Edtech startup PlayAblo raises $600K

By Disha Sharma

  • 19 Jul 2017

Bengaluru-based PlayAblo, which seeks to engage school students through gamified learning solutions, has raised $600,000 from ABI-Showatech (India) Ltd, the company said.

The edtech startup, which is owned by GoSharp Technology & Consulting Pvt. Ltd, will use the capital to upgrade its technology platform and optimise product development initiatives, besides investing in infrastructure to increase sales.

PlayAblo was founded in 2012 by NIT Calicut alumnus Dheeraj Sharma, who had previously worked with iGate and Genpact.

Sharma said the money will help the company grow further. “PlayAblo can make substantial impact on the entire education ecosystem both at the primary school level as well as for skill development of young adults.”

At present, the company is focussed on three segments. While PlayAblo at Home offers English and maths lessons for six to 12 year olds in a fun environment, PlayAblo for Schools is a platform that seeks to position itself as the official learning app for partner schools. Playablo for Skill Development offers training modules in English to bridge the skill gap and empower the youth from Tier II and Tier III cities.

Media conglomerate Times Group’s ad-for-equity investment subsidiary Brand Capital had invested in the startup last November through its accelerator-cum-seed-funding arm Brand Accelerator.

Vadodara-based online math learning startup Math Buddy, too, had raised an undisclosed amount of seed money from Menterra Social Impact Fund during the same time. The startup offers virtual math labs and interactive products to help children learn mathematics in a school environment.

Bengaluru-based edtech company Think & Learn Pvt. Ltd, which runs Byju’s, was looking for acquisition opportunities. It was reportedly in talks with US-based gaming and learning platforms that would cater to the needs of students at lower grades, including kindergarten.