Labster, the award-winning producer of virtual laboratory simulations, has raised $9 million in fresh funding amid new Google integration and expanded university partnerships.
The funding round was led by GGV Capital Group, with participation from all existing investors, including Owl Ventures, Balderton and Northzone.
Labster is dedicated to developing fully interactive virtual laboratory simulations that are designed to stimulate students’ natural curiosity and highlight the connection between science and the real world. It works with leading educational institutions to improve science learning and has so far collaborated with over 1,000 institutions around the world, including ETH in Zurich, MIT and Imperial College.
The latest funding round comes at a time when Labster’s virtual science labs are in high demand. Google has announced the incorporation of more than 15 of Labster’s 3D chemistry visualizations within Google Search. Beginning on August 11, students, teachers and the general public will have access to augmented reality learning objects found under key science-related Google search results on mobile devices, including ionic bonds, electrolytes and solubility. Users will be able to interact with the 3D objects to learn more about chemistry and click through for further information.
Speaking about the company and its partnership with Google, Michael Bodekaer Jensen, Co-founder and CEO of Labster, said in a statement,
“We’re in the middle of a historic time, as millions of students and educators are in big need of new ways to access high quality learning materials, and we are beyond excited that Google has taken initiative to incorporate these assets into mobile searches. Our virtual labs, scientific assets, and other award-winning resources will help learners of all age groups and skill levels through this dynamic partnership.”
Labster’s fully interactive virtual simulations allow students to perform realistic experiments, learn key science concepts, and practice their skills in a risk-free learning environment. The simulations have been successfully adopted in online courses around the world, and have also proven to be strong complementary learning tools to in-person university education and lab experiences.
According to the company’s press statement, the funding will help Labster further support universities and schools by:
- Accelerating growth in core markets, including new partnerships with major university systems and school districts, and entering into new Asian markets
- Strengthening the quality and usability of Labster’s large and expanding catalog of virtual science labs.
- Creating new and better ways to access Labster simulations.
In the coming months, Labster plans to continue to grow its partnerships with university systems as they get students back-to-school amidst the global coronavirus pandemic. The company also looks to deepen its catalogue of virtual lab simulations, to provide the most up to date and valuable learning experience for students to translate into post-pandemic career success.
Meanwhile, the latest funding has taken the Copenhagen-headquartered company’s total raised to date to more than $40 million.
