Participated · Series A · Nov 2022

Namecoach offers a platform of name-pronunciation tools that combines user-generated audio, a pronunciation database, AI prediction and speech synthesis to deliver correct name pronunciations inside products like Salesforce, Canvas, Gmail, Microsoft Teams and Google Workspace. The company provides an API and SDK for third parties and emphasizes AI to predict pronunciations based on factors such as nationality, ethnicity, gender and location; it also synthesizes speech when recordings aren't available. Namecoach is developing additional AI to account for the speaker's native language and plans a consumer app delivered as a Chrome extension next year. The startup plans to expand its connectors and add capabilities beyond pronunciation, including prompts to enable warmer sales interactions and feedback to improve conversations. Namecoach serves more than 300 education and corporate clients worldwide and is a roughly 30-person Palo Alto-based company. CEO Praveen Shanbhag would not disclose revenue when asked.

Participated · Series A · Sep 2022

Nexford provides fully online U.S.-accredited degree and course programs that learners complete at their own pace, with daily academic support and stackable pathway programs. The platform targets underserved English-speaking markets such as Nigeria and partners with local organizations to provide learning community spaces to help learners circumvent infrastructure challenges; it plans similar partnerships in Kenya and the Philippines. Nexford plans to add programs over the next six to twelve months — including software engineering, data science, clean energy, business analytics, digital marketing and project management — and to launch six-month career pathway programs that can stack into degrees. The company highlights affordability (accredited degrees cost about $3,000–$4,000 and are paid in monthly installments) and reports outcomes data showing roughly 92% of survey respondents achieved job outcomes, promotions, or salary increases. Internally, Nexford said it operates with positive margins, saw 2x revenue growth in 2021 versus the prior year, and expanded enrollments from 70 countries to over 90. Nexford operates a licensed, accredited online university that uses a competency-based model where students demonstrate mastery through practical projects rather than standardized tests. Its product offers undergraduate and graduate degrees (business administration, marketing, AI and automation, business analytics, e-commerce, product management and others) with monthly tuition installments typically totaling $3,000–$4,000 per degree; examples cited include an MBA in Nigeria at about $160/month and a bachelor at $80/month. The platform serves learners from 70 countries, with Nigeria its largest market, and combines automation with faculty and career-advisor support plus employer placement programs. Nexford has blue-chip partnerships with Microsoft, LinkedIn Learning and IBM and runs employer-sponsored upskilling arrangements such as a placement pathway with Sterling Bank. Financially, the company reported revenue growth of 300% last year and aims to triple enrollment this year. Going forward it plans to invest in product and technology (improving skills analysis and automation), expand regionally—particularly into Asia—and launch more employer partner programs to drive placements and upskilling. Nexford University builds a next-generation learning experience aimed at closing the gap between higher education and global workplace needs. The company is developing a technology platform that uses AI to deliver a personalized, engaging and affordable learning experience. Led by CEO Fadl Al Tarzi, Nexford plans to build the underlying technology and a curriculum aligned to global employer needs. The company closed a $4m seed funding round to support those efforts. Backers included Magnify Ventures and angel investors from New York, Dubai, Cairo, Geneva and London. Nexford is based in Washington, DC and announced the round in September 2018.

Participated · Seed · Nov 2021

Craydel is a Kenyan edtech startup that provides a portal for students to discover, compare and apply to higher-education programs. Launched earlier this year by Manish Sardana, John Nguru and Shayne Aman Premji, the platform offers verified college listings, career assessments, application and visa guidance, and online certificate options. The startup has partnered with more than 90 universities and vocational colleges and currently lists 3,000 higher-education programs. Craydel raised $1 million in a pre-seed round to improve its search and recommendation technology and expand its online resources. The company plans to build a proprietary AI-powered search and recommendation engine to generate curated program suggestions based on interests, grades, budgets and career aspirations. Management positions the product as a way to reduce misinformation and bias in higher-education decision-making across Africa.

Participated · Seed · Jun 2021

Localized operates a career-tech platform that enables employers to recruit from schools without attending in-person career fairs and gives students industry insights from professionals who share their language and roots. The company was founded in 2017 by Ronit Avni and has operations in MENA. Localized focuses on unlocking educated talent for global companies and improving the student-to-employer hiring pipeline. The startup says traction was accelerated by COVID as companies seek diverse, remote talent sourcing channels. Financially, Localized has just secured a $2.2M Seed investment round. The funding is positioned to help the team scale its platform and expand its reach among employers and university programs. Localized uses technology to bring career guidance to college students in emerging markets, connecting them with mentors and associations as they seek employment after graduation. The platform is multilingual and operates in Arabic and English. Localized is live in the Middle East and North Africa across more than 65 career centers, universities and student organizations. The service targets students transitioning from college to the workforce. The company announced plans to expand to India this year. It recently closed a $1.2 million funding round.

Participated · Seed · Jan 2020

Adjacent Academies provides immersive, credit-bearing courses that help liberal arts graduates build technical competencies and professional networks to thrive amid technological transformation. Launched in 2019 under the leadership of Anh Nguyen, the program focuses on in-demand skills such as JavaScript while actively integrating soft skills like communication, teamwork, and ethics into its curriculum. Students enroll in immersive courses that combine technical training with opportunities to refine values-driven design thinking. The company leverages a Silicon Valley presence to incorporate regular visits to startups and established tech firms across industries. In its first year, students visited companies including Slack, LinkedIn, and Remind. Adjacent Academies closed a $2.1M seed round to support its programs and growth.