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§ Private Profile · San Francisco, CA, USA
Novakid is a technology company.
Novakid delivers online English language education for children aged 4 to 12. Its core product is an interactive virtual classroom, featuring personalized one-on-one lessons with certified teachers and group speaking practice. The platform employs a structured curriculum, gamified activities, and immersive VR tours, fostering effective language acquisition.
Founded in 2017 by Maxim Azarov and Dmitry Malin, Novakid stemmed from their desire to improve English learning for their own children. These experienced entrepreneurs saw a critical need for a dynamic online methodology for young second language learners, leading to their distinctive educational platform.
Novakid serves a global student base, offering accessible, high-quality English instruction. The company’s mission focuses on cultivating fluency and confidence in its learners through innovative teaching. Its long-term vision aims to establish Novakid as a premier global provider, continually advancing offerings for superior learning.
Novakid has raised $42.4M across 4 funding rounds.
Novakid has raised $42.4M in total across 4 funding rounds.
Novakid is an EdTech company building an online platform for teaching English as a second language (ESL) to children aged 4-12 through individual lessons with native-speaking, certified teachers in an interactive virtual classroom.[1][2][3] It serves parents and young learners worldwide, solving the challenge of engaging, effective language acquisition by combining AI-personalized curricula aligned with CEFR standards, gamified lessons, progress tracking, and parent dashboards via a mobile app.[1][4][5] With over 70,000 active users as of 2024, strong funding ($40.8M total, including a $35M Series B in 2021), reported profitability in 2023, and acquisitions like Lingumi in 2024, Novakid demonstrates robust growth momentum across 50+ countries.[2][3]
Novakid was founded in 2017 in San Francisco by Maxim Azarov (CEO, IT entrepreneur with Google and Cloudlike experience, father of three) and Dmitry Malin, driven by their desire to provide a superior English learning experience for their own children and others, leveraging gamification and virtual reality.[2][4] The idea emerged from dissatisfaction with existing 2017 options, evolving into a global platform with in-house storytelling, games, and tech integration.[4] Early traction included 2018 expansions to Turkey and Poland, explosive growth during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, seed funding of $1.5M, Series A of $4.25M, and over 800,000 kids served by launch milestones.[2][4] Pivotal moments include 2021's $35M Series B, 2023 profitability, 2024 Lingumi acquisition, and NovaKid Junior launch for AI-guided preschool learning.[2][3]
Novakid rides the EdTech boom in personalized, remote learning, accelerated by COVID-19, amid rising global demand for early ESL amid English's dominance in business/tech (projected $20B+ online language market).[2][3] Timing aligns with AI/VR maturation for child engagement and post-pandemic hybrid education shifts, favoring scalable platforms over traditional schools.[1][2] Market forces like parental focus on skill-building, 70,000+ users in 50+ countries, and profitability amid funding waves position it strongly against competitors.[2][3] It influences the ecosystem by advancing AI-ESL (e.g., NovaKid Junior), teacher upskilling via its Academy, and acquisitions expanding preschool reach, contributing to democratized global education.[2][3]
Novakid's profitability, user scale, and AI innovations signal a pivot from growth-at-all-costs to sustainable dominance in child ESL, with NovaKid Junior poised to capture preschool AI learning.[2][3] Trends like generative AI tutors, VR immersion, and emerging markets (Asia/Middle East) will shape its path, potentially driving 100K+ users via group classes and app expansions.[1][5] Its influence may evolve through more acquisitions and B2B teacher tools, solidifying EdTech leadership—echoing its founders' vision of a world-ready generation of fluent young learners.[4]
Novakid has raised $42.4M across 4 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $35.0M Series B in August 2021.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 1, 2021 | $35M Series B | Goodwater Capital, OWL Ventures | 2XN, Connecticut Innovations, Flashpoint VC, LearnStart, Left Lane Capital, LETA Capital, Vibe Capital, Julian Shapiro, Philip Ginthoer, Bonangels, Aurel Pasztor, TMT Investments, Xploration Capital | Announced |
| Dec 1, 2020 | $4M Series A | LearnStart, Portfolion | Connecticut Innovations, Flashpoint VC, LETA Capital, Vibe Capital, Julian Shapiro, TMT Investments, Xploration Capital | Announced |
| Jan 30, 2020 | $1.4M Venture Round | Bonangels, Alexander Chachava | — | Announced |
| Jan 1, 2020 | $2M Seed | — | Connecticut Innovations, Flashpoint VC, LETA Capital | Announced |
Novakid has raised $42.4M in total across 4 funding rounds.
Novakid's investors include Goodwater Capital, Owl Ventures, 2xN, Connecticut Innovations, Flashpoint VC, LearnStart, Left Lane Capital, Leta Capital, Vibe Capital, Julian Shapiro, Philip Ginthoer, BonAngels.