2023 North America EdTech 200

The North America EdTech 200 is HolonIQ's annual list of the most promising EdTech startups from North America.

Broad access to generative AI sees a spike in new forms of digital content for EdTech solutions in this year’s cohort, while digital infrastructure for learning maintains strength as incumbents seek to service the learner lifecycle as a trusted partner to institutions. The bounce back to international study sees financing solutions grow. North America’s mature EdTech landscape favors companies with a solid track record with only 13% of companies founded less than 3 years ago.

The drive for student retention and success is in focus with the ‘experiencing learning’ category strong - including immersive learning, gamification and voice and chat offerings.

The North America EdTech 200 is focused on identifying young, fast growing and innovative learning, teaching and up-skilling startups in Canada and the United States. Powered by data and insights from our Impact Intelligence Platform together with qualitative assessments by HolonIQ’s Intelligence Unit, and local market experts in each region, organizations are evaluated and scored based on our eligibility and assessment criteria.

Exhibit 1

Download the Market Map. Companies are categorized by their main area of focus following the globallearninglandscape.org. Categories in the market map are not mutually exclusive.

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HolonIQ’s 2023 North America EdTech 200 is aligned to the Global Learning Landscape, an Open-Source Taxonomy that maps the education and talent market.

Exhibit 2

The impact of advanced technology is evident in education content solutions and learning experience offerings.

Startups operating in the workforce sector make up 40% of this year's list, with a greater focus on online learning and digital content solutions as the impact of artificial intelligence also makes its mark on EdTech. Startups such as Elicit, an AI research assistant that helps answer questions, Eightfold AI, a talent intelligence platform, Ello, an AI reading coach and research-based digital tool for reading improvement (BeeReader), illustrating the breadth of artificial intelligence applications in education.

Digital infrastructure for learning is strengthened as education systems seek trusted solutions that cover the learner lifecycle, with startups focusing on Community building (Yellowdig), digital mental health (TimelyCare) and curriculum planning tools (Coursedog), or in the workforce sector, those such as Skilljar and Workramp provide customer training platforms for enterprises or YOOBIC, focusing on the deskless workforce. Skills intelligence assessment platforms (Quanthub, Workera) and workforce impact platforms (Learnie) gain traction in this year’s list, with immersive learning solutions increasingly accepted and accessible (Sol Reader, Dreamscape Learn, PrismsVR).

Exhibit 3

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Direct-to-Consumer business models offer solutions in all sectors.

Direct-to-consumer start-ups in this year’s list are spread across workforce, K12 and higher education. In workforce upskilling solutions provide tech training (Cybrary, 10ten, Uplimit) and career guidance & placement (Handshake, Career Karma, Passage). In higher education, financing solutions (Summer, Gradright, MPower) and admissions (Halp) dominate, while in K12, STEAM, Tutoring and SEL dominate (Mathtalk, Robin, YaizY).

B2B models support institutions with curriculum, delivery and management of courses including those offering digital learning platforms (Engageli, Riipen, Class) or opportunities to share curriculum (Acadeum) are included in this category.

Exhibit 4

Over half of the 2023 cohort are 7+ years with 13% founded in or post pandemic.

Mature startups with an established customer base and trusted by their markets have done well this year as we see M&A activity with more early stage startups faltering. Startups established during or after COVID-19 include personalized college search (Loper), problem solving apps (Sizzle.ai), 1:1 tutoring (Ignite! reading) or those aimed at training frontline teams (ReflexAI). B2B solutions founded less than three years ago are focused on critical needs such as apprenticeship management (Builtwithin) or AI supported teacher efficiency tools (MagicSchool AI).

Exhibit 5

Track the 2023 Cohort

HolonIQ customers can track the data for the most promising EdTech startups in North America on the HolonIQ Intelligence Platform. Look for the 2023 North America EdTech 200 list and double click into the data behind the charts. Request a Demo if you are not a customer and would like to learn more.