A California-based VR startup has raised $1.5 million to help English language schools immerse learners virtually.
Immerse, an English Language Learning focused VR platform that combines classroom facilitation with virtual reality, announced that it has completed its Series A investment round.
The new round of investment will allow Immerse to expand its current offerings in order to take advantage of the accessibility, affordability and functionality of state-of-the-art consumer VR technology.
“We are now setting up partnerships with some of the largest schools in Spain and South America”
While many language schools and service providers are being forced to close due to Covid-19, Immerse said that future success for many institutions will require robust learning experiences that incorporate technology as both a feature and functional experience.
Already popular in Japan, the Series A funding allows Immerse to expand into a variety of new and emerging markets.
“Things are quickly expanding beyond just East Asia,” Immerse CEO Quinn Taber explained.
“We are now setting up partnerships with some of the largest schools in Spain and South America and we’re making plans to enter other affected regions.
“It’s hard to predict how long things will be on lockdown so we want to help as many students as possible.”
In a time where isolation keeps us safe, giving both young and old learners that connection is incredibly important for both learning, as well as mental health, Taber added.
“The opportunity to leave your room, explore a new culture, and go on an adventure with your friends is a welcomed respite from loneliness and isolation.”
The Immerse platform helps language schools, secondary schools, and universities facilitate VR programs with their learning outcomes tied to the widely accepted CEFR standard and the Global Scale of English.
While celebrating closing the Series A round, Taber noted, “Despite the painful circumstances we face with this pandemic, I am excited to see what entrepreneurs around the world develop in this time of need.
Here at Immerse, VR is our speciality and we are going to do everything in our power to use it as an agent for good by educating and building meaningful connections for our users.”