Gizmo, a London-based AI learning platform, has raised $22 million in a Series A funding round. The company was co-founded by three University of Cambridge graduates, Petros Christodoulou, Robin Jack, and Paul Evangelou, who built it around a straightforward premise: the same AI techniques that make social media impossible to put down could work just as well for studying.

For most teenagers and young adults, the experience of sitting down to study has not changed much. They still work through notes alone, trying to concentrate while their phones compete for attention with a constant stream of optimised content. As of May 2025, 84% of high school students reported using generative AI tools for schoolwork, yet very few study platforms have been designed from the start to match the engagement levels those students already expect from the apps they use every day.

Shine Capital led the Series A. Ada Ventures, Seek Investments, GSV, and NFX also participated. NFX had previously led Gizmo’s $3.5 million seed round.

The Market Gizmo Is Entering

The global AI in education market was valued at $5.88 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach $32.27 billion by 2030, a compound annual growth rate of 31.2%. Demand for personalised, adaptive learning experiences is one of the main forces behind that growth. Gizmo currently serves more than 13 million learners across 120 countries, and the platform has become a regular part of the study routine for many of its users.

“Gizmo has cracked something that’s eluded consumer learning for years: organic, student-driven engagement at massive scale. Thirteen million users have chosen Gizmo to transform dense subjects into interactive, personalized, and high-reward experiences, driving real outcomes in a way students love. We see Gizmo as the defining learning platform for the next generation of students and lifelong learners, and we’re thrilled to be backing Petros, Robin, and Paul as they scale it globally.”

Ethan Daly, General Partner at Shine Capital

Gizmo’s approach borrows from consumer app design. Rather than presenting study materials as static content to be absorbed, the platform uses the same mechanics found in social apps, personalisation, instant feedback, social interaction, and rewards, applied to learning instead.

How Gizmo Plans to Use the $22 Million

The funding will primarily go toward hiring engineers and AI specialists. Gizmo is also targeting the US college market as its next major growth area, while continuing to develop the product and deepen use among its existing international user base.

“We’re not fighting for less screen time — we’re fighting for better screen time. People aren’t addicted to their phones; they’re addicted to progress, novelty, social connection, and reward. Gizmo redirects that energy toward something that builds their future. With this funding, we’re doubling down on making learning the most engaging and rewarding thing on your phone.”

Petros Christodoulou, CEO and co-founder, Gizmo

Gizmo’s stated long-term goal is to reach one billion learners. Getting there will mean maintaining product quality at a much larger scale while demonstrating that the engagement the platform creates leads to real academic results, not just time spent on the app.

How the Platform Works

Gizmo was founded in 2021 and is based in London. Students upload their own materials, notes, documents, or web links, and the platform converts them into interactive study content within seconds. That includes customised flashcards, adaptive quizzes, and gamified challenges. Built-in social features allow students to study alongside friends, compete on leaderboards, and hold each other to account.

The three co-founders each bring a different area of expertise. Christodoulou serves as CEO, Robin Jack as CTO, and Paul Evangelou as CPO. Their backgrounds in education, computer science, and AI engineering shaped how the platform was built. Today it is used by secondary school students preparing for GCSEs in the UK, undergraduates in the US, and working professionals in countries like the Philippines who are building skills in competitive fields. That spread across age groups and education systems points to a product that works in more than one context.

The Investors Behind the Round

NFX was the first institutional backer, leading Gizmo’s $3.5 million seed round. Its return for the Series A, alongside Shine Capital, Ada Ventures, Seek Investments, and GSV, signals continued confidence in the direction of the company.

“We believed in Gizmo’s potential early, because it was built on a combination of deep technical expertise, sharp product instinct, and commitment to innovation. The team has built an AI-native product that removes friction from learning while creating network effects as more students contribute to and learn from the platform. Petros, Robin, and Paul are focused on making sure people benefit from AI and achieve their potential, and we’re excited to continue supporting them as they expand.”

Pete Flint, General Partner at NFX

Origianl Creator: Ekaterina Pisareva
Original Link: https://justainews.com/companies/funding-news/gizmo-secures-22m-series-a-for-ai-learning-platform/
Originally Posted: Thu, 16 Apr 2026 08:49:09 +0000