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§ Private Profile · Munich, Germany
StudySmarter is a technology company.
StudySmarter develops an intelligent learning platform that leverages AI to enhance educational outcomes for students globally. The company’s core offering provides personalized study tools, including dynamically generated flashcards, summaries, and practice questions, designed to optimize information retention and comprehension. This technology-driven approach aims to streamline the study process, making learning more efficient and accessible for a diverse student base.
The company was founded in 2018 by Christian Felgenhauer, Maurice Khudhir, Simon Hohentanner, and Till Söhlemann, emerging from their academic experiences at TU Munich and LMU. Their founding insight stemmed from a shared recognition of the inefficiencies and frustrations often associated with traditional studying methods. This led them to develop a solution that integrates advanced algorithms to create a more structured and supportive learning environment.
StudySmarter primarily serves university and school students seeking to improve their academic performance and study habits. The platform’s vision centers on transforming the global educational landscape by making high-quality, personalized learning resources available to everyone. It endeavors to empower learners to achieve their full potential by continuously adapting and innovating its educational technology offerings.
StudySmarter has raised $47.7M across 3 funding rounds.
StudySmarter has raised $47.7M in total across 3 funding rounds.
StudySmarter has raised $47.7M across 3 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $16.0M Other Equity in October 2021.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 15, 2021 | $16M Venture Round | Eric J. KIM | — | Announced |
| May 1, 2021 | $31M Series A | OWL Ventures | 2XN, A7V, AENU, Alpine Ventures, ByFounders, Creandum, Energize Ventures, Goodwater Capital, GreenPoint Partners, Jonathan Becker, HealthQuest Capital, Left Lane Capital, NextGen Venture Partners, Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan, Ilya Kondrashov, Jeppe Rindom, Lars Fjeldsoe Nielsen, Dieter VON Holtzbrinck Ventures | Announced |
| Dec 1, 2018 | $700K Seed | — | — | Announced |
StudySmarter is a Munich-based EdTech company founded in 2017 (with platform launch in 2018) that builds an AI-powered, content-agnostic learning platform for lifelong learning.[1][2][3] It serves millions of students and learners worldwide—over 30 million users as of late 2024—by enabling them to create, access, and collaborate on study materials like flashcards, notes, quizzes, and personalized learning plans, solving the problem of fragmented, inefficient revision across multiple apps.[1][2][3][4] Key features include AI-driven tools for spaced repetition, active recall, natural language processing to generate interactive aids from uploaded content (e.g., lecture slides), and adaptive study recommendations, with strong growth evidenced by 1.5 million users by 2021, recognition as Germany's top EdTech startup, and recent expansions like the 2024 launch of StudySmarter Deals for student discounts from brands like Apple and Amazon.[1][3][4]
StudySmarter emerged in 2017 in Munich, Germany, as an intelligent platform to digitize learning, officially launching in 2018 amid rising demand for personalized EdTech tools.[1][2][3] While specific founders are not detailed in available sources, the company quickly gained traction with a 50/50 split of higher education and K-12 users in DACH regions, reaching 1.5 million learners by 2021 and securing $15 million in funding for global expansion into personalized learning.[3] Pivotal moments include AI integration for automated content creation and progress tracking, community-driven content sharing, and recent innovations like StudySmarter Deals in December 2024, reflecting user feedback on financial student challenges.[4] This evolution from regional tool to global platform with over 400 employees underscores its rapid scaling.[2]
(Note: A separate U.S.-based "Study Smarter" entity in Oakland, California, founded in 1997 by Joel Kosakoff, offers traditional tutoring and test prep; it is distinct from the German StudySmarter platform.[5][6])
StudySmarter rides the AI-driven EdTech boom, capitalizing on post-pandemic shifts to digital lifelong learning for pupils, students, and professionals amid global education digitization.[1][2][3] Timing aligns with surging demand for personalized tools—evidenced by competitors like Quizlet (valued at $1B) and investors betting on lifelong learning mainstreaming—fueled by market forces like remote education needs, AI advancements in NLP, and financial pressures on students (addressed via Deals).[3][4] It influences the ecosystem by democratizing high-quality, adaptive content creation, reducing reliance on fragmented apps, and fostering community-driven resources, positioning Munich as an EdTech hub while competing with U.S./UK players like Quizlet and Gizmo.[1][3]
StudySmarter is poised for continued global dominance in AI-EdTech, with next steps likely including deeper AI enhancements, B2B expansions for corporate training, and monetization via premium features/Deals integrations amid 30M+ user growth.[2][3][4] Trends like generative AI for content and VR/AR immersion will shape its path, potentially amplifying influence as EdTech valuations soar, evolving from student revision tool to comprehensive lifelong platform—empowering learners as promised since its Munich origins.[1][2]
StudySmarter has raised $47.7M in total across 3 funding rounds.
StudySmarter's investors include Eric J. Kim, Owl Ventures, 2xN, A7V, AENU, Alpine Ventures, byFounders, Creandum, Energize Ventures, Goodwater Capital, GreenPoint Partners, Jonathan Becker.