US-based educational assistance software developer ThinkCerca raised $10.1m in series B funding on Wednesday from investors including education services provider TAL Education and educational product supplier Follett Corporation.
The round also featured investment partnership Plum Alley Investments and angel investors including Scott Cook and Signe Ostby, while Follett took part through Follett Knowledge Fund, the unit it formed with corporate venture capital partner Atrium Capital.
ThinkCerca has built a software platform that utilises argumentative writing to stimulate the critical thinking skills of students aged eight to 18. Teachers can select appropriate lessons for each student’s reading level, before engaging the whole class in critical debate on the overall theme.
The cash will be used to further commercialise ThinkCerca’s argumentative products, which the company claims can help the average pupil attain an additional two years of academic growth.
Follett Knowledge Fund led the company’s $3.2m series A round in 2015, which included Amicus Capital, Math Venture Partners, Great Oaks Venture Capital and Chuck Templeton, an angel investor that also participated in the latest round.
Templeton had previously taken part in a $1.5m seed round for ThinkCerca in June 2014 that was also backed by Abundant Ventures and other angel investors.