South African edtech startup Valenture Institute has raised $7 million in a fresh funding round from global VC and Coursera investor GSV Ventures.
According to Bradley Elliott, Chief Marketing and Innovation Officer at Valenture Institute, the investment will be used for further global expansion, enhancing the learning experience, and building out additional offerings such as new subjects and exclusive bootcamps like coding, design thinking, data science, and more.
Founded in 2019 by Robert Paddock, Valenture Institute is a global private online high school offering a curriculum recognized by the world’s leading universities. It offers an academically rigorous and socially-rich learning experience that equips students with the skills and courage to drive social change for a sustainable future. Valenture students experience a highly engaging and inclusive learning environment that is supported by expert teachers, mentors, and boutique campuses.
At Valenture Institute, every aspect of a student’s high school journey is important. Therefore, the company has created an innovative and multifaceted system to assist students and their parents throughout the learning experience to ensure that they feel supported all the way. Valenture’s unique educational approach includes integration with worldwide sustainability objectives and encourages the holistic development of every student towards their purposeful and impactful future.
Commenting on the funding received and what it means for the company, Robert Paddock said,
“The global demand for high-quality online schooling is skyrocketing in the current climate. We are thrilled to be partnering with the GSV team, who has already added immense value to our business through their knowledge, connections, and strategic guidance. We’re scaling up rapidly, and look forward to working with the GSV team to achieve our goal of becoming the largest and most impactful school on the planet.”
Valenture Institute also plans to use the capital for resources dedicated to the roll-out of its school’s hybrid, tech-enabled boutique campuses, which combine online learning with in-person support and experiences with classmates. The aim of these campuses is to enhance its students’ social and learning environment while providing them with an internationally-recognized curriculum and the opportunity to engage with global innovators.
Currently, Valenture Institute has three boutique campuses in development in South Africa’s Johannesburg and Cape Town, all of which will be launched in January 2021. The startup is also developing its boutique campuses in global destinations like London, Boston, and New York.
Valenture Institute’s qualifications are recognized by top international institutions like The University of Chicago, Imperial College London, MIT, Yale, Harvard University, and University of Oxford, among others.
