
- Funding years: 2004
- Headquarters: Plano, Texas, USA
- Funding: Series Unknown
57. Otus
Otus
Otus is an online platform that offers a suite of tools for classroom management and assessment. Otus helps teachers create and deliver instruction, monitor student engagement, analyze data, and communicate with students and families. Otus also provides tools for standards-based grading, learning management, and student portfolios.
- Founder(s): Chris Hull and Pete Helfers
- Funding years: 2013
- Headquarters: Chicago, Illinois, USA
- Funding: Series Unknown
58. BYJU’S
BYJU’S
BYJU’S is an online learning platform that offers courses and programs for school and competitive exams, such as CBSE, ICSE, JEE, NEET, CAT, UPSC, and more. BYJU’S uses AI and data science to personalize the learning experience, provide feedback and guidance, and track the learner’s progress and performance. BYJU’S also provides live classes, interactive videos, quizzes, games, and simulations.
- Founder(s): Byju Raveendran
- Funding years: 2011
- Headquarters: Bangalore, India
- Funding: Debt Financing
59. Lingvist
Lingvist
Lingvist is a Tallinn-based company that provides a web-based platform for learning languages faster and more efficiently. Lingvist uses big data, artificial intelligence, and machine learning to adapt learning materials to each learner’s level, needs, and goals. Lingvist covers various languages such as English, Spanish, French, German, Russian, Portuguese, Dutch, Italian, and Estonian.
- Founder(s): Mait Müntel
- Funding years: 2013
- Headquarters: Tallinn. Estonia
- Funding: Venture – Series Unknown
60. NoRedInk
NoRedInk
NoRedInk is a company that created a platform that helps students in grades 4-12 become better writers. The platform uses adaptive learning and personal interests to engage learners and deliver performance data to teachers and administrators. NoRedInk also supports teachers with curriculum, assessments, and professional development.
- Founder(s): Jeff Scheur
- Funding years: 2012
- Headquarters: San Francisco, California
- Funding: Series Unknown
61. Teachmint
Teachmint
Teachmint is a company that provides an online teaching platform that enables tutors to conduct live classes and manage their classrooms. The platform combines live classes, real-time chat, homework and note sharing, online tests, announcements, etc. Teachmint also offers solutions for schools and institutes, such as ERP and LMS systems.
- Founder(s): Mihir Gupta, Payoj Jain, Divyansh Bordia, and Anshuman Kumar
- Funding years: 2020
- Headquarters: Bangalore, Karnataka, India
- Funding: Series B
62. OpenClassrooms
OpenClassrooms
OpenClassrooms is a company that provides an online education platform for vocational training, offering courses in IT, technology, entrepreneurship, and digital skills. The platform uses video resources, online reading, real-life projects, and individual mentoring sessions to deliver fully online degrees that are internationally recognized.
- Founder(s): Mathieu Nebra and Pierre Dubuc,
- Funding years: 2013
- Headquarters: Paris, France
- Funding: Series C
63. Quizlet
Quizlet
Quizlet is a company that provides tools for studying and learning, such as digital flashcards, matching games, practice electronic assessments, and live quizzes. The platform covers various subjects and levels, from grade school to graduate school and language learners to vocational students.
- Founder(s): Andrew Sutherland
- Funding years: 2005
- Headquarters: San Francisco, California
- Funding: Series C
64. Chegg
Chegg Inc.
Chegg is a company that operates a student-first connected learning platform that provides various products and services to help students achieve their academic and professional goals. The platform offers homework help, digital and physical textbook rentals, online tutoring, test prep, scholarships, internships, and career services.
- Founder(s): Aayush Phumbhra, Josh Carlson, and Osman Rashid
- Funding years: 2005
- Headquarters: Santa Clara, California
- Funding: Post-IPO Equity
65. 3P Learning
3P Learning
3P Learning is a company that provides online education for schools and families. It offers a suite of learning resources that cover mathematics, spelling, literacy, science, and e-safety. The company aims to inspire a love of learning by providing engaging, meaningful, and personal learning experiences.
