Early-stage investment into Listen Innovation, Inc. USA, specializing in developing online learning materials for schools
～Anticipating future adoption by schools and teachers to use as an online learning material for ESL (English as second language) users and other students in general due to its strength in non-fiction content, now required in the US national academic standards～

EduLab, Inc. (Minato-ku Tokyo. President and CEO: Junichi Takamura. Hereafter “EduLab Group”) has carried out a round of early-stage investment into Listen Innovation, Inc. (Massachusetts, USA. CEO: Monica Brady-Myerov. Hereinafter referred to as “Listen Innovation”), which operates “Listenwise”, a product that corresponds to the Common Core State Standards (Common basic standards for each state. Hereinafter referred to as “Common Core”) and is gaining acceptance across the nation to meet the US national academic standards.

＜Listenwise＞ https://listenwise.com/

Investment Background

Anticipating the possibility of rapid growth in the Edtech market in the US with the establishment of the Common Core (2009), we opened an office in the US in 2014 and have conducted market research since then.

Previously, each state in the US sets their own learning goals under their individual governing bodies, but the Common Core, led by the Obama administration in 2009, has already been adopted in 42 of the 50 states in the nation, as well as Washington D.C. and 4 other territories (as of 2016). The Common Core requires that over 70% of the content in all subjects should be non-fiction, which is leading to an acceleration in the introduction of digital learning contents in the US. The EduLab Group decided to support Listen Innovation, which has strength in non-fiction content as well as designing and providing a platform for online learning services, expecting that they will expand their business along with the expansion of the Edtech market.

* Common Core: http://www.corestandards.org/

Overview of Listen Innovation

“Listenwise”, provided by Listen Innovation, is an online learning service which uses content that was actually aired on National Public Radio (hereinafter referred to as NPR), a US public radio broadcast. Much of the NPR material has non-fiction themes, which goes along with the Common Core guidelines, so the content of Listenwise is likewise primarily non-fiction. It is anticipated that Listenwise will gain acceptance at schools and educational institutions as non-fiction school material, which is required by the Common Core, and as learning material for ESL (English as second language).

[Company Overview]

Company Name

Listen Innovation, Inc.

Name of service

Listenwise

Representative

Monica Brady-Myerov, CEO

Established

2013

Headquarters

132 Eliot St. Brookline, MA 02467, USA

Website

https://listenwise.com/

About EduLab Group

EduLab Group, headquartered in Tokyo, is building new businesses and investment in the field of Edtech, providing IT solutions and platforms for the education industry, and supporting next generation education and school management systems. With offices in Tokyo, Seattle, Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai, Singapore, Pune, and Bangalore – EduLab Group is a global platform.

More information can be found at https://www.edulab-inc.com/en/