APPRENNET: ApprenNet announced today that it has received $1.8 million in a financing round led by Martellus Holding. According to ApprenNet’s CEO Paul Freedman, the money will be used to double the size of the team, with a focus on product development and customer outreach. This summer has been a busy one for ApprenNet, which in July announced a merger with HandsFreeLearning, a tool that allows students to control training videos with their voice, freeing up hands to practice the skills being taught.
ApprenNet was founded in 2011 and teaches skills for a variety of audiences, including teachers and higher-ed students as well as healthcare and hospitality workers. In a typical ApprenNet lesson, students are challenged to practice certain skills. They record themselves demonstrating proficiency in the skill and share this video with other learners. Students then review each others’ videos, and leave comments on how to improve skills further.
A long list of other investors participated in the deal, including the Jefferson Education Fund, the Education Design Studio, in collaboration with the Graduate School of Education at the University of Pennsylvania, 1776, Abbhi Capital, Apollo Education Ventures, Ben Franklin Technology Partners, Palm Ventures, and New Ground Ventures.
