Cypher, a London-based edtech startup that offers coding camps and courses for children, has recently raised £225k in a new funding round to expand its business to international markets.
The round was led by a series of unnamed angel investors and has taken the startup’s total raised to date to £670k.
Founded in 2016 by Elizabeth Tweedale, Cypher inspires children to learn the language of the future by offering hands-on creative coding camps and courses. It teaches children from 5 to 14 years old how to code through creative themes, including digital art, nature, music, fashion, architecture and design, space, drones, robotics, etc. that encourage curiosity, spark imagination and help build the ability to think and communicate ideas.
Cypher gives learners a methodical and cumulative education that builds their skills in coding, touch typing, communication, collaboration, creativity, and flexibility. Its curriculum is devised to teach a firm foundation in computer science, above and beyond the national curriculum requirements. The startup has recently pivoted its offering entirely online days before the lockdown was enforced to ensure children across the UK still had access to necessary learning opportunities.
Speaking about its mission and how the latest funding will help the company, Elizabeth Tweedale, Founder and CEO, Cypher, said in a statement,
“Throughout lockdown our aim has been to keep children learning and engaged, as the ability for children to learn how to code is key in preparing them for their futures. The recent pandemic has caused many challenges. It’ll be the ideas and companies created by our children that will change the future. Our recent injection of funds is incredibly exciting as it will help Cypher continue to teach more children globally as we continue our expansion to the US and Middle East.”
Cypher plans to use the fresh capital to accelerate the company’s growth, by scaling the online camps alongside its in-person offering this summer. It also plans to expand its business into new international markets.
The startup has worked with over 350 children, completing more than 3,700 learning hours online, over the past few months.
