Emerge, a global pre-seed fund backed by 100+ of the world’s best future of work and learning operators, has closed $73 million for its oversubscribed global early-stage Fund II. The second fund more than triples the investment from its first, bringing its total assets under management to $100 million. Investors who led the round included KfW Capital, Laerdal Invest, Jacobs Foundation, and Southern New Hampshire University.
Founded in 2014 as Europe’s only EdTech specialist fund, Emerge aims to democratise access to opportunity by being a catalytic partner for pre-seed and seed founders whose companies are revolutionising access to learning and levelling the playing field for kids, helping people navigate their careers, and empowering them to use AI at work. The company now invests in B2B and B2C startups across all categories, enabling people to grow and fulfil their potential, from early childhood, K12, and higher education to lifelong learning, workforce development, career navigation, and the future of work.
Emerge’s partners are immigrants, working-class kids, and refugees for whom education is the path to a better life. Over the past 10 years, the firm has made 80+ investments in companies now valued at over $2 billion and impacting more than 31 million people worldwide. Its portfolio has had multiple exits and now includes AI-powered investments transforming how an individual learns, works, and navigates careers, such as Solvely, Colossyan, and Popp.
Speaking about the development, Christina Sass, CEO of International Youth Foundation; Founder, Andela; Emerge VP, said:
The choices we make now about how to move forward as a society – whether we take everyone with us or not – will determine whether AI ultimately exacerbates or reduces inequalities. Working with Emerge to solve these challenges is one of the most rewarding experiences of my life: I get to do what I do best, coaching world-class entrepreneurs who are building companies that will define the future of work and learning. And it’s a pleasure to do so alongside a team that cares deeply about its mission and has access to the best entrepreneurs on the planet.
Unlike other VCs, Emerge is supported by 100+ Venture Partners – operators who have built the world’s most successful future of work and learning companies and providers, including the co-founders and CEOs of Udemy, Degreed, Trilogy, Beamery, Go1, Coursera, Busuu, Kahoot, Andela, Docebo and Springboard, as well as the CHROs and CLOs of Fortune500 companies such as Kraft Heinz, IBM, Boeing and McDonalds. These Venture Partners engage with portfolio companies throughout their entire lifecycle, focusing on accelerating their journey to product-market fit and Series A and beyond.
Fund II’s completion follows a string of successful exits for Emerge, including Zavvy’s acquisition by Deel earlier this year. Other portfolio companies have also received substantial upgrades from top investment firms. Examples include Yoto ($22 million Series B headed by the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative), Edurino (€10.5 million Series A led by DN Capital), Mattilda ($19 million Series A led by GSV), and Unibuddy ($20 million Series B led by Highland Europe).
Investments already out of Fund II include Colossyan, an AI video platform for workplace learning that enables users to create videos from text with AI avatars. In June this year, Colossyan announced a $22 million Series A with new investors, including Lakestar (known for its collaborations with leading companies such as Revolut and Spotify)
