From its launch in 2021, Gizmoan AI-powered learning platform that turns student notes into interactive study material has attracted more than 13 million users in more than 120 countries. That’s a significant jump from the more than 300,000 users the platform had when TechCrunch last covered it in 2023.
And, as user adoption increases, investor interest follows suit. The company recently secured $22 million in Series A funding, it said communication on Tuesday.
The funding will go towards expanding Gizmo’s engineering and artificial intelligence teams, as well as expanding its presence in the US college market. The company, which had just seven employees before the increase, plans to scale to around 30, CEO Petros Christodoulou tells TechCrunch.
The company’s momentum comes at a time when student behavior is changing. Academic achievement in the US has reached an all-time low, according to the 2025 National Assessment of Educational Progress. Excessive screen time and decreased attention have been noted previous studies as contributing factors.
Additionally, with many young learners attracted to platforms like TikTok and YouTube, the biggest challenge for tech startups is how to maintain engagement. Gizmo is betting that learning with games can be the solution.
Designed for teenagers and young adults, Gizmo believes its appeal lies in its use of mechanical play to promote engagement. Features like leaderboards, streaks, limited dailies for wrong answers, and the ability to challenge friends are designed to keep users coming back.
Other micro-learning platforms have also gained traction in recent years, such as Anki, Quizlet and Nibble, along with newer entrants such as Yuno and Knowledgewhich have attempted to redirect screen time habits into productive learning. Still, it’s remarkable for a young learning app like Gizmo to grow this interest in just a few years. By comparison, Yuno advertises 1 million app downloads and Knowt has more than 7 million users.
The Series A round was led by Shine Capital, with participation from Ada Ventures, Seek Investments, GSV and NFX, which previously led Gizmo’s $3.5 million round.
