Zen Educate Scores a £5.6 m Funding Boost
On Tuesday, the UK’s go‑to digital staffing platform for schools and teachers, Zen Educate, announced it closed a £5.6 million round led by Brighteye Ventures, Europe’s biggest EdTech VC. Existing backers, Adjuvo (a UK investment syndicate) and Nick Hungerford (founder of online investment platform Nutmeg), also chipped in.
What’s the plan?
- Secure Zen Educate’s foothold in London and push into Manchester.
- Scale the platform from 10% of London schools to an additional 2,000 schools.
- Recruit 20,000 more teachers.
- Grow the team from 20 people to 60 by year‑end.
- Keep investing in the award‑winning “match algorithm,” which smartly pairs short‑term and long‑term roles.
Why Zen Educate Matters
Since its 2017 launch, Zen Educate has become a one‑stop shop for schools that need to fill roles fast and cost‑effectively—no more juggling agencies or “pen and paper.” It’s the only online platform accredited by the DfE Supply Teacher Framework. Schools using it routinely save 20‑30 % on supply cover costs, and the system has already saved the UK education sector £600 k. The company is shooting for a £2 m savings target by year‑end.
CEO Slava Kremerman told reporters:
“UK schools are under massive financial pressure right now. That’s why we’re laser‑focused on cutting supply cover costs so schools can spend more on what really matters—our children—rather than agency fees. By removing the middleman, teachers and schools can cover absences with ease, cut uncertainty, boost wages and save money.”
He also saw the funding as an opportunity to expand the long‑term hire offering and deliver a “holistic digital solution” for every hiring need. “We’re aiming to save the education system £100 m a year by 2024,” he added.
Brighteye Clips In
Brighteye’s inaugural fund closed in 2017 with €50 m, and they’re now backing Zen Educate as its ambitions grow. Partner Ben Wirz said:
“This capital injection is a testament to Zen Educate’s strength and the keen insight of its team. The staffing industry still relies on tired, expensive ‘pen and paper’ practices—schools and teachers deserve a 21st‑century fit‑for‑purpose solution. Zen Educate solves real pain points, and we’re thrilled to help them seize market share and generate powerful network effects across their platform.”
With this round, Zen Educate has set the highest ever funding total for a teacher‑recruitment tech business outside the US.
