The Top EdTech Investors of 2026

Discover the top EdTech investors in 2026.

Jennifer Jiao

Head of Marketing

If you’re building an EdTech company, you need to know who these investors are. The investors on this list understand your market. They know the sales cycles, the buyer complexity, the regulatory landscape. They’ve backed the winners. And they’re actively funding the next generation of companies solving real problems in K-12, higher ed, and workforce learning.

Today, we’re releasing the Starbridge Top 15 EdTech Investors of 2026 - a curated list of the venture capital firms fueling the next generation of education technology companies.

Why Investors Are Paying Attention to EdTech

EdTech has historically been underserved by venture capital. Long sales cycles, complex procurement, and the perception of slow-moving school buyers kept many mainstream investors on the sidelines for years.

That’s changed dramatically. The investors on this list recognized early that education technology offers reliable revenue, strong customer loyalty, and significant growth potential, and they’ve backed the companies proving it.

Why We’re Publishing This

At Starbridge, our mission is to help companies selling into government and education win more, with better timing and better data. But we also know that great EdTech companies need great capital partners to scale.

This list is designed to help founders identify investors who actually understand their market and to give those investors the recognition they deserve for backing a sector that directly impacts how students learn and how institutions operate.

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#	VC Fund	Description
1	Reach Capital	Reach Capital is an early-stage venture firm founded in 2015 that invests in education technology. Notable portfolio companies include ClassDojo, Nearpod, Newsela, and Tynker. It typically writes roughly $400k seed checks and up to $3M in Series A–B rounds. Reach differentiates itself through a focused edtech thesis and close ties to practitioners and institutions that help founders validate and scale learning products.
2	Owl Ventures	Owl Ventures is a venture capital firm founded in 2014 that invests exclusively in education technology across K–12, higher education, and workforce learning. The firm backs companies from seed through late stage, typically writing $5M–$50M checks. Notable investments include BYJU’S, MasterClass, Quizlet, and Degreed. Led by managing directors Amit Patel and Tory Patterson, Owl differentiates itself with a dedicated edtech focus and the capacity to support companies across stages globally.
3	GSV Ventures	GSV Ventures is a multi-stage venture capital firm investing in education technology from “Pre-K to Gray,” founded in 2016. The firm backs companies at seed, Series A, and later growth stages, typically writing average checks around $15 million. Notable portfolio companies include Coursera, Course Hero, and Clever. Led by partners Deborah Quazzo and Adam Freed, GSV differentiates itself as a female-led specialist focused exclusively on the global learning sector.
4	Rethink Education (Rethink Capital)	Rethink Education (Rethink Capital) is a venture capital firm investing in education technology across K–12, higher education, and workforce learning, founded in 2011. The firm typically writes $1–2 million checks at early and growth stages. Notable portfolio companies include General Assembly, NoRedInk, Civitas Learning, and Allovue. It differentiates itself by backing scalable education services and tools and favoring companies with proven revenue before raising outside capital.
5	Gates Foundation – Education Investments	Gates Foundation – Education Investments funds innovations to improve K–12 and postsecondary outcomes through grants and its Strategic Investment Fund, founded in 2000. It backs edtech through early-stage fund partnerships with Owl Ventures and Reach Capital, and has made program-related investments such as a $2 million stake in Inigral (Uversity). The focus skews early-stage via specialist managers. It differentiates itself by deploying catalytic, mission-driven capital and research to scale solutions in education.
6	Y Combinator	Y Combinator is a seed accelerator founded in 2005 that backs founders at the pre-seed and seed stages across sectors, including education and government technology. Notable edtech alumni include Outschool, Clever, and Bloom Institute of Technology (formerly Lambda School). YC’s standard deal invests $500,000 into each accepted company. The firm differentiates through its intensive three-month program, Demo Day exposure, and a broad alumni network that offers ongoing support and access to early customers and talent.
7	Learn Capital	Learn Capital is a venture firm dedicated to education and human capital development, founded in 2009 by Rob Hutter and Greg Mauro. It invests at early and growth stages across K–12, higher education, and workforce, with portfolio companies including Coursera, Udemy, Amplify, and NewGlobe. The firm focuses on AI-powered learning, digital education, and career advancement, and differentiates itself through its sector-dedicated approach and global portfolio.
8	Brighteye Ventures	Brighteye Ventures is a European venture capital firm founded in 2017 that invests in edtech and workforce learning companies. The firm backs seed and Series A rounds with typical checks of €500K to €5M+. Notable investments include Sdui, Hack The Box, and Ornikar. As a sector‑specialist, Brighteye brings deep edtech expertise and a Europe‑first network to help founders navigate education markets and scale across schools and enterprises.
9	Educapital	Educapital is a European venture firm investing in edtech and the future of work, founded in 2017 by Marie‑Christine Levet and Litzie Maarek. The fund backs companies from late seed to Series B, typically writing €3–10M checks. Notable edtech portfolio companies include 360Learning, Labster, Preply, and LiveMentor. The firm differentiates itself as an impact‑focused investor dedicated to improving learning outcomes and access to work across Europe.
10	A-Street Ventures	A-Street Ventures invests in K–12 education companies building digital-first curriculum, assessment, and instructional tools, founded in 2021. The firm backs a mix of early, growth, and late-stage ventures and has invested in Amplify, Teaching Strategies, and Great Minds. It focuses on seeding and scaling solutions that improve student learning and achievement. A-Street differentiates through active governance and operating expertise, including board roles alongside portfolio teams.
11	Kapor Capital	Kapor Capital invests in early-stage, tech-driven companies that close gaps in access across sectors including education and justice. The firm primarily backs pre-seed and seed rounds, writing checks from $250K to $3M. Notable portfolio companies in this space include Newsela, Accredible, and Promise. Co-founded by Freada Kapor Klein and Mitch Kapor, the fund differentiates itself with an explicit impact mandate and a focus on supporting diverse founders.
12	Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI) – Ventures & Grants	Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI) – Ventures & Grants backs education-focused ventures and nonprofits, founded in 2015 by Priscilla Chan and Mark Zuckerberg. Its portfolio includes edtech companies such as Newsela, MasteryConnect (including a $5M investment), and BYJU’s. CZI participates from early to growth stages through a mix of venture investments and grants. It differentiates itself by pairing capital with long-term product and research support to advance personalized learning in K–12.
13	Edovate Capital	Edovate Capital is a venture firm investing in early-stage K–12 education technology companies. Portfolio highlights include Pear Deck (acquired by GoGuardian), LearnPlatform, Paper, and BookNook. The firm focuses on seed-stage partnerships and provides flexible capital and hands-on go-to-market support to help companies scale in a capital-efficient way. Edovate differentiates through deep K–12 expertise, a strong network across schools and policy, and its “100 by 40" impact commitment.