EdTech communities have always been the backbone of the education system, providing students with the support and resources they need to progress and learn. Now, Propel, a Berlin-based EdTech startup, has taken this mission to a new level by developing a comprehensive managed services platform specifically designed for communities and talent.
Propel recently announced that it had raised $2.74 million (€2.5 million) in a seed funding round, led by Amsterdam-based No Such Ventures, with participation from APX (Axel Springer & Porsche), Golden Egg Check, and Future of Learning Fund.
Co-founded by Sunkanmi Ola, Seun Owolabi, and Abel Agoi in 2020, Propel offers a ‘value stack’ that education technology communities can utilize to address last-mile issues. This includes connecting their members to employment opportunities, financial services (loans, asset financing), and other rewards and perks.
Propel’s CEO, Sunkanmi Ola, explained: “Communities are the building blocks of any ecosystem, and EdTech communities, especially in high-growth markets like Africa and within underrepresented groups, have emerged in their thousands to cover the massive gaps in education, capacity building, and inclusion. They discover, up-skill, and mentor talent, organize hackathons, events, and peer-to-peer learning opportunities, and respond to global trends faster than traditional institutions.”
He continued: “However, they are constantly looking for ways to solve problems faced by their members while still pushing to achieve their impact goals. By giving communities access to a plug-in platform that solves their last mile, Propel helps them focus on what they know how to do best. And with communities being able to grow and connect deeper on a local level, Propel is looking to tangibly impact the growth of millions of people on a scale that has not been seen before.”
Propel currently works with over 100+ EdTech communities in 15 countries, serving roughly 400,000 members. This includes SheCodeAfrica, one of Africa’s largest female-focused communities; Ingressive for Good, an open community that trains thousands of people in tech annually; Niyo Network, a UK-based organization that runs Web2 and Web3 bootcamps for underrepresented women; and Datafest, People In Product, Friends of Figma, and various other Google Developer Groups.
With this investment, the company plans to expand its community platform, launch new tools to its value stack, and strengthen its ecosystem of communities. It also intends to generate €1 million in revenue for gatherings by the fourth quarter of 2024.
Commenting on the fundraising, Sophie Heijenberg, Investor, No Such Ventures, said: “Propel’s unique, community-focused approach to driving the open talent economy sets them apart and is a solid addition to the Future of Work category. We’re bullish about their roadmap and super-excited to partner with them on this growth journey.”
Propel has already raised over €3 million, and its platform has been utilized by organizations such as Porsche, Mercedes, Orange Telecoms, Farfetch, and Stepstone, as well as several startups and scaleups.
For teachers, Propel provides a powerful way to access the full breadth of talent available in EdTech communities. By using Propel’s managed services platform, teachers can quickly and easily find the best talent to meet their needs, while also doing good for their local communities.
