The investment was made through the PALF, a fund established in 2012 to support early-stage education enterprises and entrepreneurs creating innovative affordable learning solutions in the developing world.
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Pearson, the world’s leading learning company, announces a seed investment in science education start-up Experifun, a company that allows teachers and students to conduct innovative science experiments and activities via low cost science kits in the classroom.
The investment was made through the Pearson Affordable Learning Fund (PALF), a fund established in 2012 to support early-stage education enterprises and entrepreneurs creating innovative affordable learning solutions in the developing world.
The Experifun science kits allow students to conduct their own fun and engaging science experiments without the traditional science lab infrastructure. The kits are designed to empower the teacher to make the learning process fun and to engage students in a learning process that simplifies science concepts. The kits are adapted to fit curricula for grades 5 through 10 such as CBSE, ICSE, Cambridge, IB and State Boards.
The kits are already being used in more than 70 schools across India. There are already more than 25 different types of kits with several more in development, that cover topics ranging from chemistry, biology, to physical science. In time, Experifun aims to fully map the science curriculum of India and develop national reach.
“We are thrilled to invest in another of our Edupreneur programme winners and excited to see Experifun’s effect on classrooms and science test results in India. Experifun has continued to demonstrate a clear understanding of teacher and learner needs and a commitment to improving learner outcomes. Their product pipeline is innovative, ground breaking, and can dramatically change the face of science education in India,” says Amar Kumar, Senior Vice President, Pearson, who will be joining the Experifun board.
The investment builds upon PALF’s commitment to Experifun as one of the two winners of the PALF’s 2013 Edupreneurs programme. Edupreneurs is an incubator programme that invests in entrepreneurs focusing on innovative educational products and services that improve outcomes and access to education for low-income learners.
This is the PALF’s seventh investment and represents the Fund’s commitment to high-quality, for-profit education to the low-income segment of the developing world.
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