Virtual language learning offered by PandaTree
California-based edtech PandaTree has raised $1.5m in a seed funding round led by Michael Dearing of Harrison Metals. The company offers online personalised learning using virtual reality as part of a standardised curriculum, enabling children to learn Spanish and Mandarin in an interactive, engaging environment. Students can also receive live one-to-one sessions with a tutor. PandaTree aims to add more languages to its curriculum in the future.

PandaTree, a Palo Alto, CA-based language learning company, secured $1.5m in seed funding.

The round was led by Michael Dearing of Harrison Metals with Randy Ching of UP2398.

The company has reached a total of $2m invested with the earlier funding coming from Precursor Ventures and Nanjing Sunflower.

Led by Rich Matsuura, co-founder and product lead, and Kristina Klausen, founder and CEO, PandaTree provides a foreign language learning platform which allows students to talk via live video with their tutor, while interacting with a proprietary, standards-based language curriculum.

The WebRTC-based platform supports an interactive and fully integrated curriculum. During lessons students can be doing a virtual 3D tour of a Mayan ruin or the Great Wall of China with their tutor, working on a project, or playing a game.

With PandaTree, parents can schedule 25 or 50-minute online lessons with the tutor they choose, at the times that are convenient for them. Tutors go through a rigorous hiring process that includes test sessions with real kids, and background checks.

They use PandaTree’s curriculum, but tailor the topics and pace to each child for optimized individual learning. Mandarin and Spanish are currently offered, with additional languages planned for the future.

FinSMEs

02/11/2017