brazilian edtech, gama academy, raises us$710,000 to boost its program
Contxto – Edtech Gama Academy raised an investment for R$3 million (over US$710,000) and made the announcement this week. The round was led by São Paulo’s Smart Money Ventures.
This startup offers programs to people and companies looking to hone their skills in software development, UX/UI design, sales, and marketing.
Gama Academy reportedly grew at a rate of 200 percent last year but in order to feed its expansion throughout Brazil, the startup sought out investors.
In order to triple its revenue, the investment will be used to develop new online courses, as well as expand its program to more cities in Brazil. Correspondingly, new hires for the startup are expected for its tech and education teams, jumping from its current 30 employees to 70 by the end of 2020.
Gama Academy offers a gamma of learning options
Guilherme Junqueira launched Gama Academy in 2016. The founding of the startup was in response to the growing number of startups looking for individuals with the right skillsets for digital environments.
And it’s created various educational models to tend to different markets and learning needs.
One model is for individual learners and it breaks into two categories. First, there’s a fully-online option for beginners that lasts around three months and costs R$1,000 (about US$236).
Then, there’s the “hybrid” option for intermediate learners. Classes are held part-time during weekdays and students must attend in-person on Saturdays. It costs around R$2,000 (about US$473).
Gama Academy also hosts learning models for businesses to better train their staff. Consequently, the startup created a white-label program that companies can adapt to their recruitment processes. This enables them to train candidates for much-needed positions in sales and software development.
Moreover, something innovative this startup brings about is online mentoring. A perk that’s useful as mentors can give you useful insights to grow professionally.
It may also suggest Gama Academy’s interest in following up with its students’ progress and network building.
The edtech has the likes of iFood, Mercado Libre in Brazil, and Stone in its customer portfolio.
The biggest edtech in Latam?
Junqueira stated that they wish to be the largest digital skills group in Latin America.
And the competition in this field is brewing up to be a fierce one. There’s Peruvian Laboratoria and Crehana, Colombian Platzi. Now let’s add Brazilian Gama Academy to the list shall we?
This latest contender may have more room to fight the good fight in its native country given its leg up language-wise. Although I’d like to see how they fare in the rest of the region should they ever expand beyond Brazil.
May the best edtech win.
Related articles: Tech and startups in Brazil!
-ML