- Founder(s): Shane Hill and Matthew Sandblom
- Funding years: 2005
- Headquarters: North Sydney, Australia
- Funding: Series Unknown
66. ChatterHigh
ChatterHigh
ChatterHigh is a company that provides an online education platform that helps students in grades K-12 discover and learn about various post-secondary and career options. The platform uses quizzes, competitions, and discussion forums to engage students and provide them with relevant information and resources.
- Founder(s): Lee Taal and Glen Hallam
- Funding years: 2012
- Headquarters: Victoria, Canada
- Funding: Series Unknown
67. Eruditus
Eruditus
Eruditus is a company that provides executive education programs intended for mid-career professionals. The company collaborates with more than 50 top-tier universities across the world, such as MIT, Harvard, Columbia, INSEAD, and Wharton, to design and deliver high-quality courses in various formats, such as online, blended, and modular.
- Founder(s): Chaitanya Kalipatnapu and Ashwin Damera
- Funding years: 2010
- Headquarters: Mumbai, India
- Funding: Debt Financing
Collaborations and Partnerships Between Omdena and Leading Impact Organizations
Omdena AI projects play a vital role in supporting the objectives of SDG 4 by addressing various challenges in education, expanding access to quality learning, promoting personalized instruction, supporting educators, and facilitating data-driven decision-making. Through these collaborative efforts, Omdena strives to create positive and sustainable impacts in the field of education.
Below are some examples of successful collaborations:
1. Bringing Data Science Education to Secondary Schools in India for Zero Cost (with Datacamp)
DataCamp
Omdena, in collaboration with DataCamp Donates, aims to bring zero-cost data science education to secondary schools in India. This project seeks to provide students and teachers access to industry-recognized data skills that can help solve various business and technical problems. The team successfully created a database of over 35,000 Indian secondary schools’ names, email addresses, domains, and other details despite challenges such as inadequate resources and inconsistent data.
With this accomplishment, access to DataCamp classrooms service can be granted to higher secondary schools in India. This initiative contributes to worldwide technological growth through quality education (SDG 4) and sets the stage for expanding DataCamp Classrooms services into other countries.
The project page can be found here.
2. Digitizing Bhutanese Documents and Books using Machine Translation (with the Royal Government of Bhutan)
DHI InnoTech
Omdena collaborated with the Innotech Department of the Royal Government of Bhutan to develop a machine translation model capable of automatically translating documents written in Bhutan’s local language into English. This model allowed these documents to be stored as digital copies in the cloud, making them more accessible and preserving their cultural heritage.
Access the project page here.
3. Building an AI-based Personalized Language Learning Model For Bilingual Children ( with Poikilingo)
Poikilingo
In partnership with Poikilingo an educational organization, Omdena brought together a team of 50 AI engineers who analyzed data from bilingual children’s learning applications. Together, they built a recommendation system that adapts to each child’s level as they progress within the app, offering a more personalized learning experience.
More information about this project can be found here.
These examples showcase the power of collaboration between Omdena and various organizations in leveraging AI technologies to address challenges related to SDG 4 – Quality Education. By working together, these partnerships have created new possibilities for enhancing educational opportunities and resources on a global scale.
Conclusion
SDG 4 Quality Education is an ambitious global goal that aims at creating a more equitable world where everyone has access to quality learning opportunities. As we’ve seen, numerous organizations are leading the charge toward achieving this goal by addressing various challenges and working tirelessly to ensure that education becomes a universal right.
These educational pioneers serve as an inspiration for all of us to support and promote SDG 4 Quality Education in our own communities – whether through policy advocacy, volunteer work, or simply spreading awareness about the importance of education. By doing so, we will not only contribute to the betterment of our societies but also help create a more sustainable and prosperous future for generations to come.
If you have any specific questions about Omdena’s work on education projects or any other topic related to our projects, please feel free to contact us via email: [email protected]!
