Exeter-based edtech startup Sparx is receiving an injection of €22 million from Oxygen House, an ethical and impact-centric group of companies.
Founded in 2010, Sparx is an in-class and homework solution that uses machine learning, personalised content, and data analytics to help teachers be more effective and improve learning outcomes for students in maths. Its first product ‘Sparx Maths’, which focuses on 11 to 16-year-old students, was launched in September 2018 and combines high-quality content, including 32,000 carefully designed maths questions and an adaptive AI technology platform.
Its platform provides daily insights into class and student progress, allowing teachers to quickly identify trends. It also provides every student with a personalised learning experience, searching thousands of questions to deliver the right level of challenge to students
The initial investment from Oxygen House has helped Sparx to work closely with schools to research, test, and develop an approach to learning maths which is highly engaging.
The investment follows an initial €33.5 million investment from Oxygen House which helped to establish Sparx and to develop and test the technology.
“Oxygen House is a dynamic group of companies and we are delighted to have their backing,” said Dan Sandhu, CEO of Sparx. “From day one they have shown a strong belief in our vision for Sparx. This new investment will help us to firmly position Sparx at the forefront of edtech and build on the success we have already achieved with our partner schools. The ongoing support of Oxygen House will enable us to have a significant impact on education nationally and beyond the UK.”
“We are committed to helping to improve education so that young people gain the best outcomes and can have a positive impact on society throughout their lives,” said Roy Bedlow, director of Oxygen House. “Our investment in Sparx demonstrates this, and we are excited to see how this innovative, socially-focused company, can transform learners’ lives across the world.”
Critical to this latest investment round is Sparx’s commitment to delivering real impact in education in the UK and globally, summed up in its mission to improve learning outcomes for more than five million learners by 2030. In the next five years Sparx is planning to rapidly increase the scale of its operations to support its international ambitions.
By applying learning strategies founded in pedagogy with cutting-edge technological knowledge, Sparx is changing perceptions about teaching and learning in schools and at home. Engaging directly with schools is key to that strategy. Exeter’s Ted Wragg Multi-Academy Trust is one such partner whose insight and collaboration during successful trials has helped inform Sparx’s development over the last eight years.