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Cairo-based ed-tech startup, Orcas, has secured $2.1 million in a funding round led by institutional investors, as it prepares to unlock increased value through its live learning capabilities for schools and teachers in Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan.
Orcas is an Egyptian live learning ed-tech startup with active operations in the Middle East and North Africa.
The startup was co-founded in 2019 by Egyptian tech entrepreneurs Hossam Taher and Amira El Gharib to offer online and in-person tutoring and courses for students, as well as personalized learning plans, learning-style assessments and practice assignments.
Its recently completed pre-Series-A funding round was co-led by CIRA’s NFX Ventures and Access Bridge Ventures.
The round saw participation from leading Egyptian tech VC firm, Algebra Ventures, as well as Launch Africa Ventures, a pan-African VC fund looking to resolve the significant funding gap in the seed and pre-Series A investment landscape for African startups.
Orcas noted that the $2.1-million capital injection will be deployed to develop its technology, hire new talent and expand into new markets in the Middle East and North Africa, as its technology needs to be customizable and also scalable to smoothly operate in different markets.
In line with its growth and expansion strategy, the ed-tech startup is on course to kickstart operations in Pakistan in early 2022. It is also looking to expand into Saudi Arabia in the current year, as it prepares to create increased value through its integrated learning platform and its product offerings.
Orcas CEO Hossam Taher said: “Learners today have different needs that ed-tech companies must cater to. For that reason, we have evolved into a learning platform that offers the complete spectrum of teacher-led and self-paced learning environments.”
While commenting on the capital injection, Taher said it will place Orcas in the right position to continue building its tech product, attract talent and expand into new geographies in MENAP.
Aly El Shalakany, CEO of the Cairo Angels Syndicate Fund, one of Orcas’ investors, said: “We are very proud of Orcas’ performance so far, and we are confident that with this latest investment they will continue to be market leaders within the space and will now be able to add more exciting educational solutions using cutting edge technology and to bring these products to new markets.”
