Welcome To Sharia's Monthly Newsletter - February
For those interested in: EdTech, Health, and Sustainability.
Hey there! Every month I will be highlighting market trends, startup spotlights, funding opportunities, and upcoming events. My goal is to inform people on topics I am deeply passionate about in the hopes that it is also somewhat helpful to you.
I’ll try to keep it as simple as possible and if you would like to discuss more, please feel free to reach out via Twitter.
EdTech, Health, and Sustainability
We are already seeing a rising shift in Mental Health Teletherapy, Co-Hort Based Learning, more conscious and healthy life/business choices. Here is a recap of the current market for education and health:
📚Current Reads
The COVID generation: how is the pandemic affecting kids’ brains?
“Some babies born during the past two years might be experiencing developmental delays, whereas others might have thrived if carers were at home for extended periods and there were more opportunities for siblings to interact.”
If creative play wasn’t already a priority, it is now more than ever. With the rise of gross motor and developmental delays, we will see a need for affordable therapy at home and in schools.
DOE Invests $13.4 Million to Combat Plastic Waste, Reduce Plastic Industry Emissions
TDA Research Inc. (Wheat Ridge, CO) will develop infinitely recyclable and biodegradable films for improved food packaging. (Award Amount: $1,609,056)
NFT in Edu: What Does the Future Hold?
“Mark Cuban, a billionaire and investor on NFT platforms, believes that textbooks will become part of the NFT experience. Digital textbooks can be resold and royalties can be collected for each resale.”
💫 Startup Spotlights
4/6 of the startups I’ve highlighted are specifically in Early Childhood/Pediatric care. Why am I addressing early childhood education and pediatric care for EdTech? When we think of EdTech, it’s a very broad sector compared to the other sectors. It’s often overlooked. As humans evolve, our choices should and the choices we make should be to create a better world. How can we create a better world, if we do not start in the early years?
Storybook App Founded by Daniela Vega and Francisco Cornejo
Storybook is an app that promotes and guides parents using bedtime stories, incorporating massages to improve sleep in babies and children.
$1.5M in Seed (2021)
Expressable Founded by Leanne Sherred and Nicholas Barbara
A teletherapy service, specifically for speech therapy targeting children.
Raised 15M in Series A (February 2022)
Little Otter Founded by Dr. Helen Egger
A pediatric mental health company that focuses on the mental health of young children ages 0-14 and their families
Raised $22M in Series A (January 2022)
Alaffia Health Founded by TJ Ademiluyi
A healthtech company that is using proprietary AI technology to eliminate overpayments on medical claims.
Raised $5M in Seed (February 2022)
Bodhi Founded by Scott Nguyen
A clean energy software company that uses behavioral science, design thinking, and data automation to focus on executing projects, making more sales, and transforming communities around energy.
Raised $4M in Seed (January 2022)
Novoloop Founded by Jeanny Yao and Miranda Wang
A company focused on transforming plastic waste into high-performance chemicals and materials. Novoloop claims that this breaks down polyethylene (the most widely used plastic today) into chemical building blocks that can be synthesized into high-value products.
Raised $11M in Series A (February 2022)
💸 Funding
EdTech 2022 Funding Opportunity with New Schools Venture Fund
General Seed Funding Grants by the NSF
Considering alternatives before raising from Venture Capital? Let’s connect.
💡 Upcoming Events & Founder Resources
The Exploration Lab for those building in The Future of Work and Learning
Visible Hands VC Fellowship - Visible Hands provides company-building services and investments of up to $200k to underrepresented talent
Intro to America’s Seed Funding via NSF 3.3.2022
The net-zero transition: What it would cost, what it could bring McKinsey Report 2022