FUNDING
UBIQUITOUS INTELLIGENCE
Intelligence is spreading everywhere. Human intelligence. Artificial intelligence. Everytime diverse intelligences interact—human to human, human to artificial, artificial to artificial—learning and knowledge creation accelerate. We fund builders driving this shift.
Our Investment
Thesis
For most of history, we learned first—together in classrooms or online, alone with textbooks, videos, or simulations—and only then applied that knowledge to reach our goals. As intelligence becomes ubiquitous and embedded in our tools—from productivity software to household appliances to industrial machinery—we will learn in the very act of doing. Teaching and learning will become a layer inside every tool, delivering immediate value and easing the old problem of motivation.
Steve Jobs once cited a study comparing the efficiency of different species' locomotion. Humans ranked mid-pack, until you put a person on a bicycle, which beat them all. We are tool builders, and tools amplify us. Computers, he said, are “bicycles of the mind.”
We back the builders of bicycles of the mind.
Companies that move people from A (a gap in knowledge or skill) to B (mastery and measurable proficiency). To get the value they pay for, learners must put in the effort—a friction that shapes the sector, often favoring businesses built around mandatory and high-stakes pathways (e.g., credentialed programs, exams, regulated training).
A broader lens than learning: companies that amplify human potential—helping people build habits, overcome limits, and stick with meaningful journeys (e.g., therapy, coaching, nutrition, fitness, medication adherence, reproductive health).
Infrastructure and services that make the above providers more efficient, effective, accessible, and engaging: e.g., learning management and student information systems, administrative platforms, enrollment and financing solutions, content authoring, analytics.
Companies that ensure people realize the payoff from learning and growth—finding work they care about, advancing careers, and creating positive impact in their communities and beyond.
Companies that give people the tools to achieve their goals—an IDE, a car, a medical device, a thermostat, a banking app—and that also guide and coach users along the way, enhancing their ability to understand, organize, and use complex information. People learn as they work, create, and build. The value proposition isn’t learning; it’s being the best tool to reach a specific goal—with learning as a deliberately designed, intentionally embedded byproduct.
What we look for in a Founding Team
You don’t need to be perfect (yet), but every positive sign increases our interest.
Stand out
Early-stage investing is investing in people. Make sure to highlight what makes you noteworthy: what stands out in your background, in your career, in your network, in the journey that brought you here. Plus—you’re building a tech business: be good at tech.
Get out of the building
The problem you address must be specific, concrete, and, ideally, experienced firsthand by the team. We do not accept vague descriptions: the slide on the problem must demonstrate real, unique insights from the trenches. And with AI in the toolkit, there’s no excuse not to show a polished prototype of your solution: a mock-up at the very least, but ideally AI-co-developed, shipped, and working.
Be a fast learner
We are interested in startups in their first 12 to 24 months of operation. If you’re beyond that, make learning velocity visible: what you tested, what you learned, how you changed the roadmap, and the results. Respond to current needs, while cultivating well-grounded scenarios for the future.
Know your market
Competition must be thoroughly analyzed, and the market size estimated from the bottom up, demonstrating a clear understanding of who your customers will be and how acutely they feel the problem you’re going to solve for them. We like to see that you know the context in which you operate better than we do.
Master storytelling, without the hype
Your deck must be well-structured and confident: clear and professional in its prose, design, graphics, and effective in its message. Show you can hustle, but don’t trigger the BS meter. We want passion with substance.
Speak entrepreneurship fluently
Your deck expresses the vision through design and storytelling. Your financial plan converts that vision into figures and the disciplined logic of accounting—vital to operating a company. Both will prove imperfect over time, but they must be consistent and show command of their respective languages.
our portfolio
Pathfinder
Pathfinder puts an AI homeschool agent in every family’s pocket, combining financing, curriculum discovery, personalized scheduling, and lesson planning. It learns each child’s goals, suggests projects and resources, and tracks progress for parents on one values-based platform.
Excellence AI
Excellence AI offers daily, mastery-focused math and science courses for U.S. middle and high schoolers, combining an adaptive AI tutor with optional mentors. Built by top academic talent, it delivers personalized learning at a fraction of the cost of long-term programs.
ubiMaster
ubiMaster connects students with certified tutors via chat or video—anytime, anywhere. Learners get help with schoolwork, exams, and more, plus access to interactive exercises. A unique partnership model makes high-quality tutoring free for families, funded by employers.
