digedu Secures $2.5 Million in Funding

CHICAGO, Jan. 7, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- digedu™, a fast-growing digital education innovator focused on transitioning schools from textbooks to technology, announced today the close of a new round of funding totaling $2.5 million. The investments will fuel further expansion into public and private schools in major metropolitan areas. The primary investor was 7wire Ventures, a Chicago investment group. Technology entrepreneurs Glen Tullman and Lee Shapiro lead 7wire, which focuses on supporting new business models that solve society's most pressing problems, particularly in education and healthcare.

digedu is a Learning Engine that was created in response to the striking disconnect between the typical classroom environment and the technology-enriched world outside of schools. By combining intelligent technology and dynamic curriculum in a simple format, digedu empowers teachers to design and deliver personalized, interactive, and measurable learning experiences for today's tech-savvy student. Students now can engage with teachers, peers and learning materials at anytime and on any device including their mobile phones.

Following more than two years of research, development and pilot programs inside of elementary, middle and high schools in Chicago and Washington, D.C., digedu began offering the Learning Engine to the market in 2013. Schools in 12 states currently utilize digedu.

digedu contains a vast library of customizable content designed and tested by award-winning educators. With digedu, teachers can tailor learning experiences simply and efficiently. Importantly, administrators eliminate costly textbooks and overall inefficiency by providing teachers with one simple platform to incorporate any online resource and to deliver dynamic instruction and testing for any type of learner.

"Every student learns differently, yet classrooms are taught in only one way. Teachers rely on very costly textbooks that are often years out-of-date and incapable of catering to unique learning needs," said Matt Tullman, digedu President. "Technology addresses these fundamental challenges in schools, but meaningful use in the classroom requires much more than a tablet. We create a learning ecosystem that is available on any device, any time, anywhere. That frees teachers to teach and students to learn, at their own pace, with more comprehension and more engagement."

digedu provides teachers real-time analytical tools that offer a detailed understanding of student achievement and standards-alignment for each grade, classroom, and student.

Irasema Salcido, CEO & Founder, Cesar Chavez Public Charter Schools for Public Policy (Washington, DC), chose to incorporate digedu in her schools after witnessing the advancements made by students during a pilot last year. "Technology is moving so fast. To prepare our students for success in college and their career, they need access to the latest technology in the classroom now," Salcido said.

"While every other industry in our economy has embraced and improved because of technology, our education system continues to operate in the same outdated manner," said 7wire Ventures Managing Partner Lee Shapiro.  "This has to change so our students can quickly learn the skills necessary to succeed in the global, digital economy.  digedu offers a Learning Engine that meets that need."

About digedu
digedu empowers teachers to design and deliver personalized, interactive, and measurable learning experiences.  With access to a collaborative network of award-winning educators who share more than 3,000 Common Core-aligned lessons, digedu gives teachers and students a world of limitless possibilities at their fingertips. For more information visit www.digedu.co

About 7wire Ventures
7wire Ventures looks for and invests in innovative ideas and entrepreneurs that mainly address three critical areas: health care, education, and energy. Through the creation of new businesses, investments in early and growth stage companies, and by complementing funds with insight and experience, we transform great ideas into world-class companies. For more information please visit our website at www.7wireventures.com or like us on Facebook.

MEDIA CONTACT: Eileen Rochford, [email protected], 312/953-3305

SOURCE digedu