Glasgow EdTech听Estendio听丑补蝉听secured听拢450,000 of funding after a year of exceptional growth supporting students with disabilities.听
Presentations are difficult for anyone, but even more-so for the 300,000 disabled students across the UK, who are often required to present as part of their university or college course.听听
Estendio听is on a mission to alleviate presentation anxiety, after Chris Hughes,听founder and CEO, experienced the challenge of presenting first–hand as a dyslexic student in university.听听
After securing a significant investment of 拢450,000, the team are ready to expand their reach to support more students with disabilities via their innovative presentation support app – Present Pal.听听
The funding, in the form of a long–term Convertible Loan Note, comes from key partners including Scottish Enterprise and a handful of heavyweight private investors. The investment follows a period of rapid growth for听Estendio, supporting an additional 3,000 new students across the UK this year alone.听听
The EdTech company was founded with an initial investment of 拢50,000 in 2015, before going on to turn profits over the last two financial years. The company听has seen听revenue triple and the team expand from听four听to 17 members during the听COVID-19听pandemic听in spite of听a highly disrupted global education market.听听
Present Pal was launched in 2018. The accessible flashcard app is supporting over 5,000 students with disabilities in over 100 colleges and universities across the UK to help increase their confidence and overcome their communication challenges.听
A staggering 93% of university students need to present as part of their university course, however this disproportionately impacts the 300,000 UK students with disabilities, with 86% admitting that they struggle with presenting.听听
“I had to give presentations 2 or 3 times a week as part of my degree. I was getting so frustrated spending hours preparing every week only to forget key information during my presentation,鈥� said Hughes.听
鈥�After reaching out to my disability services, I was told this was a common challenge for disabled students and I was offered the chance to present directly to my lecturer or to skip the presentation altogether.听
鈥�After working so hard to get into university, skipping this key skill wasn’t an option for me, so I made a solution for myself.听听
鈥�I’m incredibly proud that today this tool now supports thousands of presenters in gaining the same experiences and opportunities as their听peers.“听
/rocketing-growth-at-scottish-ecommerce-expert/
The 拢450,000 investment will support the company鈥檚 entry into the North American higher education and school markets.听听
Former听Fanduel听Chairman and听Estendio听Chairman Owen O’Donnell commented on the investment and the impact that this will have on the company鈥檚 future growth.听
鈥淭his funding round is a major milestone for听Estendio. Chris and the team have worked exceptionally hard to create an already profitable business in the UK and this investment will allow听Estendio听to deliver on its international ambitions, as well as reach more students within the UK education system,鈥�听he said.听
Jan Robertson, interim Director of Growth Investments at Scottish Enterprise, said:听鈥�Estendio听has the potential to be Scotland鈥檚 next big digital success story. By building on previous advisory and financial support with fresh investment, we are supporting the company鈥檚 ambitions to develop its products, create jobs, and expand internationally.听听
鈥�In turn, this can encourage the continued growth of Scotland鈥檚 thriving tech sector and have a positive bearing on the country鈥檚 economic recovery.鈥�听
As a result of the rapid expansion,听Estendio听will look to create 15 further roles in marketing, software development and sales within Scotland this year, doubling its headcount again to over 30 employees.听