NovoDia
NovoDia combines a “pedagogically-tamed” AI with expert curriculum designers to deliver custom, state-aligned programs for school districts. It replaces boxed textbooks with adaptable, community-focused content, saving time and cost while freeing teachers to teach.
RunYourself
RunYourself helps managers become effective coaches through structured, AI-assisted peer or manager-to-employee conversations. The platform shifts the focus from fixing problems to fostering ownership, growth, and long-term team development.
Anthropos
Anthropos helps companies map, verify, and build skills to drive transformation. It creates skill paths for any role or certification, integrates existing content, and uses AI simulations to assess and train employees with real-life scenarios based on workforce needs.
Tomorrow University
Tomorrow University is a fully accredited, remote-first institution helping learners build 21st-century skills in sustainability, entrepreneurship, and tech. It combines cutting-edge learning science with tech to offer flexible, impactful education for a better future.
Data Masters
Data Masters, Italy’s leading AI Academy, offers top-tier training in AI, Machine Learning, and Data Science. Its cutting-edge Italian-language courses build in-demand skills and are led by seasoned experts driving innovation with the latest solutions in the field.
getCredible
getCredible transforms professional reputation by using real-time, anonymous feedback from colleagues, clients, and managers to create trust-based rankings. It replaces unreliable references with verified insights, helping companies hire faster and more fairly.
Zick Learn
Zick Learn makes enterprise learning simple, fast, and efficient by enabling organizations to create and deliver engaging text-based courses via popular chat apps—putting training directly in employees’ pockets for easy, on-the-go access.
EvidenceB
EvidenceB creates adaptive learning resources grounded in cognitive science and AI. Their tools boost core knowledge acquisition and foster intrinsic motivation, making learning more effective and engaging for students.
Sparkwise
Sparkwise offers teams a fun way to build skills together through on-demand multiplayer challenges—where professional development meets escape room. The platform drives active group learning with fast-paced tasks, meaningful discussions, and world-class insights.
Amplify
Amplify, a pioneer in K–12 education since 2000, leads in next-gen curriculum and formative assessment. Its ELA, math, and science programs equip teachers with tools to meet student needs. Today, Amplify supports over three million students across all 50 U.S. states.
NewCampus
NewCampus is a business education platform for the modern workforce. It helps working professionals advance their careers by building networks, learning practical skills, and gaining inspiration from top business leaders.
LIS
The London Interdisciplinary School (LIS) is a new university preparing students to tackle complex global challenges. Its cross-disciplinary curriculum blends arts, sciences, and humanities. LIS also offers leadership programs that go beyond traditional business education.
Mindstone
Mindstone is a compound learning platform that helps users connect ideas across notes, resources, and discussions. Learners can organize content, add highlights/comments, collaborate via shared libraries, and retain knowledge with AI-powered flashcards.
Aktiv Learning
Aktiv Learning (formerly 101edu) is transforming STEM education with an innovative platform that boosts student engagement and outcomes. Its tools, Aktiv Chemistry and Aktiv Mathematics, are used at 500+ colleges. Top Hat acquired the company in December 2022.
Kide science
KiDE Science è un’accademia scientifica che stimola la curiosità naturale dei bambini dai 3 agli 8 anni attraverso lo storytelling e il gioco. Con risorse STEAM basate sul gioco, i bambini sperimentano, risolvono enigmi scientifici e trovano risposte. Acquisita da Accelerate Learning nel 2023.
our team
We are a small team with experience in education, technology, investment, and product management. We know what it means to build a product from scratch, validate an idea, make quick decisions (and mistakes), and learn fast. We often hold strong opinions, but are delighted if a good argument changes our minds.
Zanichelli Venture grew out of Zanichelli Editore, a historic Italian publisher dedicated to learning.
We invest from pre-seed to Series A across Europe and North America, typically co-investing with trusted leads and reserving for follow-ons.
part of a larger ecosystem
Distinct, but sharing the same vision, we partner closely with ZNEXT, a venture builder for visionary entrepreneurs working on market-defining tech businesses, plus an M&A vehicle acquiring majority stakes in high-potential startups and established companies across Italy and beyond.
We also invest in funds
Got something to show us?
If you're working on an idea that fits with what we're into, send us your deck.
If we're curious, we'll get back to you.
