Online learning provider for neurodivergent children, Gaia Learning, marks a record growth year – securing £100K in angel investments in just three months.
The EdTech company, founded by Salisbury mum-of-two Kirstin Coughtrie, has gone through its biggest growth quarter to date – with both significant new angel investments, alongside its learners tripling since the start of this academic school year.
Gaia Learning was set up in 2019 and delivers live, online learning for neurodivergent children aged 8-16 with ADHD and Autism, mostly used as a supplement to existing school provision.
“We’re going from strength to strength and are ending this financial year on a high – totalling our investment to £100K, growing our team to 13 staff members and seeing interest coming in from schools across the UK. Now, more than ever, schools need flexible, digital solutions that can scale within budget supporting each neurodivergent child’s needs,” says Kirstin Coughtrie, Founder of Gaia Learning.
Kirstin, a tech obsessed Geography teacher founded the online learning platform in 2019, due to the inadequacies she faced in mainstream school for her neurodivergent son who, like herself, has ADHD. In 2021 she teamed up with experienced tech entrepreneur Kate Longworth based in the North West after connecting on LinkedIn.
Together they’ve taken Gaia Learning from a small, specialist tuition business to an award-winning Cambridge Registered International School Online and national alternative education provider, partnering with schools, local authorities and families across the UK and beyond.
In December last year they set out to fundraise £500,000 to continue Gaia Learning’s expansion - with its latest angel investor making them reach £100,000 already.
“Gaia Learning is a fantastic solution to support all stakeholders with an increasing market need. And so I’m thrilled to be able to invest in two amazing female entrepreneurs, who have demonstrated strong traction, a recognised brand in the EdTech space and impressive entrepreneurial spirit. I’m excited to be part of their journey,” says investor Susanna Lawson, Co-founder of Circle of Trust and OneFile.
Gaia Learning is a Cambridge Registered International School Online and the first online learning provider to be awarded the ADHD Friendly School award from the ADHD Foundation in 2023.
To find out more about Gaia Learning, visit gaialearning.co.uk
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