Lebanese edtech Synkers raises $1.8 million to connect students with tutors and mentors

Beirut-based edtech Synkers has raised $1.8 million in a pre-Seris A round led by Dr. Lama and Dalia Al Sulaiman (who run a Saudi conglomerate Rolaco Holdings), the startup announced today. Existing and new investors including 500 Startups (500 Falcons), Phoenician Funds, Kafalat iSME, Mulcan Investment, Seeders, Crescent Capital, and Dubai Angel Investors, also invested in the round.

Founded in 2016 by Zeina Sultani and Audrey Nakad, Synkers allows students to book one-to-one online or offline sessions with qualified private tutors and mentors. The startup had started with the courses of the American University of Beirut but has since expanded its offerings to include a wide variety of courses from school subjects and university courses to prep tests and professional skills.

According to its website, the school curriculum Synkers currently supports all the major school curriculums in Lebanon and UAE including Lebanese, French, American, and British. The prep tests it offers assistance for include SAT, IELTS, GMAT, CPA, and CFA. The platform also features mentors (and tutors) who can help users with the training/advice around leadership skills, communication skills, and even parenting skills.

In a statement, Synkers said that it currently has over 60,000 learners and 1,000 tutors and mentors. All the tutors on its platform, the startup claims, are pre-screened, background-checked, trained, and certified.

The students looking to book a session can browse through the profiles of different tutors, check their ratings and reviews, and book an online or offline session with them through the app. They have the option to pay for the session using a card or cash. The students can also purchase a prepaid package at a discounted rate.

Audrey Nakad, the co-founder and CEO of Synkers, commenting on the occasion, said, “commented, “No matter how hard the journey of an entrepreneur is, the impact of our work on our student’s performance pays it all off completely.”

The startup that has been focusing on the UAE and Lebanese market until now plans to use the new funds to expand to new markets mainly Saudi. It said that the investment will allow it to invest in product and technology to offer a better, personalized experience.