Dubai-based global education technology company Coded Minds has taken a giant stride toward expanding its product as well as geographical footprint by acquiring EdgeMakers STEM Learning Lab, an innovative global education company in the US and Canada.
While the value of the transaction was not disclosed, as part of the deal, the Dubai-based Alarabi Investments will now be joined by Eight Roads (Fidelity’s venture arm) and San Francisco Bay Area’s Avalon Ventures, the two shareholders of EdgeMakers.
Headquartered in San Francisco, US, and Calgary Alberta, Canada, EdgeMakers offers cutting-edge STEM/STEAM, innovation and leadership education, professional development and design thinking programs to children and teachers in Canada, the US and across the Americas.
Omar Farooqui, founder and president of Coded Minds, said in a statement that the complete acquisition of EdgeMakers is the first made by a Gulf-based private education of a peer based in the US and Canada.
Farooqui said that as part of the acquisition, EdgeMakers’ 50-member education team will merge into Coded Minds and become part of its global educational offerings. He also announced that following the acquisition, the global best practices and STEM 2.0 curriculum will now be available in all locations where Coded Minds is operating currently.
Speaking about the company, Farooqui said,
“We have reverse-engineered education with a practical, hands-on problem solving and project-based curriculum. We empower children and adults to be creative, innovative thinkers and entrepreneurs in their quest for knowledge.”
Meanwhile, Dr. Gina Cherkowski, founder of EdgeMakers STEM Learning Lab, believes the merger is an opportunity for the company to be global leaders in 21st century education. Commenting on the latest development, she said,
“Being part of a global company will provide us an excellent opportunity to be global leaders in 21st century education through our innovative new partnerships in the Middle East, throughout Asia and across the globe brought about through this transaction.”
Coded Minds is a global iSTEM and leadership education technology company. With its mission to close the education-skills gap, the company offers reverse-engineered courses with a practical, hands-on problem solving and project-based curriculum. It prepares students of all ages for the post Fourth Industrial Revolution world. Coded Minds has earlier this year announced the closing of its first round of funding from Alarabi Investments, which has valued the company at $12 million.
