Launched in Germany at the end of the pandemic, Knowunity accelerates its international development by focusing on an artificial learning intelligence cut for generation Z.
Only 17 years old at the time of Knowunity’s creation in 2020, Benedict Kurz embodies a new generation of native tech founders, both users, designers and prescribers. It is as a student himself that he identifies the limits of the traditional education system and the need for learning adapted to the uses of his generation.
The promise is to offer each student a learning companion who adapts to their level, pace and preferences. No more professorial verticality, make way for a model based on personalization, reciprocity and autonomy. “” Artificial intelligence will deeply upset the education system by allowing personalized, more efficient and less expensive learning for each student “Consives Benedict Kurz, Managing Director of Knowunity.
The platform, already adopted by more than 20 million users in 15 countries, offers content generated by a community of 380,000 students. Content developed in peers, in short format, optimized for mobile and inspired by Tiktok codes. Unlike traditional models, Knowunity is part of a logic of co-construction. “The model of a teacher for 30 students is exceeded and is no longer suitable for the majority,” judges Kurz. “Generation Z wants to learn in a digital, personalized way, at its own pace and with short formats. This is exactly what we offer. »»
The company now intends to strengthen its owner AI, capable of recommending files, creating quiz, planning revisions and explaining complex oral concepts. Ultimately, the application aims to become a global educational interface, accessible free of charge in developed countries as in areas where the education system remains faulty. “” In five years, each student will have a personal IA companion, who knows him better than anyone and accompanies him in a motivating way “Kurz anticipates.
The adoption accelerates in particular in Latin America, where Knowunity claims to have touched one student out of ten in just a few months, and reached in Germany nearly one in three students. This organic growth is largely based on network effects within classes and on the virality of social formats. The company thus combines a strong community effect on a freemium economic model, which includes a free version, a premium offer, and B2B services for companies such as Vodafone, Gothaer or Porsche.
A global race for educational AI
The global Edtech market is in profound change from the pandemic, with a massive reorientation towards hybrid learning and applied artificial intelligence solutions. According to Holoniq, global investments in educational technologies should reach $ 400 billion by 2030, drawn in particular by personalized learning demand in emerging countries and the development of the mobile-native generation.
Knowunity is positioned in the strong growth subcategory of “Ai Learning Companions”. These personalized learning agents, capable of adapting content, rhythm and feedback, and which redesign the traditional role of the teacher. In this, the Berlin startup enters into direct competition with actors like Khanmigo (The AI assistant launched by Khan Academy with Openai), Brainly (Polish educational community in IA moderation), or Socratic (Bought by Google, now integrated into Google Lens).
In the same European Edtech ecosystem, actors as Didask which has also just raised 10 million euros, occupy a similar subcategory parallel subcategory of Professional and higher educationby proposing an educational AI intended to structure tailor -made learning paths for companies and institutions.
Knowunity announces a fundraising of 27 million euros in series B. This round table was led by the European Xange fund, based in Paris and Berlin, alongside new investors and historic actors such as Educapital, Portfolion, Isomer, Project A and Redalpine. Business angels, including the entrepreneur Verena Pausder and Arthur Kosten (co -founder of Booking.com), also participated.
Knowunity was created in 2020 by Benedict Kurz (CEO), Gregor Weber (CPO), Lucas Hild (CTO) and Yannik Prigl (Backend manager).
