Ludenso, an augmented-reality educational platform provider based in Oslo, Norway, has raised $1M in seed funding. FERD led the round, and will be joined as investors by Kahoot! founders Johan Brand and Jamie Brooker, Atomico Angel Fund, and various angels, including Anne Lise Waal (CTO of VR-platform Attensi).
On an expansion spree
The funds will be used to expand throughout Europe and the United Kingdom in order to solidify the company’s position as an AR platform for educational publishers.
Ludenso, founded in 2021 by Eirik Wahlstrm, Harald Manheim, and Ingrid Skrede, provides an app that allows students to scan textbook pages and see their learning resources come to life.
Teachers who use Ludenso-supported material in their classrooms report that the platform better engages students who struggle to read traditional materials, addressing the issue of student engagement, which is a problem for four-in-five (79%) Americans who struggle to stay motivated while studying.
Partnerships
Ludenso collaborated with a number of Scandinavian institutions, including the University of Oslo, to develop its platform, which is now used by every 6 to 16-year-old in Norway studying science as part of the company’s partnership with leading academic publisher Aschehoug.
In addition, the company collaborates with SAGE, a publishing house, to enhance its content for nursing students, and is responsible for the UK’s first AR-enabled revision guides, PG Online.
Ludenso’s CEO Eirik Wahlstrøm said, “One of the things that motivates me the most is seeing the “a-ha” moment from students accompanied by a big smile. 3D and AR is an amazing tool to explore and learn about concepts that are hard to visualize, such as how the heart is pumping or how the earth’s geomagnetic fields are working. This funding will enable us to impact millions of students with more engaging and active learning experiences in the years to come!”
Johan Brand, founder of Kahoot! and investor said, “For too long, educational content has been stale and lacking excitement. In spite of incredible innovations elsewhere, the world of academia has often felt like an afterthought. When I was introduced to Ludenso, I knew I had to be involved. The team is on to something very special, creating real pedagogical value for educators and learners.”
FERD’s CEO Morten Borge added, “We are excited to challenge the status quo on how students learn alongside the impact-driven team at Ludenso and follow their journey on equalizing learning opportunities through catering to the different learning needs with Augmented Reality.”