fundi acquires edtech startup eduone

Fundi acquires edtech startup EduOne EduOne, a Cape Town-based education technology startup, has recently been acquired by leading education finance and education fund management solution specialist Fundi. The acquisition marks yet another move to further digitise South Africa's education ecosystem delivering on Fundi's "Fundiverse" promise of all things education. Started in 2015 by Jason Basel (who served as the company's CEO since inception), and co-founders James Kieser, Pieter Strydom and Ben Rath, EduOne came from humble roots the quintessential university dorm room. It was developed in response to their own challenges and experiences of accessing and moving through the education system. Students simply did not have enough information or support to make decisions about their further education and their careers. At 17 years old, few people even know who they are, never mind who they wanted to become, explains Basel. This became the complex problem statement we starting to solve for. Today the company operates South Africa's largest career guidance website, engaging students on their post-school options. It also builds software such as a mentorship platform and fund disbursement tool, both aimed at enabling bursary and financial aid providers to more effectively manage their programmes. The company's relationship with Fundi has been a longstanding one. In 2016, Fundi became EduOne's largest stakeholder as it filled the company's entire seed funding round. Since the acquisition, work is already underway to integrate the two solutions, with the EduOne's career guidance tool, EduConnect, having been incorporated into the Fundiverse as FundiConnect. Acquiring EduOne has been a natural next-step for Fundi. It speaks to our long-term and legacy vision for education in South Africa and across the continent, notes Makgau Dibakwane, CEO of Fundi. As a similarly disruptive' business, we are also very well aligned. EduOne was the first in a wave of student-centric start-ups that have effectively democratised education, enabling access for all. Fundi's funding offering has ensured that this access becomes a reality for many. This essential philosophy of making education reality' is a core element of Fundi's DNA making this partnership so exciting for us as a growing business. And growing it is. Just last year, FundiConnect (then EduConnect) serviced over 2.7 million students and engaged over 1 200 high school educators across the country to ensure students could make better education and career choices. We're also planning to integrate other key services, such as our education financing offerings, online shop and bursary finder, among others in the near future, explains Dibakwane. This will mean that we can fully digitise a student's journey: covering all their needs from school right through to getting a job no matter where they find themselves. With EduOne's tech-savvy team now integrated into Fundi's, Basel believes that the real winners are ultimately students. This acquisition means that Fundi can reach its audiences with unprecedented scale and depth of value going forward. As a united team, we're on the same page, have the same mission, and are looking forward to an exciting and successful future together where we continue reframing and reimagining the future of education in Africa.â?ť Ends. About EduOne EduOne is an African ed-tech mecca. The company builds platforms to help people with career guidance, mentorship programmes, bursary beneficiary recruitment and more. EduOne is an education technology company on a mission to make education more accessible. The company was founded on the belief that young people lack the support, advice and guidance required to make further education decisions that will follow them for the rest of their lives. FundiConnect (formerly EduConnect) is the company's flagship product - a platform focused on career guidance. Millions of students, parents and teachers use the platform each year to find career information, explore study options, figure out how to fund their studies and more. The platform was the first of its kind, and still remains SA's largest career guidance platform. EduOne also builds and operates mentorship and bursary management software that enables funders to manage their bursary and scholarship programmes, find candidates and distribute funds. EduOne sought out and is now more than ever on a path to realise its vision for fully-inclusive, democratised education. Everyone deserves the opportunity to plot their path in life, and EduOne intends to deliver that opportunity to all South Africans. For more information about EduOne, visit www.eduone.co.za. About Fundi Fundi is South Africa's leading education finance and education fund management solution specialist. The company's purpose is to help others realise their purpose. It is positioning its brand as Africa's single source for all services that enable the education and learning journey. Fundi's innovative solutions span finance and education loans; end-to-end bursary administration; and cashless digital devices for students. Its all things education approach incorporates a full-suite offering including online student accommodation, as well as data and airtime purchases. Its full range of supportive educational services reduces administration and increases productivity for students, parents, bursars and institutions. A seamless customer experience is the company's intended strategy. Fundi is passionate about making a tangible difference in the life of every African through education. In 2019 it launched its own NGO the FundiFund (NPO number: IT001931/2019 PBO). Committed to partnering with public and private institutions to facilitate access to quality education for the omissing middle in particular, the fund supports beneficiaries in both the secondary and tertiary education spaces. For more information about Fundi, visit www.fundi.co.za.
Organisation : The Pr Space
Website : www.fundi.co.za