AI optimizes learning on an individual basis] atama plus raises approximately 5.1 billion yen in funding.

Aiming to shorten the time required to acquire "basic academic skills" and increase the time required to cultivate "the ability to live in society," atama plus offers "atama+," which uses AI to optimize learning on an individual basis, to cram schools and prep schools nationwide. The system has been introduced by the Sundai Group, Zukai Group, and others, and in the four years since it was launched in July 2017, the number of schools that have introduced the system has grown to more than 2,500.
 

In the Corona disaster, the company has developed atama+ Web version, which can be used at home, to help students continue their studies. In addition, in July 2020, the company began offering an online mock exam that allows students to review immediately after taking the exam, and in December, together with Ritsumeikan, launched a joint research group to study entrance exam planning using atama+ learning data.

This funding will enable us to speed up product development and strengthen our customer support system to deliver a better learning experience to more students. In addition, by investing in marketing activities, the company aims to increase awareness and usage of atama+ among students and parents.

New Investor Comments

Pavilion Capital / Head Japan Investments CHOUN Chee Kong

The demand for EdTech is further increasing due to the Corona Disaster, and EdTech unicorn companies are emerging one after another from Asia. We look forward to following in their footsteps and seeing atama plus grow rapidly as a globally viable startup and become an indispensable resource for students not only in Japan, but around the world."

T. Rowe Price/Portforlio Manager Archibald Ciganer

We believe that atama plus is a startup with the potential to expand into areas other than the gakushu-juku market in the future. In Japan, we believe that atama plus will become the market leader and change the education industry significantly."

Existing Investor Comments

DCM Ventures / Japan Representative Chusuke Honda

I believe that the company's continued efforts to maintain a strong organization and culture to realize its mission has earned it the trust of various stakeholders and is the source of its competitiveness. We expect the company to grow into one of Japan's leading startups, and that is why we have invested in it for the third time, continuing from the seed round."

Tomotake Kitazawa, Partner, Jafco Group

Atama plus has continued to deliver good products by working sincerely with students and cram/preparatory schools as it has done since we last invested in the company. We continue to invest in atama plus because of its quick response to the changes in the Corona Disaster environment and its continued business growth that exceeds our expectations. We look forward to seeing them become a major force in changing education in Japan."

About New Investors

About Pavilion Capital
A private equity fund under Singapore's Temasek Holdings. One of the most highly regarded investment firms in the world, it invests mainly in Asia and owns a wide network of companies.
 
About T. Rowe Price
T. Rowe Price is a global asset management firm based in Baltimore, USA, with $1.62 trillion under management as of the end of June 2021. So far, it has invested in the overseas EdTech space in India's Byju's, and in Japan in Sansan and freee since before they went public.

About AI Sensei "atama+".

AI identifies the root causes of stumbling blocks and creates a "personalized curriculum" tailored to each individual. In 2020, the company received the Grand Prize, the highest award, at the Japan e-Learning Awards (sponsored by e-Learning Initiative Japan, supported by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, and others), which selects outstanding e-learning services in Japan. The Grand Prize, the highest award, was given to the company.

Corresponding grades and subject areas:
High school students = Mathematics, English, Physics, Chemistry, Biology
Junior High School Students = Mathematics, English, Science, Social Studies
Elementary school = arithmetic

About atama plus Inc.

With the mission of "The next possibility for education, people, and society The company's mission is to use technology to shorten the time required to acquire basic academic skills and to increase the time required to develop the "ability to thrive in society". Currently, the company is developing an AI teacher "atama+ (AI)" that optimizes education for each student.https://www.atama.plus/) to more than 2,500 cram schools and prep schools nationwide (as of the end of June 2021).