After an initial closing of 100 million euros in March 2022, Educapital II continues its European expansion, announcing a final closing of almost 150 million euros, three times more than Educapital I.
MEETING THE CHALLENGES OF EDUCATION AND WORK
Educapital was founded by Marie-Christine Levet and Litzie Maarek in 2017, with the deep conviction that innovation would play a key role in addressing the many challenges facing education and the world of work - growing inequalities in the school system, falling standards, teacher shortages, a widening skills gap. These challenges call for a radical change in the way we learn and work.
With this new fund, Educapital affirms the mission at the heart of its thesis: to identify and support European champions who are inventing the future of education and work.
"The diversity of challenges facing education and the world of work calls for a major breakthrough. Innovation makes education accessible to as many people as possible, providing personalized, lifelong learning that meets the needs of the younger generation and the world of work. It gives companies the means to develop their employees' skills while meeting their expectations of commitment. We are only at the beginning of this revolution. Investing in sovereign European edtech is crucial to preserving the identity of our companies", says Marie-Christine Levet. declares Marie-Christine Levet.
IMPACT AT THE HEART OF EDUCAPITAL'S THESIS
Educapital II becomes the first SFDR Article 9 impact fund in its sector.
But because impact is only meaningful if it is measured, Educapital has developed its own methodology to achieve its goal of combining financial performance and social impact.
One of the few funds managed by two women, Educapital is actively committed to promoting diversity: 40% of its portfolio companies have been (co)founded by women, compared with less than 10% on average for venture capital funds.
PRESTIGIOUS INVESTORS AND A STRONG EUROPEAN FOOTPRINT
This second fund is proud to count on the support of the European Investment Fund (EIF), which is investing 25 million euros through the Invest EU program, and 80 investors, including long-standing supporters Bpifrance, which is investing in equity and via the Edtech Fund of Funds managed on behalf of the French government as part of France 2030 - Hachette Livre, Education for the Many, Bayard, joined by Frojal, a family holding company and majority shareholder in Groupe Lefebvre Sarrut, Jacobs Foundation, and institutional investors UMR, BNP, Arkea, Casden, Crédit Agricole, Sofiouest, family offices and business angels, all convinced that responsible investment in human capital is the key to building a more desirable future.
"Venture capital support is vital if we are to achieve a greater breakthrough in innovation and digitization in education technology in Europe. Human capital is our greatest resource, and education is its driving force. Educapital stands out among the leading funds in this field, with a solid portfolio, a genuine commitment to impact and outstanding leadership from two remarkable women. We are proud to support the emergence of new Edtech companies and to contribute to the development of a true European force in the field of education", said Marjut Falkstedt, EIF CEO.
"Convinced from the launch of this second fund of the importance of taking part, we are delighted to see that the objective has been achieved. Following on from the first fund launched in 2017, this new impetus will enable a renewed massive investment in Edtech to guarantee access to innovative education for all. In tune with the societal upheavals of recent years, Educapital is a major player in innovation for the benefit of human capital," adds Bruno Bonnell, Chairman of France 2030.
SIGNIFICANT RESULTS
Over the past six years, Educapital has invested, through these two funds, in 30 companies that are shaking up the worlds of education and work, including 360learning (a training platform for companies), Labster (virtual laboratories for science learning), Preply (leader in digital language learning), Chance (a career guidance platform), Knowunity (a social learning application for students)...
Educapital's portfolio reflects the breadth of topics addressed by its investment thesis in Edtech and the Future of Work, a market expected to be worth $500 billion by 2025. The companies in the portfolio have demonstrated significant financial performance and have enabled more than 20 million learners and employees worldwide to gain skills and potential.
